Adult Urinary SO Moderate Calorie Thin Slices In Gravy Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz can, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary SO Moderate Calorie Thin Slices In Gravy is a wet food for adult dogs, featuring chicken and pork liver as primary proteins.
This formula offers reasonable protein quality, with chicken providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality fat sources like named fat and marine oil, which is a good source of EPA and DHA. The product has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
The formula contains guar gum, which is an emulsifier. While there's emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers, there's no canine clinical evidence, so it's a minor penalty in canned food.
Good fit for adult dogs needing urinary support and moderate calorie intake. Nothing serious working against it.
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) . Strong fit for active large sporting breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken anchors position 2, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus pork liver at position 4 (a natural taurine precursor).
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 62/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 18 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. chicken delivers solid amino acid coverage. Where it lost ground: controversial-ingredient penalty, costing 5 points. Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food.
Reasonable protein quality. chicken delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..
- Bottom 2% for fat quality in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (12/16)
- Top 10% for protein quality in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (17.8/27)
- Bottom 5% for carb quality in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (10/16)
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.
Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Large Puppy Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Scores 7 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Medium Puppy Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
$4.91/lb vs your seed's $7.03/lb (30% less) at a comparable score.
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 37%, 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.
- 2protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3pork by-products
Generic pork organs and tissue without species-specific traceability. Named by-products are more transparent.
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4protein animalpork liver
Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.
Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 5chicken by-products
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6wheat flour
Refined wheat, usually used as a binder. Cheap, not harmful, not a nutrition contributor.
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7modified corn starch
- 8fiberpowdered cellulose
Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.
Position 8: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 9protein 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 9: moderate plant-protein boost. Less likely to materially shift the protein profile.
- 10pork plasma
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 12othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 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.
- 14calcium sulfate
Source of calcium. Functional, required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 15sodium bisulfate
- 16mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 17carob bean gum
- 18fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
- 19mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 20supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 21supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 22marigold extract
- 23supplementl-carnitine
Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.
- 24zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
- 25mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
Showing first 25 of 30. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
19 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.