Canine Care Nutrition is built around named concerns, with kibbles made for digestion, sensitive skin, coat, dental care, joints and comfort in small, medium and large sizes, plus five wet foods. Every recipe contains grain. Chicken is the main animal protein, the wet foods add pork, and Adult In Gel adds fish.
The 13 kibbles run from 19% to 28% protein as fed and from 32.4% to 47.4% estimated starch. Their averages of 23.5% protein and 41.6% starch sit below the kibble catalog protein average of 26.9% and above its starch average of 37.4%. Corn, brewers rice or wheat lead most lists, and 9 of the 13 include peas or lentils. The wet foods range from 6.5% to 7.5% protein, averaging 7.2% against a wet catalog average of 8.3%.
The trade-off is choice versus protein. The line offers many size and concern options, but protein runs lower than the catalog in both formats. The Sensitive Skin Care kibbles show no animal protein source in our ingredient data. Their first five ingredients are grains, wheat gluten, corn gluten meal and chicken fat.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Digestive Care | 28% | 20% | 32.4% | 485 | Chicken by-product meal, corn, chicken fat |
| Small Coat Care | 28% | 14% | 37.5% | 337 | Brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, corn |
| Large Digestive Care | 26% | 16% | 37.4% | 356 | Chicken by-product meal, corn, brewers rice |
| Small Sensitive Skin Care | 24% | 15% | 41.8% | 415 | Brewers rice, wheat gluten, chicken fat |
| Large Joint Care | 24% | 13% | 39.4% | 314 | Corn, chicken by-product meal, wheat |
| Large Sensitive Skin Care | 23% | 15% | 42.1% | 383 | Brewers rice, wheat, wheat gluten |
| Medium Comfort Care | 23% | 12% | 44.5% | 309 | corn, brewers rice, chicken by-product meal |
| Medium Digestive Care | 23% | 16% | 41.3% | 321 | Chicken by-product meal, corn, brewers rice |
| Large Comfort Care | 23% | 12% | 44.5% | 344 | Corn, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice flour |
| Medium Sensitive Skin Care | 22% | 15% | 43.3% | 373 | Brewers rice, wheat gluten, chicken fat |
| Medium Dental Care | 21% | 14% | 44.8% | 260 | Corn flour, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice |
| Small Dental Care | 21% | 14% | 45% | 266 | Corn flour, chicken by-product meal, brewers rice |
| Small Comfort Care | 19% | 13% | 47.4% | 316 | Brewers rice, corn, chicken by-product meal |
| Line average | 23.5% | 14.5% | 41.6% | 345 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
28% protein · 20% fat · 32.4% starch · 485 kcal/cup · Adult
Small Digestive Care tops the kibbles for fat at 20% and calories at 485 kcal per cup, with the least estimated starch at 32.4% and 28% protein. Chicken by-product meal leads its list, suiting small dogs that need a dense food.
Full review of Small Digestive Care28% protein · 14% fat · 37.5% starch · 337 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for coat care in small dogs, this kibble shares the top kibble protein figure of 28% but has 14% fat and 337 kcal per cup. Its 37.5% estimated starch suits owners who want more protein without the richness of Small Digestive Care.
Full review of Small Coat Care26% protein · 16% fat · 37.4% starch · 356 kcal/cup · Adult
Large Digestive Care has 26% protein and 37.4% estimated starch, the same as the kibble catalog starch average, with brown rice in its first five ingredients. It suits large dogs whose owners want more protein than most line mates offer.
Full review of Large Digestive Care24% protein · 15% fat · 41.8% starch · 415 kcal/cup · Adult
Small Sensitive Skin Care has the most calories per cup of the Sensitive Skin Care kibbles at 415 kcal, with 24% protein and 41.8% estimated starch. It shows no animal protein source and no peas or lentils, a fit for small dogs on a legume-free diet.
Full review of Small Sensitive Skin Care24% protein · 13% fat · 39.4% starch · 314 kcal/cup · Adult
Large Joint Care has the most kibble fiber at 7.6% and the fewest calories per kg at 3526, and it is the only chicken-based kibble without peas or lentils. Sold for joint care in large dogs, it has 24% protein and 39.4% estimated starch.
Full review of Large Joint Care23% protein · 15% fat · 42.1% starch · 383 kcal/cup · Adult
Made for large dogs with sensitive skin, this kibble puts wheat second, right after brewers rice, and shows no animal protein source or peas or lentils. It has 23% protein and 42.1% estimated starch, for owners of big dogs who avoid legumes.
Full review of Large Sensitive Skin Care23% protein · 12% fat · 44.5% starch · 309 kcal/cup · Adult
Medium Comfort Care has 23% protein, 12% fat and 44.5% estimated starch, with corn and brewers rice listed ahead of chicken by-product meal. At 309 kcal per cup it suits medium dogs whose owners want a lower fat kibble sold for comfort.
