Protein source
Ingredient guideUnclear animal protein source
Animal protein
chicken by-product meal (#3)
Plant protein
wheat gluten (#6)
Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.
Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.
Label analysisGrade DKibble (Extruded)
Royal Canin
Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult Dry Dog Food
Editor ingredient insight
Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult starts with brewers rice, brown rice, and chicken by-product meal, with lower protein but higher fat and calories. I would use it for lean or picky Shih Tzus, not for weight control or low-fat feeding.
Logic-based verdict
This food can stay in comparison, but ingredient quality still needs a more conservative read.
Manufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety
Included support ingredients
Nutrient guideFish oil
Skin and joint support ingredient
FOS
Gut support ingredient
Lutein
Eye support ingredient
Glucosamine
Joint support ingredient
Taurine
Heart support ingredient
L-carnitine
Heart and weight support ingredient
Chondroitin
Joint support ingredient
EPA+DHA
Skin, joint, and heart support ingredient
Caution
Ingredient grade
D
Grade D
Top ingredient profile
Brewers Rice
Brown Rice
Chicken By-Product Meal
Plant booster present
Crude protein22%
Crude protein22%
Crude fat18%
Other 60%
Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.
biotechProtein position
Lowerquery_statsFat position
Higherlocal_fire_departmentCalorie density
HigherThere is enough public data to keep this food in comparison, but the top ingredient structure does not support a stronger positive claim yet.
What works well in this food
- 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.
Smart chicken alternatives
Brand context
Brand background availableRecall history confirmed
Founded in 1968 in France. This brand has a confirmed public recall history, with a recent 2023 mislabeling case in public sources.
Ingredient analysis
This section matters more than usual because the ingredient read is not strong enough to summarize in one line.
restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis
Ingredient Grade
Conservative
1Brewers Rice
Refined Carb · Lower
2Brown Rice
Whole Grain · Upper
3Chicken By-Product Meal
By-product Meal · Lowest
Ingredient Analysis Comments
- •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.
- •Brown Rice is a whole or coarse grain ingredient. It usually plays more of a carbohydrate and fiber role than a core protein role. It reads as an upper-tier carb and fiber source.
- •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.
restaurantIngredient Grade DConservative
Full collected ingredient list
33 ingredientsbrewers ricebrown ricechicken by-product mealchicken fatoat groatswheat glutennatural flavors (Only for mexico: including pork, poultry and cow milk)dried plain beet pulppowdered cellulosefish oilvegetable oilsodium silico aluminatecalcium carbonatepotassium chlorideDL-methioninefructooligosaccharidessodium tripolyphosphatevitamins [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]L-tyrosinecholine chloridesaltL-lysinemarigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.)trace minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate]glucosamine hydrochlorideGLA safflower oiltaurinemagnesium oxidegreen tea extractL-carnitinechondroitin sulfaterosemary extractpreserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Alternative protein
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients
Why processed plant proteins are reviewed cautiously
Ingredient lists are ordered by input weight, not protein contribution. Fresh meat 100g and Soybean Meal 50g can both contribute about 20g of protein, and Pea Protein can deliver a similar amount at around 30g. So these ingredients can materially lift crude protein even outside the top three. The review treats processed plant-protein boosters cautiously because they can weaken the animal-protein-centered profile most guardians expect from a high-protein food.
Why did the base review land here?
Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust
This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.
Nutrient disclosure
Partial disclosure
Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.
Safety verification
No fails
No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.
Public data trust (ETF)
C1 tier
There is a usable disclosure baseline, but the public record is still fairly thin.
Final word
Treat this review as an early screen. If the food stays interesting, verify it again with your dog-specific context before acting.