Raw Coated Wholesome Grain Grass-Fed Beef Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food, 3.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated Wholesome Grain Grass-Fed Beef Recipe is a dry food for small breed dogs, featuring beef, lamb, and pork as its main proteins.
This recipe stands out for its protein quality, with beef providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources that offer fermentable fiber, and good fat sources like named fat with marine oil, which is a source of EPA and DHA.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for small breed dogs. Nothing serious working against it.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
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) . Strong fit for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus beef liver at position 6 (a natural taurine precursor).
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 78/100, this formula sits near the top of our catalog. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 18.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage. Secondary contribution comes from carbohydrate quality (+16 points). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Bottom 3% for DMB protein in Stella & Chewy's's lineup (30.7%)
- Top 10% for overall Sniff Score in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (78/100)
- Top quartile for carb quality in Stella & Chewy's's lineup (16/16)
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.
Stella & Chewy's Wild Red Raw Coated Kibble Wholesome Grains Red Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food, 21-lb bag
Scores 6 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Stella & Chewy's Wild Red Raw Coated Kibble Grain-Free Prairie Recipe Dry Dog Food, 21-lb bag
$3.05/lb vs your seed's $7.71/lb (60% 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 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.
- 3grainoatmeal
Gentle on the stomach. Slow-release carbs and soluble fiber that supports stool quality.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4grainpearled barley
Barley with the outer hull removed. Easy to digest, steady carb release.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5protein animalpork meal
Pork cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh pork.
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6protein animalbeef liver
Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.
Position 6. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 7vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 8grainquinoa
Pseudo-grain with a complete amino acid profile. Rare in dog food because it's expensive.
Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 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.
- 10fibertomato pomace
The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.
Position 10: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 11beef fat
Real animal fat, a clean energy source. Stable on the shelf without synthetic preservatives.
Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 12natural vegetable flavor
- 13protein animalbeef kidney
Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and trace minerals. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.
Position 13. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.
- 14beef tripe
Stomach lining. Strong-smelling but nutrient-dense, with natural digestive enzymes.
Position 14. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.
- 15fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 15: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 16fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
- 17coconut flour
- 18mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 19pumpkin seed
Real seed. Source of magnesium, zinc, and traditionally used as a mild dewormer (the evidence is folkloric, not clinical).
- 20fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
- 21vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
- 22vegetablebroccoli
Real vegetable. Adds fiber and some antioxidants. Fine in the small amounts used in kibble.
- 23beets
Whole beets, not to be confused with beet pulp. Real vegetable, fiber and antioxidants.
- 24vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
- 25squash
Real vegetable. Fiber, vitamin A, gentle on the stomach. Similar nutrition role to sweet potato.
Showing first 25 of 56. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.