Full review of Medium Comfort Care23% protein · 16% fat · 41.3% starch · 321 kcal/cup · Adult
Medium Digestive Care leads with chicken by-product meal and has 23% protein, 16% fat and 41.3% estimated starch. At 321 kcal per cup it is lighter than the small and large digestive kibbles, and it is made for medium dogs.
Full review of Medium Digestive Care23% protein · 12% fat · 44.5% starch · 344 kcal/cup · Adult
Large Comfort Care matches its medium mate on protein, fat and estimated starch at 23%, 12% and 44.5%, but has 344 kcal per cup. Corn and chicken by-product meal lead its list, suiting large dogs on a lower fat kibble.
Full review of Large Comfort Care22% protein · 15% fat · 43.3% starch · 373 kcal/cup · Adult
Medium Sensitive Skin Care has the lowest protein of the three Sensitive Skin Care kibbles at 22% and the highest estimated starch at 43.3%. It shows no animal protein source or peas or lentils, suiting medium dogs on a legume-free kibble.
Full review of Medium Sensitive Skin Care21% protein · 14% fat · 44.8% starch · 260 kcal/cup · Adult
Medium Dental Care has the fewest calories of the kibbles at 260 kcal per cup, with 21% protein and 44.8% estimated starch. Made for dental care in medium dogs, it leads with corn flour and suits owners who watch portions closely.
Full review of Medium Dental Care21% protein · 14% fat · 45% starch · 266 kcal/cup · Adult
Small Dental Care is the small breed version of the dental kibble, with 21% protein, 45% estimated starch and 266 kcal per cup. Corn flour leads its list, and it suits small dogs whose owners want a lower calorie kibble sold for dental care.
Full review of Small Dental Care19% protein · 13% fat · 47.4% starch · 316 kcal/cup · Adult
Small Comfort Care has the least protein of the kibbles at 19% and the most estimated starch at 47.4%, led by brewers rice and corn. It suits small dogs whose owners are comfortable with a grain-forward kibble sold for comfort.
Full review of Small Comfort Care| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mature Adult in Gel | 7.5% | 2% | 78.5% | 896 | Water sufficient for processing, pork by-products, pork liver |
| Beauty Adult Loaf in Sauce | 7.4% | 4.2% | 78.5% | 1,034 | Water sufficient for processing, chicken, pork by-products |
| Sensitive Skin Care Loaf in Sauce | 7.3% | 5% | 80.5% | 980 | Water sufficient for processing, chicken liver, chicken |
| Digestive Care Loaf in Sauce | 7.1% | 4.5% | 81% | 920 | Water sufficient for processing, chicken, pork by-products |
| Adult In Gel | 6.5% | 3% | 77.5% | 1,002 | Water sufficient for processing, chicken, pork liver |
| Line average | 7.2% | 3.7% | 79.2% | 966 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
7.5% protein · 2% fat · 345 kcal/can · Senior
Mature Adult in Gel is the line's only senior recipe and leads with pork by-products and pork liver ahead of chicken. With the most wet protein at 7.5%, the least fat at 2% and 896 kcal per kg, it suits older dogs needing a leaner meal.
Full review of Mature Adult in Gel7.4% protein · 4.2% fat · 141 kcal/serving · Adult
Beauty Adult Loaf has the most calories of the wet foods at 1034 kcal per kg and is the only one with corn meal among its first five ingredients. It suits adult dogs whose owners want a chicken and pork loaf with a bit more energy.
Full review of Beauty Adult Loaf in Sauce7.3% protein · 5% fat · 377 kcal/can · Adult
Sold for sensitive skin, this loaf has the most fat of the wet foods at 5% and is the only wet recipe with chicken as its sole listed animal protein, led by chicken liver. It suits owners who want a chicken-only wet food.
Full review of Sensitive Skin Care Loaf in Sauce7.1% protein · 4.5% fat · 354 kcal/can · Adult
Sold for digestive care, this loaf pairs chicken with pork by-products and has 7.1% protein, 4.5% fat and 2.5% fiber. At 81% moisture it is the wettest recipe in the line, a fit for owners who want extra water in meals.
Full review of Digestive Care Loaf in Sauce6.5% protein · 3% fat · 386 kcal/can · Adult
Adult In Gel is the only wet recipe with fish alongside chicken and pork, and the only one without peas or lentils. It has the lowest wet protein at 6.5% and 386 kcal per can, suiting owners who avoid legumes.
Full review of Adult In GelNo. All 13 kibbles and all 5 wet foods contain grain, and corn, brewers rice or wheat sit near the top of most kibble lists.
Among the kibbles, Small Digestive Care and Small Coat Care tie at 28% protein as fed. Among the wet foods, Mature Adult in Gel has the most at 7.5%.
Most recipes do: 9 of 13 kibbles and 4 of 5 wet foods include peas or lentils. Adult In Gel, Large Joint Care and the Small, Medium and Large Sensitive Skin Care kibbles do not.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (26.1% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 42% of the food as fed.
17% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
0% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Royal Canin has never had one. See the recall log
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Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
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