Ingredients
Parsed label
Brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, chicken fat, corn, wheat, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, fish oil, vegetable oil, vitamins and minerals
Royal Canin · Dry dog food · Captured May 14, 2026
Small Breed Adult
Backed by extensive formulation expertise and broad veterinary acceptance. The tradeoff is an ingredient panel led by rice and poultry by-products rather than clearly named whole proteins.
Adult maintenanceKibblePartially verified
Strengths
- Nutrition Fit 8.0 / 10AAFCO adequacy clears the rubric and dry-matter protein and fat land in the bands we expect.
- Brand Trust 9.0 / 10WSAVA-style signals (named nutritionist, manufacturing control, recall posture) verified from primary sources.
- Low sensitivity risk 7.5 / 10Few of the most-named adverse-reaction trigger ingredients high on the label.
Watch-outs
- Common triggers on the labelSkip if your dog avoids chicken, corn, wheat. We surface this regardless of sub-score.
- Value 2.0 / 10Cost per 1,000 kcal is above the category median. Cheaper options exist with comparable nutrition.
- Ingredient Clarity 4.0 / 10Some sources are less specific than the rubric prefers — generic terms in the ingredient list, or fields we cannot verify.
Data status
Partially verified
Some primary-source fields are verified; unresolved fields remain visible.
- Captured
- May 14, 2026
Launch readiness
Source-capture hold.
This page is missing the packet or source record needed for beta QA.
Attach product source and verification packet records before promotion.
- Lane
- Source capture
- Packet
- missing
- Product source
- missing
Brand Trust scoring
Brand Trust source capture is in progress.
Captured Brand Trust signals are shown for auditability, but they do not affect the product score until the record is verified.
- Record status
- partially verified
- Score path
- Seed score still in use
- Unknown signals
- 8
- Conflicts
- 0
- Brand sources
- 7
Buyer read
What should you take away?
Usable shortlist option, with tradeoffs.
For Small Breed Adult, the main watch-outs are: the estimated cost per calorie is high compared with similar foods; some label-transparency fields, like country or facility details, are not captured in this record yet. This is an evidence read, not a medical recommendation.
8.0
Nutrition FitAAFCO fit, calories, and dry matter protein/fat ranges.
9.0
Brand TrustWSAVA-style signals, recall mapping, and source confidence.
4.0
Ingredient ClarityNamed sources and label specificity.
7.5
Sensitivity RiskPopulation-level common allergen exposure.
2.0
ValueEstimated price per 1,000 kcal within category.
Score math
How PetScored got there.
Expand to see the rule-by-rule trail. Useful for checking the rubric; not required to make a buying decision.
dog-food-v1.0-label-events
Score math
How PetScored got there.
Expand to see the rule-by-rule trail. Useful for checking the rubric; not required to make a buying decision.
Nutrition Fit8.030% of total score
7 scoring rule(s)0 context item(s)
Nutrition Fit is reconstructed from deterministic dog-food v1 rules using the currently available fixture fields.
AAFCO statement matches declared life stageA verified AAFCO adequacy statement earns points only when it matches the declared life stage.
Royal Canin Small Adult Dry Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.+3.0AFeeding trials substantiate adequacyFeeding-trial language receives additional credit because it is stronger evidence than formulated-to-meet language.
Royal Canin Small Adult Dry Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.0.0AProtein dry matter basis in rangeProtein is compared on dry matter basis against the adult maintenance range of 18-35%.
27.8%+2.0AFat dry matter basis in rangeFat is compared on dry matter basis against the adult maintenance range of 5.5-20%.
15.6%+2.0ACalcium and phosphorus listedThis can earn credit once the nutrition panel stores calcium and phosphorus fields from a verified source.
not captured in v0 fixture0.0BCalorie statement presentA calorie statement is needed for value, feeding-cost, and cross-format comparison work.
363 kcal/cup+1.0ALarge-breed puppy statementThis rule is not applicable unless the product is marketed for large-breed puppies.
not applicable0.0ABrand Trust9.025% of total score
1 scoring rule(s)14 context item(s)seed in use
Brand Trust is still using the seed subscore while source signals are captured, reviewed, or blocked by conflict.
