Open Sky Duck Limited Ingredient Diet Alkaline Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Canine Caviar Open Sky Duck Limited Ingredient Diet Alkaline Dry Dog Food is a dry food that features duck as its primary protein source.
This food includes quality fat sources like duck fat and algae oil, which provides beneficial EPA and DHA. These are good for overall health.
The biggest watch item is the lack of an AAFCO statement, meaning its nutritional completeness is unverified. Also, the duck meal is noted for delivering limited bioavailable amino acids.
Good fit for dogs whose owners prioritize quality fat sources. Less ideal if you prefer a food with verified nutritional completeness.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) . Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Duck meal anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus added taurine at position 11.
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 47/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from fat quality, worth 12 points to the final number: Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source). The ceiling on this score is 59, set because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). The cap isn't the binding constraint here. Protein quality would also need to improve to reach the next band.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Low protein quality. duck meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
- Top 2% for crude fiber in grain-free dry kibbles (13.3% DMB)
- Bottom 10% for carb quality in Canine Caviar's lineup (9/16)
- Top 3% for caloric density in grain-free dry kibbles (555 kcal/cup)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
ACANA Limited Ingredient Duck & Pumpkin Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
Scores 33 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Zignature Duck Limited Ingredient Formula Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag
$3.60/lb vs your seed's $5.68/lb (37% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalduck meal
Duck cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh duck.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2teff
- 3duck fat
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4fermented yeast
- 5ground sunflower seeds
- 6ground flax seed
- 7alfalfa concentrate
- 8fatcoconut oil
Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.
Position 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 9sun-cured kelp
- 10algae oil
Position 10. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 11supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 12mineralsodium chloride
Same as salt. Required mineral, necessary at small doses.
- 13supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 14fructooligosaccharide
Prebiotic fiber, often abbreviated FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria.
- 15peppermint
- 16supplementparsley
Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.
- 17papaya
- 18rose hips
- 19beta-carotene
- 20vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
8 of 20 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.