Breed Health Nutrition Shih Tzu Adult Loaf In Sauce Canned Dog Food, 3-oz, case of 24
Graded by The Sniff System
Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Shih Tzu Adult Loaf In Sauce is a wet food for adult dogs, primarily featuring chicken and pork liver.
This formula includes quality fat sources like fish oil, which provides EPA and DHA. It also features organ meat, like pork liver, for diverse, highly bioavailable protein. The food has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance, which is a strong indicator of nutritional adequacy.
The formula contains carrageenan, a seaweed-derived thickener that some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation. It also includes guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data, though this is a minor penalty in wet foods.
Good fit for adult Shih Tzus. Less ideal if your dog has a sensitive stomach or inflammatory bowel disease.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for active large sporting breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Pork by-products anchors position 2, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus added taurine at position 14 and pork liver at position 5 (a natural taurine precursor). 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 51/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was fat quality (+12 points): Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source). The biggest detractor was controversial-ingredient penalty (-5 points): Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD. To reach B-tier, this formula would need to gain about 9 points, most likely through controversial-ingredient penalty.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..
Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..
- Lowest carb quality in Royal Canin's lineup (10/16)
- Top 4% for DMB fat in Royal Canin's lineup (24.9%)
- Bottom 3% for overall Sniff Score in Royal Canin's lineup (51/100)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Scores 14 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Mature Consult Loaf in Sauce Canned Dog Food, 13.5-oz, case of 24
$4.77/lb vs your seed's $16.48/lb (71% less) at a comparable score.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Multifunction Urinary SO + Satiety Loaf in Sauce Wet Dog Food, 13.5-oz can, case of 24
Pork instead of chicken, 1 point lower, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 1
- 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 35%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1water sufficient for processing
The regulatory phrase for cooking water in wet food. Has no nutritional implication, just labeling formality.
- 2pork by-products
Generic pork organs and tissue without species-specific traceability. Named by-products are more transparent.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4chicken by-products
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5protein animalpork liver
Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.
Position 5. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 6corn flour
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7fiberpowdered cellulose
Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.
Position 7: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 8vegetable oil
Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.
Position 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 9fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
Position 9. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 10othercarrageenan Flagged
Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →
- 11othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 12carob bean gum
- 13potassium phosphate
- 14supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 15fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
Position 15: trace fiber inclusion.
- 16supplementl-carnitine
Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.
- 17mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 18preservative naturalcitric acid
Natural antioxidant preservative. Helps keep fats from going rancid.
- 19supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 20sodium carbonate
pH buffer used in food processing. Functional, no quality signal.
- 21mineralmagnesium oxide
Inorganic magnesium. Functional at AAFCO doses, less efficiently absorbed than chelated forms.
- 22mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 23zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
- 24mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 25mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
Showing first 25 of 29. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
21 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.