Label analysisGrade DListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Royal Canin

Royal Canin Cavalier King Charles Adult Dry Dog Food

Editor ingredient insight

Royal Canin Cavalier King Charles Adult leads with brewers rice, wheat gluten, and chicken by-product meal, with lower fat plus EPA+DHA.

It is worth considering for Cavaliers needing moderate weight control, not for wheat-gluten or by-product avoidance.

Plant booster present
Illustration of chicken beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 25%Fat 12%Other 63%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 positionTypical

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

Fat positionLower

This food is on the lower side for crude fat among extruded foods.

Calorie densityTypical

This food sits around the typical calorie range among extruded foods. Check the feeding guide and weight trend alongside this comparison.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
CalciumNot disclosed
PhosphorusNot disclosed
Crude fiber4.5%
Omega-3Not disclosed
Omega-6Not disclosed

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.

Chicken ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken
D1.5/6Ingredient gradeConservative
Ingredient #1 · Brewers riceLower
Refined Carb
Ingredient #2 · wheat glutenLowest
Processed Plant Protein
Ingredient #3 · chicken by-product mealLowest
By-product Meal
Ingredient #1Lower

Brewers rice

Brewers rice is a refined carbohydrate source. It usually reads as a starch and energy source rather than a protein driver. It reads as an lower-tier carb source.

Ingredient #2Lowest

wheat gluten

wheat gluten is a processed plant-protein booster. It can lift crude protein without the same animal-protein share, so the animal-protein read should stay separate. It reads as an bottom-tier plant protein booster.

Ingredient #3Lowest

chicken by-product meal

chicken by-product meal is a by-product meal. It can still contribute protein, but the primary-ingredient read should stay conservative. It reads as an bottom-tier protein source.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Brewers rice — Neutral ingredientswheat gluten — High-caution ingredientschicken by-product meal — High-caution ingredientscorn — Neutral ingredientschicken fat — Neutral ingredientswheat — Neutral ingredientsnatural flavors — Support positive ingredientsdried plain beet pulp — Support positive ingredientsfish oil — Support positive ingredientspea fiber — Neutral ingredientsdried tomato pomace — Neutral ingredientsvegetable oil — Neutral ingredientsrice hulls — Neutral ingredientscalcium carbonate — Neutral ingredientssodium silico aluminate — Neutral ingredientsL-lysine — Neutral ingredientspotassium chloride — Support positive ingredientsvitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), niacin supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), D-calcium pantothenate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A acetate, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement] — Support positive ingredientsfructooligosaccharides — Neutral ingredientssodium tripolyphosphate — Neutral ingredientsDL-methionine — Neutral ingredientsL-arginine — Neutral ingredientstaurine — Support positive ingredientspotassium citrate — Support positive ingredientshydrolyzed yeast — Neutral ingredientscholine chloride — Support positive ingredientssalt — Neutral ingredientsmarigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.) — Neutral ingredientsL-tyrosine — Neutral ingredientstrace minerals [zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, zinc proteinate, manganous oxide, manganese proteinate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate] — Support positive ingredientsglucosamine hydrochloride — Support positive ingredientsL-carnitine — Support positive ingredientsmagnesium oxide — Support positive ingredientsgreen tea extract — Neutral ingredientschondroitin sulfate — Support positive ingredientsrosemary extract — Neutral ingredientspreserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid. — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Unclear animal protein source

Animal protein · chicken by-product meal (#3)

Plant protein · wheat gluten (#2)

Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.

Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Fish oilSkin and joint support ingredientFOSGut support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientLuteinEye support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

chicken by-product meal supply animal protein, starting at ingredient 3. Brewers rice, corn supply carbohydrate energy. A carbohydrate source leads the list, a meaningful distinction when seeking a meat-led recipe.

wheat gluten supplement plant protein within the first three ingredients. The crude-protein figure includes both animal and plant contributions. chicken fat add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.

What works well in this food

  • Crude protein does not drop into a clearly low band.
  • Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.

Check before feeding

  • By-product meal is a rendered ingredient that can include parts such as heads, feet, and organs. It can still provide protein, but it is harder to tell exactly what parts are included and in what proportion, so ingredient transparency is read more conservatively.
  • Plant proteins can lift crude protein on the label, but the real animal-protein share still needs a closer check.
  • By-product meal and grains both sit high in the recipe, so this does not read as a meat-centered formula.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is typical, fat is lower, and calorie density is typical. Calorie density alone does not separate this into an active-dog or weight-management food. Consider protein exclusions and fat, then set portions for the dog’s weight and activity.

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 chicken alternatives

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

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Royal Canin background

Founded in 1968 in France.

Disclosure confidence C1

There is a usable disclosure baseline, but the public record is still fairly thin.

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed public recall history, with a recent 2023 mislabeling case in public sources.

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.

Treat this review as an early screen. If the food stays interesting, verify it again with your dog-specific context before acting.