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.
Label analysisGrade DListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Royal Canin
Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult Dry Dog Food
Editor ingredient insight
Royal Canin Shih Tzu Adult combines rice and brown rice with chicken by-product meal and chicken fat.
Alongside 22% protein, its 18% fat and 3,898 kcal/kg provide relatively dense energy, making it a candidate for active adult Shih Tzus or those eating small portions.
It relies more on fat for energy than on a high-protein profile. It is unsuitable for weight-prone dogs or chicken and wheat avoidance, and higher fat does not guarantee acceptance.
Plant booster present
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 22%Fat 18%Other 60%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 positionLower
This food is on the lower side for crude protein among extruded foods.
Fat positionHigher
This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.
Calorie densityHigher
This food is on the higher side for calorie density among extruded foods. The same serving can provide more energy, so check portion guidance.
Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
CalciumNot disclosed
PhosphorusNot disclosed
Crude fiber4.7%
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.
Ingredient gradeConservative
Ingredient #1 · brewers riceLower
Refined CarbIngredient #2 · brown riceUpper
Whole GrainIngredient #3 · chicken by-product mealLowest
By-product MealIngredient #2Upper
brown rice
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.
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 ingredientsbrown rice — Neutral ingredientschicken by-product meal — High-caution ingredientschicken fat — Neutral ingredientsoat groats — Neutral ingredientswheat gluten — High-caution ingredientsnatural flavors (Only for mexico: including pork, poultry and cow milk) — Support positive ingredientsdried plain beet pulp — Support positive ingredientspowdered cellulose — Neutral ingredientsfish oil — Support positive ingredientsvegetable oil — Neutral ingredientssodium silico aluminate — Neutral ingredientscalcium carbonate — Neutral ingredientspotassium chloride — Support positive ingredientsDL-methionine — Neutral ingredientsfructooligosaccharides — Neutral ingredientssodium tripolyphosphate — Neutral 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 ingredientsL-tyrosine — Neutral ingredientscholine chloride — Support positive ingredientssalt — Neutral ingredientsL-lysine — Neutral ingredientsmarigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.) — Neutral ingredientstrace minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate] — Support positive ingredientsglucosamine hydrochloride — Support positive ingredientsGLA safflower oil — Neutral ingredientstaurine — Support positive ingredientsmagnesium oxide — Support positive ingredientsgreen tea extract — Neutral ingredientsL-carnitine — Support positive 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 (#6)
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 ingredientLuteinEye support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientTaurineHeart 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, brown rice supply carbohydrate energy. A carbohydrate source leads the list, a meaningful distinction when seeking a meat-led recipe.
wheat gluten supplement plant protein further down the list, after 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
- 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 lower, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. This combination provides more energy per gram. Compare it when smaller portions need to supply calories, and adjust grams first for a dog prone to weight gain. Higher calories do not establish a higher animal-protein share.
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
High calorie density 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