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 X-Small Adult 8+
Editor ingredient insight
Royal Canin X-Small Adult 8+ starts with brewers rice, corn, and chicken by-product meal, with moderate protein but not-low calories.
It is worth considering for lean older toy dogs, not for weight-loss senior feeding.
Plant booster present
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 22%Fat 16%Other 62%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 fiber3.6%
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 · chicken fatUpper
Named FatIngredient #3 · chicken by-product mealLowest
By-product MealIngredient #2Upper
chicken fat
chicken fat is a named fat source. It supports energy density and fat quality more than protein quality. It reads as an upper-tier fat 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 ingredientschicken fat — Neutral ingredientschicken by-product meal — High-caution ingredientscorn gluten meal — High-caution ingredientscorn — Neutral ingredientsbrown rice — Neutral ingredientsnatural flavors — Support positive ingredientswheat gluten — High-caution ingredientsdried chicory root — Support positive ingredientsvegetable oil — Neutral ingredientsfish oil — Support positive ingredientspsyllium seed husk — Support positive ingredientspotassium chloride — Support positive ingredientscalcium sulfate — Neutral ingredientscalcium carbonate — Neutral ingredientsL-arginine — Neutral ingredientsL-lysine — Neutral ingredientsL-tyrosine — Neutral ingredientsmonocalcium phosphate — Neutral ingredientsDL-methionine — Neutral ingredientsfructooligosaccharides — Neutral ingredientssodium tripolyphosphate — Neutral ingredientscholine chloride — Support positive ingredientssalt — Neutral ingredientsvitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), biotin, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), niacin supplement, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement] — Support positive ingredientsmagnesium oxide — Support positive ingredientstrace minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate] — Support positive ingredientstaurine — Support positive ingredientsGLA safflower oil — Neutral ingredientsL-carnitine — Support positive ingredientsmarigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.) — Neutral ingredientsgreen tea extract — Neutral 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 · corn gluten meal (#4), wheat gluten (#8)
Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.
Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
ChicoryGut support ingredientFish oilSkin and joint support ingredientPsyllium huskGut support ingredientFOSGut support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight support ingredientLuteinEye 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.
corn gluten meal, 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