Royal Canin Maxi (Dry)

Rating:

Royal Canin Maxi dog food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.

The Royal Canin Maxi product line lists six dry dog foods… four designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and two for growth (Baby Dog and Large Breed Puppy)

The product line targets large-size dogs (pets weighing 56 to 100 pounds at adulthood).

• Royal Canin Maxi Aging Care 26 (over 5 years)
• Royal Canin Maxi Baby Dog 30 (weaning to 5 months)
• Royal Canin Maxi Weight Care 27 (15 months to 5 years)
• Royal Canin Maxi Large Breed Puppy 32 (5 to 15 months)
• Royal Canin Maxi Large Breed Adult (15 months to 5 years)
• Royal Canin Maxi Joint and Coat Care 28 (15 months to 5 years)

Royal Canin Maxi Large Breed Adult dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains almost 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient is rice… which (by itself) doesn’t tell us very much. This could even include by-products of rice milling. So, it’s difficult to accurately judge the quality of this particular item.

The third ingredient is notably better… brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient. It’s a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The fourth item is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate (the good stuff) washed out of it.

Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins low in many of the essential amino acids dogs need for life.

This inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food.

The fifth ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground raw oats. Oatmeal is rich in natural fiber, B-vitamins and (unlike many other grains) is completely gluten-free.

The sixth item includes chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

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 three notable exceptions…

First, rice hulls… a cheap by-product of the rice milling process. Rice hulls are used here to add dietary fiber to the recipe… which dilutes the total number of calories per serving.

Next, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.

And lastly, this food does contain 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.

Royal Canin Maxi Dog Food… the Bottom Line

On the surface, each of these six Royal Canin Maxi products exhibit fairly good quality formulas.

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 28%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 47%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 43% for the overall product line.

Above-average protein protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Yet when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate (the good stuff) washed out of it.

Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins low in many of the essential amino acids dogs need for life.

This inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food., this looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing only a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Royal Canin Maxi is primarily a plant-based dry dog food using only a moderate amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand three stars.

Recommended.

Those looking for a kibble from the same company and for a medium sized pet may wish to visit our review of Royal Canin Medium 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 a specific health benefit 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

01/22/2010 Original review
08/26/2010 Review updated

The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.

Where to Buy Dog Food at a Store Near You
or
Shop at an Online Retailer - Free Shipping