Restricted Sodium Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 13.2-oz can, 12 count
Graded by The Sniff System
Dave's Pet Food Restricted Sodium Chicken Recipe is a grain-free wet dog food with chicken as its primary protein.
There are no notable positive drivers for this food.
This food lacks an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional adequacy is not guaranteed. The protein quality from chicken is considered low, and there is no declared source of omega-3s.
Hard to recommend for any dog. The lack of an AAFCO statement and low protein quality are major concerns.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
For Labrador Retrievers with suspected cutaneous adverse food reactions, a strict elimination diet trial must last a minimum of 8 weeks to reliably diagnose or rule out a food-based trigger. Good fit for adult Labrador Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating skin allergies. The protein deck is built around a single species (chicken). The National Research Council (2006) recommends a minimum of 2.6 grams of linoleic acid (an omega-6) per 1000 kcal of metabolizable energy to maintain skin barrier function in adult dogs (NRC, 2006) .
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with skin allergies ? 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.
At 36/100, this formula sits below where we look for everyday picks. 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.
No positive drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
Low protein quality. chicken delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
- Lowest protein quality in Dave's Pet Food's lineup (4.8/27)
- Top 10% for DMB fat in grain-free wet foods (34.8%)
- Lowest fat quality in Dave's Pet Food's lineup (4/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 39%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2water sufficient for processing
The regulatory phrase for cooking water in wet food. Has no nutritional implication, just labeling formality.
- 3fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
Position 3: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 4agar-agar
Seaweed-derived gel used as a thickener. Functional alternative to carrageenan, generally well-tolerated.
- 5zinc amino acid chelate
Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.
- 6iron amino acid chelate
Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 7copper amino acid chelate
Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.
- 8manganese amino acid chelate
Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 9mineralsodium selenite Flagged
Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →
- 10cobalt amino acid chelate
Cobalt bound to amino acids for better absorption. Trace mineral needed for B12 synthesis.
- 11mineralpotassium iodide
Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 12vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 13vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 14vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 15vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 16vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 17vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 18vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 19vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
- 20vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 21vitaminvitamin d3 supplement
The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.
- 22vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
- 23sodium carbonate
pH buffer used in food processing. Functional, no quality signal.
23 of 23 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.