Brand Trust signal record pending verificationBrand Trust requires source-backed evidence for nutrition staff, manufacturing, recalls, research, and transparency. The seed score remains visible until those signals are verified.
partially_verified; 7 source(s) capturedcontextSeedNamed qualified nutritionistA publicly named qualified nutritionist earns Brand Trust credit when the source record verifies it. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextAOwns primary manufacturing facilitiesOwnership or direct operation of primary manufacturing earns credit when verified from brand or facility sources.
verified_truecontextACurrent feeding-trial evidenceCurrent AAFCO feeding-trial evidence earns Brand Trust credit when it is tied to the product or line. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextAPublishes peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed product or nutrition research earns credit when verified. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextAComplete nutrient analysis availableComplete nutrient analysis availability earns credit when source-backed. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextANo FDA recall in past five yearsRecall credit requires verified matching against FDA recall/enforcement records.
verified_falsecontextANo FDA Class I recall everClass I recall history must be source-matched before credit is awarded. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextACountry-of-origin sourcing publishedPublished sourcing information earns partial Brand Trust credit when verified. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextBSame ownership for 10+ yearsOwnership stability earns limited heuristic credit when verified.
verified_truecontextCActive FDA warning letterActive FDA warning letters reduce Brand Trust when verified and relevant. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextACannot identify qualified nutritionistIf research cannot identify a qualified nutritionist anywhere, Brand Trust is reduced. This signal is unknown and is shown as research debt, not treated as false.
unknowncontextAUnknown Brand Trust signalsUnknown Brand Trust signals are shown as research debt. They do not change the score until source verification is complete.
8 unresolved signal(s)contextSeedBrand Trust seed subscorePrototype score imported from the seed fixture. This keeps the public page auditable while verified rule events replace seed values.
9.0 / 10+9.0SeedSource confidence visibleConfidence is shown beside the score so prototype, single-source, verified, stale, and conflict records are not treated the same.
Partially verifiedcontextSeedIngredient Clarity4.015% of total score
8 scoring rule(s)0 context item(s)
Ingredient Clarity is reconstructed from named-source and label-specificity rules.
Animal protein sources named in top 10Named species such as chicken meal or salmon count as clearer than generic terms such as meat meal or poultry by-product meal.
chicken by-product meal | chicken fat | fish oil+3.0BFat sources named in top 10Named fats, such as chicken fat or salmon oil, are clearer than generic animal fat.
chicken fat | fish oil | vegetable oil0.0BGrain sources are specificSpecific grains such as rice, barley, oatmeal, or sorghum earn clarity credit. Generic grain terms do not.
brewers rice | corn | wheat+1.0BPreservatives explicitly namedExplicit preservative language earns clarity credit because the label tells readers what is preserving the fat or formula.
not explicitly detected0.0ACountry of manufacture statedThis can earn credit once the product source record stores a verified made-in or country-of-manufacture statement.
not captured in v0 fixture0.0CManufacturer identifiableThis can earn credit once the source record identifies the manufacturer from a verified product page or label.
not captured in v0 fixture0.0CCo-packer or facility disclosedThis can earn credit once the product or brand source record publicly discloses the facility or co-packer.
not captured in v0 fixture0.0CIngredient splitting high on labelRelated starch or pulse ingredients high on the label are flagged for transparency. This is not treated as proof of harm.
not detected0.0CSensitivity Risk7.515% of total score
9 scoring rule(s)0 context item(s)
Sensitivity Risk is reconstructed from common allergen exposure patterns in the ingredient list.
Sensitivity baselineSensitivity Risk starts at 10 and adjusts for common exposure patterns. It is not a prediction for an individual dog.
10 / 10 before ingredient exposure adjustments+10.0ABeef or beef-derived ingredient in top 5Beef exposure in the top five ingredients lowers the score because beef is commonly reported in canine food-reaction studies.
brewers rice | chicken by-product meal | chicken fat | corn | wheat0.0ADairy ingredient anywhereDairy exposure is counted anywhere on the label because even lower-position ingredients may matter for sensitive dogs.
brewers rice | chicken by-product meal | chicken fat | corn | wheat | natural flavors | dried plain beet pulp | fish oil | vegetable oil | vitamins and minerals0.0AChicken or chicken-derived ingredient in top 5Chicken exposure in the top five ingredients lowers the score as a population-level sensitivity flag.
brewers rice | chicken by-product meal | chicken fat | corn | wheat-1.0AWheat or wheat gluten in top 5Wheat exposure in the top five ingredients is flagged without implying the food is unsafe.
brewers rice | chicken by-product meal | chicken fat | corn | wheat-1.0ALamb in top 5Lamb receives a smaller exposure adjustment under the current dog-food rubric.
brewers rice | chicken by-product meal | chicken fat | corn | wheat0.0AMultiple common sensitivity ingredients in top 5Multiple common exposure families high in the ingredient list receive an additional small adjustment.
