Steak & Poultry Lovers Variety Pack Small Breed Adult Wet Dog Food Trays, 3.5-oz, case of 36
Graded by The Sniff System
Cesar Steak & Poultry Lovers Variety Pack is a wet food for small breed adult dogs, featuring beef and chicken liver as primary protein sources.
This food offers reasonable protein quality, with beef contributing to its amino acid profile. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. The presence of organ meat like chicken liver and chicken heart adds diverse, high-bioavailability protein.
The most significant concern is the presence of sodium nitrite, which is unnecessary in dog food and has been linked to health issues. This formula also contains carrageenan, a thickener some studies associate with gastrointestinal inflammation.
Hard to recommend for any dog due to the presence of sodium nitrite and carrageenan.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and similar moderately active toy breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Working in its favor: explicitly formulated for small-breed dogs. Filet mignon flavor: beef anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus chicken liver at position 3 (a natural taurine precursor). The FDA's 2019 investigation update on diet-associated DCM included 13 reported cases in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, making them one of the top 15 most frequently reported breeds at that time (FDA, 2019) .
Looking at this for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 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, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019cardiac · diet composition· cited in 3 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Below-average grade. 31/100 (D) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+18.5 points): Reasonable protein quality. filet mignon flavor: beef delivers solid amino acid coverage. What capped it: the score can't exceed 49 because one FLAG-tier ingredient is in the formula. Removing the cap alone wouldn't change the band. Controversial-ingredient penalty is the deeper issue.
Reasonable protein quality. filet mignon flavor: beef delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
Contains sodium nitrite. Documented canine death (Worth 2005); IARC 2A nitrosamine pathway. Unnecessary in dog food (no botulism niche)..
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
- Lowest fat quality in grain-free wet foods (4/16)
- Top quartile for DMB protein in grain-free wet foods (50.0%)
- Bottom 5% for overall Sniff Score in grain-free wet foods (31/100)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Controversial ingredients · 1
- carrageenanSeaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 50%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1filet mignon flavor: beef
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2pork by-products
Generic pork organs and tissue without species-specific traceability. Named by-products are more transparent.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalchicken liver
Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.
Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 4chicken broth
Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5water
Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.
- 6beef lung
Organ meat. Lean, protein-dense, real-food inclusion. More common in raw and freeze-dried diets.
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7protein animalchicken heart
Organ meat. Dense in taurine, B vitamins, and CoQ10. One of the best ingredients dogs can eat.
Position 7. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 8added color
Generic coloring. Doesn't say if natural or artificial. Dogs are color-blind, so any added color is for the human shopper.
- 9mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 10mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 11othercarrageenan Flagged
Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →
- 12mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 13fiberxanthan gum
Thickener common in wet food and gravies. Same emulsifier-microbiome conversation as guar gum, not a clear flag. See why →
Position 13: trace fiber inclusion.
- 14magnesium proteinate
Magnesium bound to protein for better absorption. The premium chelated form.
- 15dried yam
Yam with the moisture removed. Complex carb, fiber, similar role to sweet potato.
- 16supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 17mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 18erythorbic acid
- 19filet mignon flavor
- 20fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
- 21othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 22mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
- 23vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 24monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 25sodium nitrite
Preservative and color fixative. Forms nitrosamines under certain conditions. Mostly found in moist or jerky-style products. See why →
Showing first 25 of 205. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.