Raw Coated Grass-Fed Beef Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated Grass-Fed Beef Recipe is a grain-free dry dog food, featuring beef, lamb, and salmon as its main protein sources.
This recipe offers good protein quality, with beef providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes organ meats like beef heart and liver, along with salmon meal, which adds diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources. The formula is designed to meet AAFCO nutritional standards.
The formula contains several legume ingredients like chickpeas, peas, lentils, and pea protein high in the list. This "pulse stacking" is a pattern the FDA has investigated, though it's partially mitigated here by the inclusion of organ meats.
Good fit for adult dogs who thrive on diverse animal proteins and a grain-free diet. Less ideal if you prefer to avoid formulas with multiple legumes.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for moderately active toy breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, and Shih Tzus navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef anchors position 1, with 4 pulse-family ingredients stacked in the top 15, plus beef heart at position 8 (a natural taurine precursor) and salmon meal at position 5. The FDA's 2019 investigation update on diet-associated DCM included 13 reported cases in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, making them one of the top 15 most frequently reported breeds at that time (FDA, 2019) .
Looking at this for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 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, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019cardiac · diet composition· cited in 3 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 63/100, landing in B-tier territory. The biggest contributor was protein quality (+19 points): Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage. The biggest detractor was controversial-ingredient penalty (-2 points): Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10. To reach A-tier, this formula would need to gain about 12 points, most likely through controversial-ingredient penalty.
Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared not stated. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Lowest carb quality in Stella & Chewy's's lineup (8/16)
- Top quartile for caloric density in dry kibbles (434 kcal/cup)
- Bottom quartile for DMB protein in Stella & Chewy's's lineup (36.4%)
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.
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 animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animallamb meal
Lamb cooked down to a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh lamb. See why →
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3legumechickpeas
Also called garbanzo beans. Affordable plant protein source, part of the legume stack the FDA examined in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 3. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.
- 4legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5protein animalsalmon meal
Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient. See why →
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 6. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 7protein plantpea protein
Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.
Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 8protein animalbeef heart
Position 8. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 9fatsunflower oil
Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.
Position 9: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 10beef fat
Real animal fat, a clean energy source. Stable on the shelf without synthetic preservatives.
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11fibertomato pomace
The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.
Position 11: trace fiber inclusion.
- 12protein animalbeef liver
Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.
Position 12. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.
- 13natural vegetable flavor
- 14suncured alfalfa
- 15protein animalbeef kidney
Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and trace minerals. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.
Position 15. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.
- 16beef tripe
Stomach lining. Strong-smelling but nutrient-dense, with natural digestive enzymes.
- 17fenugreek seed
Herb seed. Trace inclusion, mostly for flavor and label appeal.
- 18fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
- 19coconut flour
- 20vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
- 21pumpkin seed
Real seed. Source of magnesium, zinc, and traditionally used as a mild dewormer (the evidence is folkloric, not clinical).
- 22fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
- 23vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
- 24vegetablebroccoli
Real vegetable. Adds fiber and some antioxidants. Fine in the small amounts used in kibble.
- 25beets
Whole beets, not to be confused with beet pulp. Real vegetable, fiber and antioxidants.
Showing first 25 of 59. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
21 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.