Canidae Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Introduction

This American-owned company prides itself on using simple recipes with real food ingredients. Many of its formulas are grain free and geared toward providing optimal nutrition for all life stages. It wants its product to not only offer plenty of fruits and vegetables but also provide tons of flavor for your dog.

Its motto is “Pet food made by pet people.” Its food is made in a small-town factory by people dedicated to providing optimal nutrition for their pets, as well as those of others. The food is cooked in small batches and starts with fresh, whole foods whenever possible. The company adds the required vitamins and minerals that keep your dog healthy and vibrant.

At a Glance: The Best Canidae Dog Food Recipes

Canidae Dog Food Reviewed

Overall View

Canidae is an independent, family-owned company with humble beginnings. It knows the importance of feeding the best food to your dog and is committed to only putting in ingredients that are listed on the bag. We feel that this company provides a wholesome food option to pet owners.

Who makes Canidae and where is it produced?

The food is made at the company’s Ethos Pet Nutrition facility in Brownwood, Texas, where it also researches and develops its formulas within the on-site lab. The company began in 1996 when it saw the need to create quality pet food. It sources its food across the United States, from the bison in Wyoming to the vegetables in Texas. Some ingredients are sourced globally, such as duck meal from France and lamb meal from New Zealand. Supporting local farmers is part of its mission.

Which types of dogs is Canidae best suited for?

It has five lines of dry dog food and one line of wet/canned food. It offers recipes for small breeds, puppies, adults, multi-dog families, and seniors. You can even find foods for certain health conditions, such as weight management.

Which types of dogs might do better with a different brand?

Dogs with gastrointestinal issues may benefit from a product that is more suited to their sensitive stomachs. One such product is the Hill’s Science Diet for Sensitive Stomachs.

Also, Canidae doesn’t make specific food for dogs with certain diseases such as kidney disease or heart disease. Hill’s Science has food for heart disease, the Hill’s Prescription Diet H/D, and for kidney disease, the Hill’s K/D Renal Health Dog Food.

Primary Ingredients in Canidae Dog Food

Canidae Grain-Free Pure: These formulas use simple recipes with limited ingredients — fewer than 10, to be precise. It uses real meat or fish as the primary ingredient. You can recognize all the ingredients and of course, it is grain free. Whole foods like sweet potatoes, peas, lentils, or chickpeas are commonly added, and there are probiotics and antioxidants within this formula.

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Canidae All Life Stages: This formula provides enough protein from either turkey, chicken, lamb, or fish to suit any stage of life, as well as any breed or size. It offers five different flavors and has probiotics, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids for optimal nutrition.

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Canidae Under the Sun: High-quality protein paired with farm-grown fruits and veggies is what makes this formula unique. It doesn’t use corn, wheat, soy, or chicken by-product meal. Using plenty of whole foods means that your dog will receive vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and antioxidants.

A Quick Look at Canidae Dog Food

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Overview of Ingredients

Protein

Canidae uses high-quality protein that is locally or regionally sourced — though it does not get anything from China. Its turkey and chicken meal contain high amounts of protein compared to fresh options. Lamb contains more moisture, but it is still a great option for a meat protein. The fish meal that is used is Menhaden fish meal, which provides protein but is also high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Fats

Chicken fat is the primary fat source in many recipes, and you may see other oils added for its fat content. Fats are essential for energy and keeping your dog’s skin and coat healthy.

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Carbohydrates

Many of its recipes are grain-free, so it uses potatoes, peas, or legumes as a source of complex carbohydrates. Its grain-free options are good sources of dietary fiber.

Controversial Ingredients

Tomato pomace is used to add fiber, but some use it as a filler. It is made from the skins and seeds of the tomato after it has been processed to make ketchup or other tomato products. It is a common ingredient in many dog foods. Some claim that tomato pomace causes diarrhea in dogs.

Alfalfa is included as a source of calcium and to aid in the absorption of proteins and other nutrients. It shouldn’t be used as a meat replacement. When used as a supplement, there is no concern.

Recalls of Canidae Dog Food

Since Canidae moved to its facility in Texas, it has not had any food recalls. Back in 2012, it had a potential salmonella contamination, but Diamond Pet Food was its manufacturer at that time.

Reviews of the 3 Best Canidae Dog Food Recipes

Let’s look closer at three of the Canidae dog food formulas:

1. Canidae All Life Stages — Multi-Protein Formula

This dry dog food is ideal for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes — this formula can feed everyone if you have a variety of dogs in your home. It is one of the most popular recipes by Canidae because it is nutritionally dense and never made with corn, wheat, or soy.

You will find probiotics, antioxidants, and omega-3 and -6 in the formula, which come from the whole foods that are added. The protein base is chicken, turkey, and lamb meal, with carbohydrate-rich ingredients. Some have found that it works well for their dogs who have sensitive stomachs, while some claim that it has caused digestive issues. It is made with quality ingredients and meets the nutritional requirements for dogs.

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2. Canidae Pure — Puppy Recipe

With fewer than 10 ingredients, your puppy will benefit from this chicken, lentil, and whole egg recipe. It is grain free with probiotics and antioxidants to help support a healthy immune system and aid in digestion.

There are no artificial flavors or preservatives, so you know your puppy is receiving a healthy meal. The main ingredient is chicken, followed by menhaden fish meal, both of which provide protein for your growing puppy. On the downside, this product is expensive for a 24-pound bag, but if you want to provide the ideal nutrition for your puppy, this recipe is a great choice.

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3. Canidae Under the Sun — Grain-free recipe

The main ingredient is lamb meal, followed by green peas and garbanzo beans. It is made with farm-grown fruits and veggies and is free from all grains and potatoes. The added fruits provide antioxidants, and also included are omega-3 and -6 fatty acids that result in healthy skin and coat.

The difference between this recipe compared to others is that it uses one single animal protein in the formulation, which is beneficial for dogs who have food sensitivities. On the downside, if you don’t have a dog with food sensitivities, the other formulas that offer an increased amount of animal protein are only adequate.

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What Other Users Are Saying

Here’s what other reviewers are saying about Canidae dog food:

Dog Food Insider:

This site rates Canidae dog food a four out of five stars. It states, “Canidae Grain Free Pure Elements seems like a good food that would appeal to pet owners looking for a grain-free food with a higher meat protein percentage. The ingredients appear to be very good quality.”

Dog Food Guide:

This site rates the Canidae 4.5 out of five stars, stating, “When you open up a bag of Canidae dog food your dog will be enjoying the product of careful formulation, quality manufacturing, and balanced nutrition.”

Amazon:

We check the reviews on Amazon from buyers before recommending a product to you. You can read those reviews by clicking here.

Conclusion

Canidae is a company that uses real food ingredients within its simple recipes. The owners want to provide quality food for their dogs and the public’s, so every dog can be healthy and vibrant. It uses a variety of locally sourced ingredients and includes vegetables, fruit, and legumes in its recipes.

Its Under the Sun brand is great for dogs with food sensitivities, and it offers recipes for puppies up to seniors with a multi-pet formula that provides optimal nutrition for any dog breed. Its PURE formulas are grain-free and do not contain wheat, corn, or soy. If you are looking for a whole-food product for your dog, Canidae is a great option.

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Featured image credit: boxinka8, Pixabay