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Canidae

All Life Stages Dry Dog Food Real Salmon & Ancient Grains Recipe

Evidence Good
dry all life stages Data verified from brand site

Canidae All Life Stages Dry Dog Food Real Salmon & Ancient Grains Recipe earns a Sniff Score of 69/100 (B) with Good evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.

CQI

Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 2

  • menadione
    Synthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.
  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 27% ⓘ
Protein
24%
min (as fed)
Fat
10%
min (as fed)
Fiber
5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

53 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

  2. 2
    chicken meal

    Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken.

  3. 3
    oatmeal

    Gentle on the stomach. Slow-release carbs and soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

  4. 4
    barley

    Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.

  5. 5
    sorghum

    Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated, decent fiber content.

  6. 6
    millet

    Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.

  7. 7
    brown rice

    Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.

  8. 8
    white rice

    Refined grain with the bran stripped off. Easy to digest, but not as nutrient-dense as brown rice.

  9. 9
    peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

  10. 10
    pork meal

    Pork cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh pork.

  11. 11
    dried yeast

    Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.

  12. 12
    suncured alfalfa meal

    Sun-dried alfalfa, preserving more of the natural vitamins than heat-dried versions.

  13. 13
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

  14. 14
    turkey meal

    Turkey with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh turkey.

  15. 15
    chicken fat

    Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.

  16. 16
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  17. 17
    salmon oil

    Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.

  18. 18
    dicalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.

  19. 19
    rice

    Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.

  20. 20
    threonine
  21. 21
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  22. 22
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  23. 23
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  24. 24
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  25. 25
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

Showing first 25 of 53. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.

AAFCO statement

CANIDAE All Life Stages Salmon & Ancient Grains Recipe dog food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).