Highly Recommended
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Our Verdict
Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains dry product range is made up of five recipes with ratings varying from 4.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 stars.
This product range contains clean recipes and premium proteins, the first ingredient is always real meat, fish or poultry, paired with wholesome grains.
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 Wholesome Grains Puppy Real Salmon and Oatmeal | 5 | G |
| Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains Real Salmon and Barley | 4.5 | M |
| Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains Real Lamb and Brown Rice | 4.5 | M |
| Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains Real Bison and Barley | 4.5 | M |
| Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains Real Beef and Barley | 4.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains Puppy Real Salmon and Oatmeal was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains Puppy Real Salmon and Oatmeal
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Salmon, salmon meal, oatmeal, whole oat groats, canola oil, suncured alfalfa, flaxseed, natural flavor, minerals (iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), salt, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 27% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 30% | 18% | 44% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 26% | 37% | 38% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first 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 second ingredient is salmon meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations. 1
The third ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The fourth ingredient is whole oat groats, a whole grain, minimally processed form of oats. With the exception of their caloric content and the fact they’re also gluten free, oat groats can be considered average in nutritional value.
The fifth ingredient is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. That’s because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.
Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of omega-3 fatty acids.
In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.
The sixth ingredient is suncured alfalfa , a flowering member of the pea family. Although alfalfa is high in protein (18%) and fiber, it’s less common to see it used in dog food.
The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, 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.
The eighth ingredient is natural flavors, this doesn’t give us much information about the particular ingredients included in this dog food for flavoring purposes.Â
We’re pleased that the flavorings used are natural, but more details are required to give any further information about these natural flavoring ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our dogs.
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 four notable exceptions.
Here the details of the added vitamin sources are listed, used to balance the recipe against AAFCO guidelines.
In addition, 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.
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
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 Wholesome Grains Puppy Real Salmon and Oatmeal looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 17.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 44.2%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 27.9% and a mean fat level of 16.6%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 47.6% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 59%.
This means Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains contains near-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and near-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
Canidae Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Canidae through September 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains Dog Food
The Canidae Pure Wholesome Grains range is made with premium and sustainable ingredients and is 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.
Compare Canidae Pure Dog Food
How does Canidae Pure compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
