I will happily eat all the kinds of protein.
Summary
Canidae Multi-Protein Formula is a solid food that a dog of average activity could do well on. By putting guaranteed amounts of over 10 nutrients on their bag, it is clear that Canidae is focused on nutrition, not just marketing.
QUICK VIEW
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| LIFE STAGE |  |
| DOG SIZE |  |
| HEALTH FOCUS |  |
| FLAVOR |  |
| PRICE POINT |  |
MO KNOWS S.N.I.F.F. TEST RATING
We have given Canidae Multi-Protein Formula Chicken, Turkey, Lamb & Fish Meals a SILVER rating based upon our review of all packaging claims and product descriptions, laboratory data, food science and microscopic evaluation.
Want to know about how we decide which foods get what rating? Check out our S.N.I.F.F. Test Review overview to learn more about our approach and rating system.
PROS
- Met all their guarantees in our lab test.
- Provides reasonable protein levels (24%) and fat levels (14.5%) for a dog of average activity.
- Includes additional fortification that have value to overall dog health (Inulin, Beta-Carotene, Probiotics).
- Has a mild chicken and fish aroma.
- Contains a kibble size that should work for most dogs.
- Reasonable price point for the type of product and fortification you are getting.
CONS
- While they met their minimum protein, protein was 5.4% higher than the guarantee. This can be seen as a benefit, but we would prefer actual results be closer to the guarantee.
- Cranberries, alfalfa, papaya, pineapple and sage extract are added well below 0.2%. The purpose is not described on the package.
- Microscope pictures and even visual inspection shows excessive fines (crumbs).
- Feeding instructions are a little on the low side. We’d recommend adding a bit more than what is printed on the bag.
PET PARENT RATINGS
Our detailed review process does not allow us to conduct feeding studies with pets. Mo knows if he tries too many foods too quickly, he’ll end up with an upset stomach. Instead, we recommend also checking out reviews from actual pet parents. While this isn’t scientific data, it will give you an indication of how dogs are responding to this food.
| RETAILER | RATING | # OF REVIEWS |
|---|---|---|
 | 4.8 out of 5 | 435 |
 | 4 out of 5 | 1,967 |
 | 4.7 out of 5 | 849 |
* These ratings were captured on 10/30/2019 and may not reflect the current ratings on these websites.
NUTRITION
TYPICAL ANALYSIS
The typical ranges shown below are based on the market research we did of over 1,000 dog foods. Our research has shown that the typical ranges for Fat, Protein and Fiber fall within the green bar shown below. If a food falls outside the typical range, it doesn’t mean it’s a good or bad food. Read our article on Typical Ranges & What It Means To Your Dog if you want to learn more.
The numbers shown below for Canidae Multi-Protein Formula are the actual results from a 3rd party laboratory.
Fat, Protein and Fiber come from multiple sources within Canidae Multi-Protein Formula. But the primary sources are as follows:
- Protein: Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Oceanfish Meal
- Fat: Chicken Fat, Tomato Pomace, Flaxseed, Salmon Oil
- Fiber: Rice Bran, Tomato Pomace, Suncured Alfalfa
For full ingredient analysis, check out our Ingredient Table further down in the review.
GUARANTEED ANALYISIS
| NUTRIENT | GUARANTEE | LAB RESULTS | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Protein (min) | 24.0% | 29.4% | Met the minimum guarantee, but was actually 5.9% more than what was shown on the bag. This amount is more than we would like to see. If this overage is normal, we would suggest Canidae change their bags to better reflect 29.4% protein. |
| Crude Fat (min) | 14.5% | 15.4% | Met their guarantee and was closer to the amount shown on bag. |
| Crude Fiber (max) | 4.0% | 3.4% | Fiber met their guarantee and is a reasonable percentage to include to ensure a healthy gut. |
| Moisture (max) | 10.0% | 8.0% | The level is what we would expect for most kibble. We don't worry about foods being too dry or possibly burnt until moisture is less than 5%. |
| Omega-6 Fatty Acids (min) | 3.7% | - | |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min) | 0.5% | - | |
| Ascorbic Acid - Vitamin C* (min) | 50 mg/kg | - | |
| Vitamin E (min) | 200 IU/kg | - | |
| Glucosamine Naturally Occurring* | 700 mg/kg | - | |
| Chondroitin Sulfate Naturally Occurring* | 250 mg/kg | - | |
| Lactobacillus Acidophilus | 100 million CFU/lb | - | |
| Cellulase - Trichoderma Longibrachiatum (min) | 100 CMCU/kg | - | |
| Ash* | - | 7.6% | While Canidae doesn't have a level for ash, this is something we test. The amount shown here is average and doesn't give us any concern. To learn more about Ash, check out our article on What is Ash & How Much is Too Much. |
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
Note: Given our current budget, we do not have the ability to test every single guarantee a company chooses to make. We have chosen just to run lab tests on the AAFCO required guarantees (Protein, Fat, Fiber, Moisture). We also have tested for Ash because that then allows us to calculate calories.