2 of beef, dairy, chicken, wheat detected-0.5BHydrolyzed protein primary dietHydrolyzed-protein diets can receive credit when hydrolyzed protein is a primary ingredient.
not detected0.0ASingle novel protein sourceA single novel animal protein can receive credit, but marketing claims alone do not count.
not detected0.0BValue2.015% of total score
3 scoring rule(s)2 context item(s)
Value is reconstructed from package size, price, kcal density, category median, and quality caps.
Package weight parsedPackage weight is parsed from the product fixture so price can be normalized before scoring.
6.35 kgcontextCCost per 1,000 kcal calculatedValue uses calories rather than package price alone, because calorie density changes how long a bag lasts.
USD 2.52contextCCategory relative price bandThe base Value score comes from cost per 1,000 kcal relative to the product category median.
158% of Premium dry median+2.0CNutrition Fit value capA low Nutrition Fit score caps Value so a cheap food is not over-rewarded when core nutrition evidence is weak.
Nutrition Fit 8.00.0CBrand Trust value capA low Brand Trust score caps Value so price does not overpower weak manufacturer/source signals.
Brand Trust 9.00.0CSensitivity flags
May matter for individual dogs
chickencornwheatfish
Source record
Confidence is visible by design.
- Captured
- May 14, 2026
- Confidence
- Partially verified
- Sources
- Royal Canin official product page captured May 14, 2026
Chewy package price captured May 14, 2026 - Adequacy
- Royal Canin Small Adult Dry Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs.
Appears in
PetScored best-for lists this food is on
- Best dog food for sensitive dogsRanked by lowest population-level sensitivity risk. We do not diagnose individual dogs; the goal is to reduce the number of common trigger ingredients on the label.
- Best high-protein dog foodRanked by guaranteed-analysis protein percentage. High protein is not free — it usually comes with higher cost per calorie and more sensitivity overlap. We show the tradeoff.
- Best-value dog foodRanked by estimated cost per 1,000 kcal within category. Cheap kibble can score well here; that is the point. Cost per calorie is the only honest value metric.
- Most transparent dog food brandsRanked on the combined Ingredient Clarity and Brand Trust sub-scores. These brands publish more about what is in the bag, where it came from, and how it is made.
Compare to similar
Same category, within 1.2 composite
Where to buy
Buying Royal Canin Small Breed Adult
Independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through these search links. Affiliate revenue does not affect the score on this page. Use whichever retailer you prefer.
FAQ
About Royal Canin Small Breed Adult
What is the PetScored rating for Royal Canin Small Breed Adult?
Royal Canin Small Breed Adult scores 6.7 out of 10 on the PetScored deterministic rubric. Strongest sub-score: Brand Trust. Weakest sub-score: Value. See the full sub-score breakdown and rule-event trail on the scorecard.
Is Royal Canin Small Breed Adult good for dogs with food sensitivities?
Skip this food if your dog avoids chicken, corn, wheat, fish. These are common adverse-reaction trigger ingredients in published case series. If your dog tolerates these proteins, the sub-score reflects the population-level risk; individual dogs vary.
Is Royal Canin Small Breed Adult AAFCO complete and balanced?
Royal Canin Small Breed Adult carries this AAFCO adequacy statement: "Royal Canin Small Adult Dry Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of adult dogs." This is an adult-maintenance statement — not adequate for puppies, growth, or pregnancy.
What life stage is Royal Canin Small Breed Adult for?
Per the bag, Royal Canin Small Breed Adult is intended for Adult maintenance (format: Kibble). Always cross-check the AAFCO statement on your actual bag, since recipes and life-stage designations can change between production runs.
How much does Royal Canin Small Breed Adult cost per calorie?
Captured retailer price: $59.99 for a 14 lb bag bag, at 3748 kcal/kg. PetScored Value sub-score benchmarks cost per 1,000 kcal against the category median rather than the sticker price — see the Value detail on the scorecard.