Size Health Nutrition Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food, 17-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Medium Puppy Dry Dog Food is a dry formula for puppies, with chicken by-product meal as its primary protein source.
This food uses quality fat sources, including named chicken fat and marine oil, which provides beneficial EPA and DHA. It also features quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber, which can be good for digestion. Plus, it has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for growth, which is a strong positive for puppy food.
The main thing to watch out for is the protein quality. Chicken by-product meal, while a protein source, delivers limited bioavailable amino acids compared to whole muscle meat.
Good fit for medium-sized puppies. Less ideal if you prefer formulas with higher quality, more bioavailable protein sources.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Frenchies have notoriously sensitive GI tracts plus a tendency toward obesity given their low activity needs. Limited-ingredient formulas with moderate calorie density tend to fit them well. Strong fit for lower-energy small companion breeds, including the French Bulldog, navigating a sensitive stomach. Chicken by-product meal leads at position 1, with dried plain beet pulp (prebiotic fiber) at position 7 on the deck, and a single-species protein design that makes trigger isolation easier.
Looking at this for puppy French Bulldogs or French Bulldogs with a sensitive stomach ? 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.
At 62/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. 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 17 points. Low protein quality. chicken by-product meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for growth.
Low protein quality. chicken by-product meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
- Top 10% for caloric density in Royal Canin's lineup (410 kcal/cup)
- Bottom 10% for fat quality in Royal Canin's lineup (12/16)
- Top 10% for DMB fat in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (20.4%)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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$3.00/lb vs your seed's $4.35/lb (31% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalchicken by-product meal
Ground organs, bone, and tissue. Nutritionally dense, especially the liver and gizzard fractions. Named species ('chicken') is what matters. Generic 'poultry by-product meal' is the one to worry about. See why →
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 2: primary fat source. Drives the formula's caloric density and omega-6 content.
- 3brewers 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 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4graincorn
Whole corn is more nutritious than it gets credit for, with decent amino acids and steady carbs. The bigger concern is when corn dominates the top of the ingredient list at the expense of named meat.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5grainwheat
Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6protein plantwheat gluten
Concentrated wheat protein. Like other plant gluten meals, it pads the protein number on the label without contributing meat-quality amino acids.
Position 6: moderate plant-protein boost. Less likely to materially shift the protein profile.
- 7dried plain beet pulp
Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality. See why →
Position 7: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 8othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 9brewers rice flour
- 10protein plantcorn gluten meal
Concentrated corn protein. Inflates the protein percent on the label without matching meat-quality amino acids.
Position 10: moderate plant-protein boost. Less likely to materially shift the protein profile.
- 11monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 12vegetable oil
Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.
Position 12: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 13sodium aluminosilicate
Anti-caking agent that keeps powder ingredients flowing. Functional, not nutritional.
- 14fiberpea fiber
Insoluble fiber from peas. Doesn't carry the protein-inflation concern of pea protein. Mostly there for stool quality.
Position 14. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 15mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 16mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 17fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
- 18supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 19mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 20fiberfructooligosaccharides
Prebiotic fiber, often called FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria, similar in function to inulin.
- 21hydrolyzed yeast
Yeast broken down with enzymes. Strong palatant plus a real source of B vitamins and amino acids.
- 22supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 23marine microalgae oil
Plant-source omega-3 from algae. Useful especially in vegetarian or limited-fish formulas.
- 24supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 25mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
Showing first 25 of 38. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.