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Wysong Epigen Duck Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case 12
Wysong

Epigen Duck Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case 12

Evidence Fair
wet $45.89

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Wysong Epigen Duck Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food is a wet food featuring duck as its primary protein.

There aren't many standout positives to highlight for this formula. It is a wet food, which can be good for hydration.

A major concern is the absence of an AAFCO statement, which caps the score significantly. The protein quality is noted as low, with duck providing limited bioavailable amino acids, and there's no declared omega-3 source.

Hard to recommend for any dog given the significant missing information and protein quality concerns.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

For Labrador Retrievers with suspected cutaneous adverse food reactions, a strict elimination diet trial must last a minimum of 8 weeks to reliably diagnose or rule out a food-based trigger. Good fit for active large sporting breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and English Setters navigating skin allergies. The protein deck is built around a single species (duck). The National Research Council (2006) recommends a minimum of 2.6 grams of linoleic acid (an omega-6) per 1000 kcal of metabolizable energy to maintain skin barrier function in adult dogs  (NRC, 2006) .

Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with skin allergies ? 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.

Why this score

At 39/100, this formula sits below where we look for everyday picks. The ceiling on this score is 59, set because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). The cap isn't the binding constraint here. Protein quality would also need to improve to reach the next band.

What lifted the score

No positive drivers crossed our reporting threshold.

What pulled it down

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Low protein quality. duck delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI

No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.

FQI
What sets this apart
  • Lowest fat quality in Wysong's lineup (4/16)
  • Top quartile for DMB fat in Wysong's lineup (32.0%)
  • Lowest carb quality in Wysong's lineup (9/16)

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.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Merrick Grain-Free Wet Dog Food Wilderness Blend, 12.7-oz can, case of 12
Merrick

Merrick Grain-Free Wet Dog Food Wilderness Blend, 12.7-oz can, case of 12

67

Scores 28 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Worth a look
Different brand, different protein
Weruva Peking Ducken with Chicken & Duck in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 14-oz, case of 12
Weruva

Weruva Peking Ducken with Chicken & Duck in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 14-oz, case of 12

45

Chicken instead of duck, 6 points higher, different brand.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 40% ⓘ
Protein
10%
min (as fed)
Fat
8%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
75%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 40%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

5 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    duck

    Real meat. Often used as a novel protein for dogs with sensitivities to chicken or beef.

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    water sufficient for processing

    The regulatory phrase for cooking water in wet food. Has no nutritional implication, just labeling formality.

  3. 3
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  4. 4
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →

    Position 4: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.

  5. 5
    mixed tocopherols

    Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →

    Natural preservative. Methodologically preferred over synthetic alternatives.

5 of 5 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.