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Cesar Wholesome Bowls Chicken Recipe Small Breed Adult Wet Dog Food, 3-oz tray, case of 10
Cesar

Wholesome Bowls Chicken Recipe Small Breed Adult Wet Dog Food, 3-oz tray, case of 10

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $12.66/lb

Cesar Wholesome Bowls Chicken Recipe Small Breed Adult Wet Dog Food, 3-oz tray, case of 10 earns a Sniff Score of 33/100 (D) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Score capped at 49 due to CP_DM=78.9%, CF_DM=5.3%.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF

Score capped at 49 due to CP_DM=78.9%, CF_DM=5.3%.

CAP why?

Low protein quality. chicken delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI

No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.

FQI

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • 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: 79% ⓘ
Protein
15%
min (as fed)
Fat
1%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3%
max (as fed)
Moisture
81%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 79%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

22 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

  2. 2
    water

    Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.

  3. 3
    soy oil
  4. 4
    tapioca starch

    Refined cassava starch, used as a binder. Easy to digest, low on nutrition.

  5. 5
    powdered cellulose

    Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.

  6. 6
    dried plain beet fiber
  7. 7
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  8. 8
    soy lecithin
  9. 9
    choline chloride

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

  10. 10
    salt

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

  11. 11
    ascorbic acid

    Vitamin C. Pulls double duty as a natural antioxidant preservative.

  12. 12
    magnesium sulfate

    Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  13. 13
    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

  14. 14
    manganese sulfate

    Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.

  15. 15
    xanthan gum

    Thickener common in wet food and gravies. Same emulsifier-microbiome conversation as guar gum, not a clear flag.

  16. 16
    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

  17. 17
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  18. 18
    beta carotene
  19. 19
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

  20. 20
    vitamin d3 supplement

    The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

  21. 21
    potassium iodide

    Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  22. 22
    sodium selenite Flagged

    Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →

18 of 22 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.