Rating: 
Canidae Grain Free Pure canned dog food earns the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
Currently, the Canidae Grain Free Pure product line includes two canned dog foods. Both meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Canidae Grain Free Pure Sea
- Canidae Grain Free Pure Elements
Canidae Dog Food Grain Free Pure Elements canned dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Canidae Grain Free Pure Elements
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, turkey, lamb, ocean fish, potatoes, peas, carrageenen, guar gum, locust bean gum, flaxseed oil (source of omega-3 fatty acid), dicalcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, suncured alfalfa meal, calcium sulfate, sunflower oil (source of omega-6 fatty acid), beta-carotene, sage extract, rosemary extract, cranberries, Yucca schidigera extract, choline chloride, taurine, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, manganese proteinate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food includes chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient lists chicken broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third item is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The next two ingredients are turkey and lamb. Like chicken, turkey and lamb are both protein-rich meat components.
The sixth item is ocean fish. Fish can also be considered a quality meat addition.
Unfortunately, this particular ingredient is anonymous. The phrase “ocean fish” does little to adequately describe this item. We always prefer to see a named fish species.
The seventh ingredient includes potatoes. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The eighth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
Carrageenan is a gelatin-like thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Carrageenan has been safely used as a food additive for literally hundreds of years.
Guar gum and locust bean gum are also product thickeners.
The flaxseed oil added to this food is considered one of the best non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids… essential to a dog’s life.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.
With one notable exception…
We also note this food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Canidae Grain Free Pure Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Canidae Grain Free Pure looks to be an above-average canned dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 41%, a fat level of 27% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 24%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and an average fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate fraction of 24% for the full product line.
Average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs… when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this is the profile of a wet food containing a significant amount of meat.
In addition, it’s important to acknowledge here the absence of any critical Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
Canidae Grain Free Pure is a meat-based canned dog food supplying a significant amount of chicken or salmon as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a quality kibble from the same company may wish to visit our review of Canida Grain Free dry dog food.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
12/08/2009 Original review
07/20/2010 Review updated
04/12/2011 Review updated (product re-named)
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.