K95 Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
Earthborn Holistic K95 Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food is a wet food built around chicken.
This formula includes liver and dried whole eggs, which add diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources. Chicken is the first ingredient, supported by chicken broth.
The biggest watch item here is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified. It also contains guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data.
Good fit for owners looking for a chicken-based wet food topper. Less ideal if you need a complete and balanced primary diet.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken anchors position 1, with one pulse (snow peas at position 6), plus liver at position 3 (a natural taurine precursor). 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) .
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Middle-of-pack grade. 47/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Ingredient diversity did the heavy lifting (+5 points): Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein. What capped it: the score can't exceed 59 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). Removing the cap alone wouldn't change the band. AAFCO compliance is the deeper issue.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..
- Lowest fat quality in Earthborn Holistic's lineup (6/16)
- Top 10% for DMB fat in wet foods (34.1%)
- Bottom 10% for carb quality in Earthborn Holistic's lineup (11/16)
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.
Natural Farm Adult Grain-Free 95% Animal Ingredients Chicken Recipe Canned Wet Dog Food, 12-oz can, case of 12
Scores 21 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Nature's Recipe Grain-Free Chicken & Beef Recipes Variety Pack Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, 12 count
$3.93/lb vs your seed's $4.21/lb (7% less) at a comparable score.
K9 Natural Lamb & King Salmon Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Lamb instead of chicken, 12 points higher, different brand.
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 41%, 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.
- 2chicken broth
Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3liver
Generic liver, usually chicken or beef. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients a dog can eat. Named species is more informative.
- 4vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 4: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 5vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 6snow peas
Position 6. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 7dried whole eggs
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 9fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
Position 9: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 10olive oil
Position 10: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 11mineraltricalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.
- 12sodium triopolyphosphate
- 13fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 13: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 14fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
Position 14: trace fiber inclusion.
- 15cassia gum
Thickener common in wet food. Functional, no major concerns at typical inclusion.
- 16supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 17mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 18lecithin
Natural emulsifier, usually from soy or sunflower. Helps blend fats and water. Safe at typical inclusion.
- 19thyme
- 20sage
- 21supplementrosemary
- 22supplementyucca schidigera extract
Plant extract added to reduce stool odor. Functional, not nutritional. Fine in trace amounts.
- 23mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 24vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 25l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate
A stable form of vitamin C used in pet food. Provides antioxidant support and survives processing better than plain ascorbic acid.
Showing first 25 of 42. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
18 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.