CC CardioCare High Protein Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food, 16.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets CC CardioCare High Protein Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food is a dry food with chicken as its primary protein source.
This formula includes quality fat sources, like named animal fat and marine oil, which provides beneficial EPA and DHA. It also uses quality carbohydrate sources that offer fermentable fiber. The food has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation, which is a good sign of its nutritional adequacy.
A key thing to note is that this formula is plant-protein dominated, with oat meal as the first ingredient. It also contains menadione, a synthetic vitamin K3 that's banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses.
Good fit for dogs needing quality fats and carbs. Less ideal if you prefer animal protein first or want to avoid synthetic vitamin K.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Based on 3,363 OFA cardiac screenings, 1.0% of Saint Bernards had abnormal findings. Dilated cardiomyopathy and subaortic stenosis are noted heritable cardiac diseases in the breed (OFA) . Good fit for adult Saint Bernards navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken meal anchors position 4, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus liver flavor at position 11 (a natural taurine precursor). What to watch: calorie density (432 kcal/cup) is rich for a lower-activity breed.
Looking at this for adult Saint Bernards or Saint Bernards 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 4 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019cardiac concerns with named research if dcm predisposed · diet composition· cited in 3 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
- OFAcardiac concerns with named research if dcm predisposed
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 51/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from fat quality, worth 12 points to the final number: Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source). Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 16 points. Plant-protein-dominated formula. oat meal as the #1 ingredient. The path to B-tier is about 9 points; protein quality is the structural lever.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.
Plant-protein-dominated formula. oat meal as the #1 ingredient.
Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source..
- Top 10% for caloric density in Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets's lineup (432 kcal/cup)
- Bottom quartile for protein quality in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (9/27)
- Top quartile for DMB fat in Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets's lineup (16.0%)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Controversial ingredients · 1
- menadioneSynthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1oat meal
Alternate spelling of oatmeal. Gentle whole grain, steady carb energy, soluble fiber.
- 2corn 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 2: major carbohydrate source.
- 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.
- 4protein animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols
Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 6vegetable oil
Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 7cassava root flour
- 8fiberdried beet pulp
Soluble fiber from sugar-beet processing. Sometimes treated as a filler, but it's actually one of the better fiber sources in kibble. See why →
Position 8: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 9protein plantpotato protein
Concentrated potato protein. Like pea protein, it inflates the protein number without matching meat-quality amino acids.
Position 9: moderate plant-protein boost. Less likely to materially shift the protein profile.
- 10fiberpowdered cellulose
Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.
Position 10: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 11liver flavor
- 12protein animalfish meal
Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile. See why →
Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 13fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
Position 13. Trace marine oil. Contributes some omega-3 but well below the level that drives EPA/DHA totals.
- 14mono and dicalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 15othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 16mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 17l-lysine monohydrochloride
Stable form of L-lysine, an essential amino acid. Common in plant-heavy formulas to balance the amino acid profile.
- 18supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 19mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 20mineralmagnesium sulfate
Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 21potassium sorbate
- 22supplementl-arginine
- 23mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 24vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 25supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
Showing first 25 of 48. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
20 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.