High Protein Chopped Beef & Bison Flavor & Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor Adult Canned Soft Wet Dog Food Variety Pack, 13.2-oz can, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
Pedigree High Protein Chopped Beef & Bison Flavor & Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor is a wet variety pack for adult dogs, with beef listed as a primary protein.
The formula is inferred to meet AAFCO standards for adult maintenance, which means it's designed to be nutritionally complete. This is a basic requirement for commercial dog food.
This food contains sodium nitrite, which has been linked to canine death and a nitrosamine pathway. It also includes unspecified meat by-products and carrageenan, which some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation.
Hard to recommend for any dog due to the presence of sodium nitrite and other flagged ingredients.
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 active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef & bison flavor: chicken anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15.
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 18/100, this formula sits in territory where we recommend switching. The lift comes from AAFCO compliance, worth 4 points to the final number: AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer. The ceiling on this score is 49, set because one FLAG-tier ingredient is in the formula. The cap isn't the binding constraint here. Controversial-ingredient penalty would also need to improve to reach the next band.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
- Top 4% for protein quality in Pedigree's lineup (12.4/27)
- Bottom 1% for fat quality in grain-inclusive wet foods (4/16)
- Top quartile for DMB protein in Pedigree's lineup (50.0%)
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.
Pedigree High Protein Variety Pack Adult Dog Wet Food Pouches, 3.5-oz pouches, 18 count
Scores 29 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Pedigree High Protein Chicken & Duck Flavor Adult Canned Wet Dog Food, 13.2-oz cans, case of 12
$2.14/lb vs your seed's $2.21/lb (3% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 2
- meat by-productsUnspecified species. AAFCO definition allows organs, blood, bone. but the lack of a named source means quality and consistency are not auditable.
- carrageenanSeaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 50%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1beef & bison flavor: chicken
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalmeat by-products Flagged
Unnamed organ meats and tissue. Could be nutritious, but no species is listed, so quality varies by batch.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3sufficient water for processing
- 4protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5brewers 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 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 7magnesium proteinate
Magnesium bound to protein for better absorption. The premium chelated form.
- 8mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
- 9mineralselenium
- 10mineralcopper proteinate
Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.
- 11mineralmanganese sulfate
Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.
- 12mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 13mineralpotassium iodide
Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 14dried yam
Yam with the moisture removed. Complex carb, fiber, similar role to sweet potato.
- 15othercarrageenan Flagged
Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →
- 16mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 17fiberxanthan gum
Thickener common in wet food and gravies. Same emulsifier-microbiome conversation as guar gum, not a clear flag. See why →
- 18added color
Generic coloring. Doesn't say if natural or artificial. Dogs are color-blind, so any added color is for the human shopper.
- 19supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 20vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 21vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 22vitamincalcium pantothenate
Same as d-calcium pantothenate. Vitamin B5 in standardized form.
- 23vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 24vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 25vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
Showing first 25 of 57. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.