Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Chicken Soup for the Soul Classic wet product range is made up of 10 recipes with ratings varying from 3.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 stars.
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Chicken Soup for the Soul Classic Adult Chicken, Turkey and Duck Pate was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Classic Adult Chicken, Turkey and Duck Pate
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, turkey, chicken broth, turkey broth, duck, salmon, chicken liver, carrots, brown rice, oatmeal, ground flaxseed, peas, potatoes, ground barley, dried egg product, potassium chloride, salt, cassia gum, xanthan gum, apples, cranberries, dried kelp, inulin, choline chloride, vitamins (thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide), Yucca schidigera extract, parsley
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 7% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 36% | 32% | 24% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 27% | 56% | 17% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first two ingredients in this dog food are chicken and turkey. Poultry is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses”.1
Poultry is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The next two ingredients are chicken broth and turkey broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common addition component in many canned products.
The fifth ingredient is duck, another quality raw item.
The sixth ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The next ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The eighth ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
Next, we find peas, which are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
In addition, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
This recipe also contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, with the exception of copper, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Chicken Soup for the Soul Classic looks like an above-average moisture-rich dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 32% and estimated carbohydrates of about 24%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 26%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 24% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%.
Which means this Chicken Soup for the Soul product line contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other canned dog foods.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed and peas, this looks like the profile of a moisture-rich product containing a notable amount of meat.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Chicken Soup for the Soul through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Chicken Soup for the Soul Dog Food
Chicken Soup for the Soul Classic is a grain-inclusive canned dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
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A Final Word
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