Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Canidae Pure Petite Grain-Free Pate wet product range is made up of six recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
This product range features grain-free pâté specifically formulated for small breeds, with each recipe vet-formulated to contain premium proteins and added vitamins and minerals.
Pros
- Antibiotic-free proteins
- Committed to sustainability
- No fillers
Cons
- Expensive
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.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Morsels Turkey and Green Beans for Small Breed Dogs | 5 | M |
| Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Salmon and Shrimp Pâté for Small Breed Dogs | 4 | A |
| Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Morsels Lamb and Carrots for Small Breed Dog | 5 | M |
| Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Minced Duck and Pumpkin Recipe for Small Breed Dogs | 5 | M |
| Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Minced Beef and Carrots Recipe for Small Breed Dogs | 5 | M |
| Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Chicken & Peas Pâté for Small Breed Dogs | 4 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Morsels Turkey and Green Beans for Small Breed Dogs was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Morsels Turkey and Green Beans for Small Breed Dogs
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Turkey broth, chicken, chicken liver, turkey, dried egg whites, green beans, carrots, dried peas, guar gum, sodium phosphate, salt, natural flavor, potassium chloride, zinc-amino-acid-chelate, iron-amino-acid-chelate, copper-amino-acid-chelate, manganese-amino-acid-chelate, sodium selenite, cobalt-amino-acid-chelate, potassium iodide, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, menhaden fish oil, xanthan gum
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 9% | 4% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 47% | 19% | 25% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 39% | 39% | 21% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is turkey broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to dog food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The second ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.2
Turkey is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The fifth ingredient is dried egg whites. Eggs are highly digestible and an excellent source of usable protein.
The sixth ingredient is green beans, a healthy vegetable notable for its vitamin, mineral and natural fiber content.
The seventh ingredient is carrot. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The eighth ingredient is peas. Peas 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.
The ninth ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
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 the product.
This recipe has three notable exceptions.
First, this food includes chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Next, menhaden oil. Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. Their oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids, two high quality fats boasting the highest bio-availability to both dogs and humans.
What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not as likely to be exposed to mercury contamination as is typical with deep water species.
Lastly 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Canidae Pure Petite Wet Dog Food: Grain-Free Morsels Turkey and Green Beans for Small Breed Dogs looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47.2%, a fat level of 19.4% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 25.3%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 45.1% and a mean fat level of 19.1%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 27.8% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 43%.
This means Canidae Pure Petite Grain-Free Pate contains above-average protein, near-average carbohydrate, and below-average fat when compared to typical wet dog food.
Canidae Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Canidae through December 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Canidae Pure Petite Grain-Free Pate Dog Food
The Canidae Pure Petite Grain-Free Pate range is certainly worthy of the 5 stars the brand has earned in our review. The products are made with premium and sustainable ingredients and vet formulated.
About
Canidae was founded in 1996 by Scott Whipple and John Gordon, who met while working at a local pet store..
In 2012, Canidae acquired a manufacturing facility in Brownwood, Texas. Called Ethos, it’s one of the smallest pet food plants in the US, the company controls every step of manufacturing. It’s also a research and development center equipped with a lab that tests all incoming ingredients and outgoing products.
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