Grain-Free Hand Packed Chunky Chicken Casserole Dinner Canned Dog Food, 12-oz, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
Evanger's Grain-Free Hand Packed Chunky Chicken Casserole Dinner is a wet food that features chicken as its primary protein.
There are no notable positive drivers for this food according to our methodology.
A significant concern is the absence of an AAFCO statement, meaning this food isn't guaranteed to meet nutritional standards. Also, the protein quality from chicken is low, and there's no declared omega-3 source.
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.
Miniature Schnauzers have a high prevalence of idiopathic hypertriglyceridemia. One study found 32.6% of 192 apparently healthy Miniature Schnauzers had elevated triglyceride levels, a primary risk factor for pancreatitis. Good fit for moderately active small terriers, including the Miniature Schnauzer, navigating pancreatitis recovery. DMB fat sits at 8%, in the low-fat (post-recovery range), with chicken at position 1.
Looking at this for adult Miniature Schnauzers or Miniature Schnauzers with pancreatitis recovery ? 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 4 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- ACVIMfat content · recovery protocol· cited in 2 claims
- Watson, 2015fat content · risk factors· cited in 2 claims
- Hand et al., 2010protein
- IDEXXdiagnostics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 33/100, 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 DMB fat in Evanger's's lineup (8.3%)
- Top 3% for crude fiber in Evanger's's lineup (22.2% DMB)
- Lowest fat quality in Evanger's's lineup (4/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
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 44%, 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.
- 3vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 3: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 4legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 6fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
Position 6: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 7vitamins {vitamin e supplement
- 8vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 9l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate
A stable form of vitamin C used in pet food. Provides antioxidant support and survives processing better than plain ascorbic acid.
- 10vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 11vitamincalcium pantothenate
Same as d-calcium pantothenate. Vitamin B5 in standardized form.
- 12vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 13vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 14vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 15vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
- 16vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
- 17vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 18vitamin d2 supplement}
- 19minerals {zinc sulfate
- 20mineraliron sulfate
- 21mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 22mineralmanganese sulfate
Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.
- 23mineralselenium yeast
Organic selenium grown in yeast. The form premium brands use, gentler and more bioavailable than sodium selenite.
- 24potassium iodide}
19 of 24 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.