Premium Performance 26/16 Exercise Small Bites Adult Dog Food, 3.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Eukanuba Premium Performance 26/16 Exercise Small Bites Adult Dog Food is a dry formula for adult dogs, with chicken by-product meal as its primary protein source.
This food uses quality carbohydrate sources that include fermentable fiber, which is good for gut health. It also has quality fat sources, like named chicken fat and fish oil, providing beneficial EPA and DHA. The formula has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
The main thing to watch for is the protein quality. Chicken by-product meal, while a protein source, delivers limited bioavailable amino acids compared to whole muscle meat.
Good fit for active adult dogs who prefer smaller kibble. Less ideal if you're looking for higher quality, more bioavailable protein.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Based on 28,157 evaluations through 2023, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals reports a 5.6% hip dysplasia prevalence in German Shorthaired Pointers, with 91.5% of hips rated as excellent, good, or fair (OFA) . Strong fit for large sporting breeds like German Shorthaired Pointers, Weimaraners, and Brittanys navigating hip and joint concerns. No glucosamine or chondroitin on the label, with fish oil at position 10 for anti-inflammatory EPA/DHA, though caloric density (456 kcal/cup) runs rich for a mobility-limited dog.
Looking at this for adult German Shorthaired Pointers or German Shorthaired Pointers with hip and joint 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 5 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- OFAorthopedics · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- APOP, 2023weight management
- Bhathal et al., 2017glucosamine
- Brooks et al., 2014weight management
- OFAorthopedics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 61/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from carbohydrate quality, worth 13 points to the final number: Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 17 points. Low protein quality. chicken by-product meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Low protein quality. chicken by-product meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
- Bottom 4% for crude fiber in Eukanuba's lineup (4.0% DMB)
- Top quartile for caloric density in Eukanuba's lineup (456 kcal/cup)
- Bottom 4% for protein quality in Eukanuba's lineup (7.8/27)
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.
Eukanuba Fit Body Weight Control Small Breed Dry Dog Food, 15-lb bag
Scores 17 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages High-Protein Active 26/16 Formula Dry Dog Food, 37.5-lb bag
$1.60/lb vs your seed's $4.28/lb (63% 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 animalchicken by-product meal
Ground organs, bone, and tissue. Nutritionally dense, especially the liver and gizzard fractions. Named species ('chicken') is what matters. Generic 'poultry by-product meal' is the one to worry about. See why →
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2graincorn
Whole corn is more nutritious than it gets credit for, with decent amino acids and steady carbs. The bigger concern is when corn dominates the top of the ingredient list at the expense of named meat.
Position 2: major carbohydrate source.
- 3brewers rice
Broken rice kernels left over from milling, usually destined for human beer-making. Cheaper than whole or even white rice. Same carbs, less nutrition than the brown version. See why →
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 4: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 5grainwheat
Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6corn protein meal
Concentrated corn protein. Similar in role to corn gluten meal, pads the protein number on the label without matching meat amino acids.
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7protein plantwheat gluten
Concentrated wheat protein. Like other plant gluten meals, it pads the protein number on the label without contributing meat-quality amino acids.
Position 7: moderate plant-protein boost. Less likely to materially shift the protein profile.
- 8othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 9dried plain beet pulp
Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality. See why →
Position 9: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 10fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
Position 10. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 11mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 12vegetable oil
Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.
Position 12: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 13sodium aluminosilicate
Anti-caking agent that keeps powder ingredients flowing. Functional, not nutritional.
- 14mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 15monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 16powdered psyllium seed husk
- 17supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 18fiberpea fiber
Insoluble fiber from peas. Doesn't carry the protein-inflation concern of pea protein. Mostly there for stool quality.
- 19mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 20mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 21supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 22preservative naturalrosemary extract
Natural preservative. Replaces synthetic ones like BHA and BHT.
- 23preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid
- 24hydrolyzed yeast
Yeast broken down with enzymes. Strong palatant plus a real source of B vitamins and amino acids.
- 25marigold extract
Showing first 25 of 38. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.