Canidae Dog Food: Review

Canidae was founded by John Gordon and Scott Whipple in 1996. Gordon and Whipple met as teenagers when Whipple hired Gordon to work in an independent pet store in California. They both shared a similar vision to make pet food better. 

After talking about the gaps in the pet food industry, they noticed that a lot of quality, nutritional value and flavor was missing. So with the help of pet nutritionists and vets, they went into business together and developed their first line of pet food. 

Now two decades later, they sell over 100 dry food, canned food and treats for dogs and cats. They’ve created a brand that is known for making nutrient-rich, vet-formulated premium pet food packed with flavor. 

Their products are manufactured out of their own pet nutrition plant in Brownwood, Texas. Here they are committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of their products. They continue to research and develop pet food recipes, always looking for new ways to improve the quality and nutrients of the ingredients they use. 

Supporting Canidae also means supporting the health of the planet. They are committed to sustainable, environmentally friendly business practices and regenerative agriculture. 

As a result, they partner with US farmers and green technology companies to bring new, sustainable practices to farming, including but not limited to, lowering pesticide use. 

Now that you know more about Canidae, it’s time to look at their products more closely. To help you decide on whether their dog food is the right fit for your canine, we’ve reviewed their highest rated dry and wet food below.

CANIDAE All Life Stages is designed for dogs of any age, any breed, and any size, the whole family can enjoy it! Except you (humans) of course. It is made using high-quality ingredients, starting with chicken meal, turkey meal, and lamb meal. Whilst we like to see whole meats as the first ingredients we understand that meals can still provide similar nutritional value, and usually make the cost of the food more affordable. 

There are 24% protein and 14.5% fat in this recipe, as Goldilocks would say “not too low, not too high.” Making this recipe ideal for multi-dog households. It also has a nice amount of probiotics, antioxidants, and fatty acids to enhance your dog’s general wellbeing. If your dog has stomach sensitivities then the fact there is no corn, wheat and soy should help with that.

Customer reviews:

“My baby (shihweenie) Reggie eats it up without a problem and has for 8ish years, he’s 10 1/2. I don’t eat it myself and he doesn’t talk to tell me what he really thinks but IMO it’s a little pricey and sometimes hard to find but nothing bad enough to make me want to change what I feed him.”

“My dog loves this food! He is very picking and grows tired of his dry food quickly. This one he’s been eating for awhile and seems to enjoy. His coat is very silky and shiny since he’s been on it.”

Guaranteed analysis:

• Protein (min): 24.0%
• Fat (min): 14.5%
• Fiber (max): 4.0%
• Moisture (max): 10.0%

Nutritional Info
Ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, lamb meal, brown rice, white rice, rice bran, peas, potatoes, oatmeal, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat, millet, tomato pomace, natural flavor, flaxseed, oceanfish meal, salmon oil, choline chloride, salt, potassium chloride, suncured alfalfa, inulin (from chicory root), lecithin, sage extract, cranberries, beta-carotene, rosemary extract, sunflower oil, yucca schidigera extract, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite), mixed tocopherols (a preservative), papaya, pineapple. Contains a source of live naturally occurring microorganisms.

Caloric Content

3,600 kcal/kg, 3.6 kcal/g, 1,636 kcal/lb, 468 kcal/cup

This top-seller by CANIDAE has a short ingredient list, which we love to see. Its top ingredient is lamb, followed by lamb broth, and vegetable broth. Lamb is a relatively easy meat source for dogs to digest, so it’s a great option for sensitive pups. In addition, this wet food is made without the use of unnecessary fillers. 

Coming in at 7% protein, and 6% fat this guaranteed analysis won’t blow your socks off, however, the quality of the ingredients is the real star of this recipe. Buy this recipe with confidence, and it can be used as an amazing topper with a higher protein kibble!

Customer reviews:

“We’ve been using Canidae Lamb Formula for our toy poodle for years because it’s one food that he can digest that won’t upset his G.I. tract. He has irritable bowel disease, and we have to be careful what he ingests. This food fits the bill very well, and we’re grateful for it.”

“Both of my dogs like this lamb canned food. Texture is just right (not too wet, not too dry). It can be easily mixed with kibble or served by itself. They both lick the bowl clean.”

Guaranteed analysis: 

• Protein (min): 7.0%
• Fat (min): 6.0%
• Fiber (max): 1.0%
• Moisture (max): 78.0%

Nutritional Info
Ingredients: Lamb, Lamb Broth, Vegetable Broth, Lamb Liver, Peas, Tricalcium Phosphate, Agar-agar, Salmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Sunflower Oil, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Iron Proteinate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Copper Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Biotin, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Rosemary Extract.

Caloric Content

1,344 kcal/kg, 496 kcal/13-oz can

Canidae has only been recalled once in 2012 due to possible salmonella contamination. Though no Canidae products tested positive in this regard, other products made in the same facility tested positive for salmonella. Candiae decided to voluntarily recall four varieties of dry dog food as a precautionary measure.