CLAIMS
- At least 18 claims are made on the Canidae Multi-Protein Formula package ranging from marketing claims, ingredient claims and nutritional claims.
- We are pleased to see there are over 10 nutritional guarantees and many nutritional claims. Claims for “beautiful skin and coat,” “heathy digestion” and “healthy immune system” are well-documented. These help illustrate what the food can do for the health of your pet.
- There are also marketing claims like “Health Plus” and “Pet Food Made By Pet People.” And as with most marketing claims, these not described as to why these are better for your pet.
- Likewise the focus on “Multiple Proteins” is never explained. Is multiple protein sources better? Canidae doesn’t explain one way or another.
- “Vet Formulated” is also a marketing claim. The majority of vets only receive one nutrition class in school and building nutritional products is not their focus.
Ingredients
We’ve translated the ingredient panel from Canidae Multi-Protein Formula into the table shown below. The ingredients are listed in order as they appear on the bag. We’ve also noted the primary purpose of that ingredient is added to petfood. And if that ingredient does two things (like a good protein source and a good fat source), that is noted in the secondary category.
Click on the headers to sort the spreadsheet various ways.
| # | INGREDIENT | CATEGORY 1 | CATEGORY 2 | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken Meal | Protein | Mineral | |
| 2 | Turkey Meal | Protein | Mineral | |
| 3 | Lamb Meal | Protein | Mineral | |
| 4 | Brown Rice | Starch | ||
| 5 | White Rice | Starch | ||
| 6 | Rice Bran | Starch | Fat | |
| 7 | Peas | Starch | ||
| 8 | Potatoes | Starch | ||
| 9 | Oatmeal | Starch | Fiber | |
| 10 | Cracked Pearled Barley | Starch | ||
| 11 | Chicken Fat | Fats/Oils | Chicken Fat is an approved ingredients, but legally you must also show what you used to preserve that fat in a food. It should say "Chicken Fat (Preserved with XYZ Ingredient)" | |
| 12 | Millet | Starch | Fiber | |
| 13 | Tomato Pomace | Fiber | Fat | |
| 14 | Natural Flavor | Flavor | Palatant | |
| 15 | Flaxseed | Fats/Oils | Fiber | |
| 16 | Oceanfish Meal | Protein | Mineral | |
| 17 | Salmon Oil | Fats/Oils | ||
| 18 | Choline Chloride | Vitamin | ||
| 19 | Suncured Alfalfa | Fiber | ||
| 20 | Inulin (From Chicory Root) | Fiber | Prebiotic | |
| 21 | Lecithin | Processing | ||
| 22 | Sage Extract | Herbs/Spices | ||
| 23 | Cranberries | Fruits/Veggies | Fiber | |
| 24 | Beta-Carotene | Nutraceuticals | ||
| 25 | Rosemary Extract | Herbs/Spices | Antioxidant | |
| 26 | Sunflower Oil | Fats/Oils | ||
| 27 | Yucca Schidigera Extract | Nutraceuticals | ||
| 28 | Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product | Nutraceuticals | Probiotic | |
| 29 | Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product | Nutraceuticals | Probiotic | |
| 30 | Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product | Nutraceuticals | Probiotic | |
| 31 | Dried Lactobacillus Plantarum Fermentation Product | Nutraceuticals | Probiotic | |
| 32 | Dried Trichoderma Longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract | Nutraceuticals | Enzyme | This proboitic bacteria is not approved for use in pets |
| 33 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin | ||
| 34 | Thiamine Mononitrate | Vitamin | ||
| 35 | Ascorbic Acid | Vitamin | Preservation | |
| 36 | Vitamin A Supplement | Vitamin | ||
| 37 | Biotin | Vitamin | ||
| 38 | Niacin | Vitamin | ||
| 39 | Calcium Pantothenate | Vitamin | ||
| 40 | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) | Vitamin | ||
| 41 | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Vitamin | ||
| 42 | Riboflavin | Vitamin | ||
| 43 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin | ||
| 44 | Folic Acid | Vitamin | ||
| 45 | Iron Proteinate | Mineral | ||
| 46 | Zinc Proteinate | Mineral | ||
| 47 | Copper Proteinate | Mineral | ||
| 48 | Ferrous Sulfate | Mineral | ||
| 49 | Zinc Sulfate | Mineral | ||
| 50 | Copper Sulfate | Mineral | ||
| 51 | Potassium Iodide | Mineral | ||
| 52 | Manganese Proteinate | Mineral | ||
| 53 | Manganous Oxide | Mineral | ||
| 54 | Manganese Sulfate | Mineral | ||
| 55 | Sodium Selenite | Mineral | ||
| 56 | Mixed Tocopherols (A Preservative) | Preservation | Antioxidant | |
| 57 | Papaya | Fruits/Veggies | ||
| 58 | Pineapple | Fruits/Veggies |
- This Canidae Multi-Protein Formula uses multiple meat protein sources all of which are in the meal form. Unlike fresh meats which are mostly water, dried meat sources contain higher levels of protein and are fantastic nutritional ingredients.
