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Dog Chow Adult Little Bites with Real Chicken & Beef Small Breed Dry Dog Food, 15-lb bag
Dog Chow

Adult Little Bites with Real Chicken & Beef Small Breed Dry Dog Food, 15-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $1.07/lb

Dog Chow Adult Little Bites with Real Chicken & Beef Small Breed Dry Dog Food, 15-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 0/100 (F) with Fair evidence. 4 controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 39 due to 4 FLAG ingredients.

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 39 due to 4 FLAG ingredients.

CAP why?

Plant-protein-dominated formula. whole grain corn as the #1 ingredient.

PQI

Contains red 40. EU mandatory warning label since 2010. California AB 2316 banned 6 dyes from school foods (2024). HHS phase-out announced April 2025..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 5

  • 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.
  • yellow 6
    Artificial color with no nutritional value.
  • yellow 5
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Some dogs show allergic-type reactions.
  • red 40
    Artificial color with no nutritional value. Linked to behavioral effects in children; relevance to dogs is unclear but the ingredient serves only marketing purposes.
  • blue 2
    Artificial color. A 1990s industry-funded study reported brain tumors in male rats; subsequent reviews disputed methodology, but the additive provides no nutritional benefit.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 28% ⓘ
Protein
25%
min (as fed)
Fat
12%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
12%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

29 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    whole grain corn

    Whole corn with the kernel intact. Decent fiber and B vitamins, though it can crowd out meat in cheaper recipes.

  2. 2
    corn protein meal

    Concentrated corn protein. Similar in role to corn gluten meal, pads the protein number on the label without matching meat amino acids.

  3. 3
    meat and bone meal

    Unnamed animal protein with bone included. Cheap, vague, and not traceable to a specific species.

  4. 4
    soybean meal

    Concentrated soy protein. Cheap plant protein that pads the label number, common in budget formulas.

  5. 5
    animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols
  6. 6
    poultry by-product meal

    Unnamed poultry. The mix can include any combination of chicken, turkey, or other birds, with no traceability. Named by-product meals are fine. This one isn't.

  7. 7
    wheat

    Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.

  8. 8
    chicken

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

  9. 9
    beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

  10. 10
    poultry and pork digest
  11. 11
    ground rice

    Cracked rice for binding and texture. Fine but unremarkable as a nutrient source.

  12. 12
    salt

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

  13. 13
    calcium carbonate

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

  14. 14
    potassium chloride

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

  15. 15
    l-lysine monohydrochloride

    Stable form of L-lysine, an essential amino acid. Common in plant-heavy formulas to balance the amino acid profile.

  16. 16
    choline chloride

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

  17. 17
    zinc sulfate

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

  18. 18
    ferrous sulfate

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

  19. 19
    manganese sulfate

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

  20. 20
    copper sulfate

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

  21. 21
    calcium iodate

    Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in 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 →

  23. 23
    mono and dicalcium phosphate

    Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  24. 24
    yellow 6 Flagged

    Artificial coloring. No functional purpose. Banned or restricted in several countries.

  25. 25
    vitamin e supplement

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

Showing first 25 of 29. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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