Grain-Free Buffalo Canned Dog & Cat Food, 6-oz, case of 24
Graded by The Sniff System
Evanger's Grain-Free Buffalo Canned Dog & Cat Food is a wet food featuring buffalo as the main protein.
The formula includes liver, which adds some diverse, bioavailable amino acids. This is a small positive, but it's overshadowed by other concerns.
A major concern is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means the product's nutritional completeness isn't guaranteed. Also, the protein quality from buffalo is low, and there's no declared source of omega-3s.
Hard to recommend for any dog due to the lack of an AAFCO statement and other nutritional concerns.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
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) . Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Buffalo leads the deck, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus liver at position 3 (a natural taurine precursor).
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 24/100, this formula sits in territory where we recommend switching. The lift comes from ingredient diversity, worth 5 points to the final number: Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein. 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.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
Low protein quality. buffalo delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
- Lowest fat quality in Evanger's's lineup (4/16)
- Lowest overall Sniff Score in Evanger's's lineup (24/100)
- Bottom 3% for protein quality in Evanger's's lineup (1.3/27)
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.
Evanger's Venison & Beef Dinner Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.8-oz, case of 12
Scores 34 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Evanger's Grain-Free Hand Packed Catch of the Day Canned Dog Food, 12-oz, case of 12
$5.72/lb vs your seed's $6.67/lb (14% 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 45%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1buffalo
- 2water sufficient for processing
The regulatory phrase for cooking water in wet food. Has no nutritional implication, just labeling formality.
- 3liver
Generic liver, usually chicken or beef. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients a dog can eat. Named species is more informative.
- 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.
3 of 4 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.