X-Small Aging 12+

by Royal Canin

Overall Score: 44/100

Ingredients

1. Brewers rice (carbohydrate)
2. chicken by-product meal (protein)
3. corn gluten meal (carbohydrate)
4. corn (carbohydrate)
5. chicken fat (protein)
6. brown rice (carbohydrate)
7. wheat gluten (carbohydrate)
8. natural flavors (additive)
9. dried chicory root (fiber)
10. fish oil (protein)
11. vegetable oil (other)
12. dried tomato pomace (fiber)
13. psyllium seed husk (fiber)
14. potassium chloride (mineral)
15. calcium sulfate (other)
16. L-arginine (other)
17. L-tyrosine (other)
18. calcium carbonate (mineral)
19. fructooligosaccharides (other)
20. sodium tripolyphosphate (other)
21. vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E) (other)
22. niacin supplement (vitamin)
23. L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C) (other)
24. D-calcium pantothenate (other)
25. biotin (vitamin)
26. pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) (other)
27. riboflavin supplement (vitamin)
28. thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1) (other)
29. vitamin A acetate (vitamin)
30. folic acid (vitamin)
31. vitamin B12 supplement (vitamin)
32. vitamin D3 supplement] (other)
33. L-lysine (other)
34. taurine (additive)
35. choline chloride (vitamin)
36. DL-methionine (other)
37. hydrolyzed yeast (other)
38. L-tryptophan (other)
39. magnesium oxide (other)
40. L-carnitine (additive)
41. trace minerals [zinc proteinate (other)
42. zinc oxide (other)
43. ferrous sulfate (mineral)
44. manganese proteinate (mineral)
45. manganous oxide (other)
46. copper sulfate (other)
47. calcium iodate (mineral)
48. sodium selenite (mineral)
49. copper proteinate] (other)
50. GLA safflower oil (other)
51. marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.) (other)
52. green tea extract (other)
53. rosemary extract (preservative)
54. preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid (other)

Ingredient concerns

• Chicken By-Product Meal (medium concern): While nutritionally adequate, by-product meals can vary widely in quality and digestibility. They include parts like necks, feet, and intestines, which some consumers find objectionable. Quality control is less consistent than named muscle meat sources.
• Corn Gluten Meal (medium concern): Primarily used as an inexpensive plant-based protein booster that can inflate the protein percentage on guaranteed analysis without providing the complete amino acid profile of animal proteins. Its presence in large quantities may indicate the manufacturer is supplementing with cheap protein instead of using more meat.
• Corn (medium concern): Corn is one of the most common allergens in dogs, though true corn allergies are relatively rare compared to protein allergies. Often used as an inexpensive filler to increase bulk. While it does provide digestible carbohydrates, its prominence in ingredient lists (especially as multiple corn-derived ingredients) can indicate a lower-quality formulation.
• Wheat Gluten (medium concern): Like corn gluten meal, wheat gluten serves as an inexpensive plant protein that inflates the total protein percentage. It was also at the center of the 2007 pet food recall when melamine-contaminated wheat gluten from China caused widespread kidney failure in pets.
• Sodium Selenite (low concern): Sodium selenite is an inorganic form of selenium with a narrower safety margin than organic forms (such as selenium yeast). It has lower bioavailability and higher potential for toxicity at elevated levels compared to organic selenium sources. Some premium pet foods use selenium yeast instead as a safer alternative.

Guaranteed analysis (dry-matter basis)

On a dry-matter basis (water removed for a fair wet-vs-dry comparison): protein 24.4%, fat 15.6%, fiber 4%, ash 7.8%, carbohydrate 48.2%. By calories: 22.1% from protein, 34.3% from fat, 43.6% from carbohydrate.

AAFCO compliance

This food meets the AAFCO adult dog nutrient minimums we can verify — protein 24.4% vs 18% minimum, fat 15.6% vs 5.5% minimum.

Dry food, with grains, for the senior life stage.

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