Label analysisGrade CListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Canidae

Canidae PURE Bison Grain-Free

Editor ingredient insight

Canidae Pure Bison Grain Free starts with bison, lamb meal, and sweet potatoes. At 28.5% protein, 13% fat, and 3,456 kcal/kg, It is worth considering for dogs that do well on red meats, not for lamb or poultry avoidance or strict single-protein diets.

Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Illustration of grains and vegetables beside a dog-food bowl
Grain and vegetable illustration

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 28.5%Fat 13%Other 58.5%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type

Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.

Protein positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude protein among extruded foods.

Fat positionTypical

This food sits around the typical crude fat range among extruded foods.

Calorie densityLower

This food is on the lower side for calorie density among extruded foods. That alone does not make it a weight-management diet; check portion guidance, fat, and fiber together.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
CalciumNot disclosed
PhosphorusNot disclosed
Crude fiber5%
Omega-30.55%
Omega-62%

Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.

02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE

Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade

The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.

Listed ingredients

Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.

Grains and vegetables ingredient illustration
Grain and vegetable illustration
B4.5/6Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · BisonTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Lamb MealUpper
Named Meal
Ingredient #3 · Sweet PotatoesUpper
Starchy Tuber
Ingredient #1Top

Bison

Bison is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Upper

Lamb Meal

Lamb Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.

Ingredient #3Upper

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes is a starchy tuber ingredient. It is not a grain, but it still reads mainly as a starch and energy source. It reads as an upper-tier carb and fiber source.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Bison — Primary positive ingredientsLamb Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) — Support positive ingredientsSweet Potatoes — Neutral ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsLentils — Caution ingredientsDried Yeast — Neutral ingredientsGarbanzo Beans — Caution ingredientsTurkey Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) — Support positive ingredientsCanola Oil — Neutral ingredientsSuncured Alfalfa Meal — Neutral ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsMixed Tocopherols (Preservative) — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsVitamin E Supplement — Support positive ingredientsL-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate — Neutral ingredientsZinc Proteinate — Support positive ingredientsZinc Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsFerrous Sulfate — Neutral ingredientsIron Proteinate — Neutral ingredientsNiacin Supplement — Neutral ingredientsCopper Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsVitamin A Supplement — Neutral ingredientsCopper Proteinate — Support positive ingredientsThiamine Mononitrate — Neutral ingredientsSodium Selenite — Support positive ingredientsD-Calcium Pantothenate — Neutral ingredientsManganese Sulfate — Neutral ingredientsManganese Proteinate — Neutral ingredientsRiboflavin Supplement — Neutral ingredientsPyridoxine Hydrochloride — Neutral ingredientsVitamin B12 Supplement — Neutral ingredientsDried Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Fermentation Product — Neutral ingredientsCalcium Iodate — Support positive ingredientsFolic Acid — Neutral ingredientsVitamin D3 Supplement — Neutral ingredientsBiotin — Support positive ingredientsGreen Tea Extract — Neutral ingredientsRosemary Extract — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Whole plant protein source observed early

Animal protein · Bison (#1), Lamb Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) (#2), Turkey Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) (#8)

Plant protein · Peas (#4), Lentils (#5), Garbanzo Beans (#7)

The protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.

This is not treated like processed protein boosting, but it is worth checking.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
TaurineHeart support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Bison, Lamb Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Sweet Potatoes supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.

Peas, Lentils contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber further down the ingredient list. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone.

Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including bison, lamb, turkey. If a protein must be excluded, any of these sources can change the decision; the first ingredient alone does not make this a single-protein diet.

What works well in this food

  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
  • Crude protein is on the higher side.
  • Calorie density is on the lower side.
  • Nutrient disclosure is broad enough to compare real numbers directly.

Check before feeding

  • Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
  • Top ingredients include an FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile, so this part deserves a more cautious read.
  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat, but the top profile turns to Sweet Potatoes by the third slot instead of staying fully animal-led.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is typical, and calorie density is lower. This combination is worth comparing when protein matters but a higher-calorie food is not the aim. High protein alone does not make it an active-dog-only food; judge weight changes against total daily calories.

Consider it first when

  • Public-data-first comparison
  • Baseline shortlist building
  • Conservative first-pass screening

Choose another food first when

  • You want a stronger ingredient-quality story first
  • You need dog-specific fit instead of public-review screening

Plant-protein concentration remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart beef / lamb alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Canidae background

Founded in 1996 in the United States.

Disclosure confidence D

Only basic guaranteed analysis is visible, so deeper nutrition comparison stays hard to trust.

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed recall history linked to the 2012 Diamond-manufactured recall.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

There is enough here to keep the food in comparison, but not enough to stop comparing yet.