Classic Recipes Chicken & Rice Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
Evanger's Classic Recipes Chicken & Rice Canned Dog Food is a wet food featuring chicken, formulated for all life stages.
There aren't many standout positives for this food. It does list chicken as the first ingredient, which is good to see.
This food lacks an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified. Also, there's no declared source of omega-3 fatty acids like fish or algae oil.
This food is hard to recommend broadly due to the missing AAFCO statement. It's less ideal if you want verified nutritional completeness.
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 zero pulses in the top 15. 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Below-average grade. 39/100 (D) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. 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. Fat quality is the deeper issue.
No positive drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
- Lowest fat quality in Evanger's's lineup (4/16)
- Top quartile for DMB fat in grain-inclusive wet foods (27.3%)
- Bottom 3% for carb quality in grain-inclusive wet foods (9/16)
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.
Evanger's Super Premium Lamb & Rice Dinner Canned Dog Food, 12.8-oz, case of 12
Scores 15 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Evanger's Chicken & Rice Dinner Gluten-Free Wet Dog Food, 20.2-oz can, case of 12
$2.76/lb vs your seed's $3.19/lb (13% less) at a comparable score.
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.
- 3grainrice
Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
Position 4: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
4 of 4 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
This mouthwatering formula is a complete and balanced diet for all life stages