- Fat is added to dog food for energy, but also taste. Dogs love the taste of fat even more than meat. Canidae is using primarily chicken fat and a smaller amount of salmon oil. They also include flaxseed high is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
- Various fruits and vegetables are shown on the ingredient panel (cranberries, paypaya, pineapple), but very low on the list. Ingredients panels must be shown in descending order. There are several fruits and vegetables shown below nutrients like Choline Chloride, which is typically added at less than 0.1% to 0.2%. We would question of the nutritional rationale for adding these ingredients.
- This product was naturally preserved with Mixed Tocopherols.
- Probiotics are listed and guaranteed which assumes the three beneficial bacteria are alive and viable. However, probiotics are extremely fragile and may not longer be alive.
Finished Foods
APPEARANCE
- The kibble is a roundish shape but often irregular.
- The size is reasonable for many different breed sizes. We could see all but toy dogs doing well with this kibble size.
- The product appeared well-coated with the chicken fat. But showed a higher than desirable level of food fines (crumbs).
AROMA & STABILITY
- The aroma of the food was mild. It had a pleasant chicken smell with definite aromas of fish from the salmon oil. The chicken smell is largely coming from the chicken fat and natural flavors used to coat the outside of the food.
- There were no indications of rancidity. We conclude that Canidae Multi-Protein Formula was formulated with enough antioxidants to support shelf-life.
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
- Evaluation by microscope confirmed higher than desirable level of fines (from broken kibble). This indicates insufficient processing to keep fines limited.
- Microscopy also showed unground ingredients and inadequate grinding of all ingredients. Poor grinding can impact digestibility by your pet.
Learn more about what a good food should look like in our article on Studying Kibble Under the Microscope.
Feeding Instructions & Calories
The table below shows the calories and feeding instructions on Canidae bag. The second column highlights the actual calories in this food based on the independent lab results we received. We’ve also shown adjusted feeding guidelines as necessary.
| - | GUARANTEES ON THE BAG | ACTUAL BASED ON LAB RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| kcal/kg | 3,600 | 3,606 |
| kcal/cup | 468 | 417 |
| - | RECOMMENDED ON BAG* | OUR RECOMMENDATION BASED ON LAB RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2 - 10 LBS | 1/2 - 3/4 cup | 1/4 - 3/4 cup |
| 10 - 25 LBS | 3/4 - 1 cup | 3/4 - 1 3/4 cups |
| 25 - 50 LBS | 3/4 - 1 cup | 3/4 - 1 3/4 cups |
| 50 - 75 LBS | 2 - 3 cups | 2 3/4 - 3 3/4 cups |
| 75 - 100 LBS | 3 -4 cups | 3 3/4 - 4 3/4 cups |
| 100 - 125 LBS | 4 - 4 3/4 cups | 4 3/4 - 5 1/2 cups |
| 125 - 150 LBS | 4 3/4 - 5 1/2 cups | 5 1/2 - 6 1/4 cups |
*NOTE: Canidae has three columns for puppy, adults with exercise and less active adults. We give them high marks for showing two different adult feeding instructions. For our purposes, we used the Adults With Exercise column for our comparison.
As you can see, we have recommended feeding more than what Canidae recommends on their bag. There are a couple of reasons why. When calculating feeding instructions, you need to know how heavy each kibble is (how many calories are in it) and how many kibbles fit in an 8oz cup. Same thing is true for humans. A cup of almonds is far more calories than a cup of popcorn. Popcorn is light and fluffy. Almonds are heavy and dense.
Canidae thinks their kibble is fairly dense when in reality it’s much lighter. We weighed an 8oz cup of food and it was consistently 130 grams or 417 calories. On the bag, Canidae says there is 468 calories per 8oz cup.
So how did this calculation get off? You typically see this happening in manufacturing when the kibble is puffed more at the extruder than the formulator thought. The formula is 100% correct when it’s mixed together. But when it’s cooked and then extruded, more air mis puffed into the kibble and it becomes lighter.
This doesn’t make the Canidae food bad. It just means you need to feed your dog 3/4 to 1 cup more per day, depending on their weight.
CALORIES BY CUP
Another (and maybe more important) lens to look through is that of % of Calories. The guarantees on the bag tell the percent of fat or protein found in the food. But we know that chicken fat has more calories than a green bean for example. So 5% chicken fat is going to add a lot more calories than adding 5% green beans.
So what is your dog actually consuming when he eats a cup of this dog food? Each cup of Canidae Multi-Protein Formula has 130g in each 8oz cup.
Dogs, like humans, need a balance of all three nutrients in their diet. Research published in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition indicate the following average ranges for these sources. While there are certain situations that call for more or less of each, the ranges shown below are a good rule of thumb for average dogs.
- 35% – 40% of calories should come from carbohydrates
- 25% – 35% of calories should come from protein
- 25% – 40% of calories should come from fat
Based on what we see above, this Canidae food provides reasonable levels for the average dog.
