Is 1st Choice Skin & Coat Lamb & Fish a good dog food?
We score it 44/100 (Poor). The main reasons are set out in "Why you might not" below, and every step of the calculation is shown under "How we calculated this score".
Why this score?
This recipe achieves an overall rating of 44 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +6.1 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6, the processing format subtracted -6.7, and the additive load contributed -1.7 points.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe44
- Nutritionalmedium99
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- EvidenceNot recorded
The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.
Why you might choose it
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- Meat makes up an estimated 5% of the dry matter; carbohydrates dominate.
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 25%
- Fat
- 15%
- Fibre
- 5%
- Ash
- 10%
- Moisture
- 10%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 1%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 4%
- Calcium
- 1.30%
- Phosphorus
- 0.90%
- Sodium
- 0.25%
Energy: 353 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
No additives recorded yet.
Feeding guide
1-1.5 kg: 30-35 g (1/4-3/8 cup); 1.5-3 kg: 35-65 g (3/8-1/2 cup); 3-5.5 kg: 65-100 g (1/2-7/8 cup); 5.5-9.5 kg: 100-150 g (7/8-1 3/8 cup); 9.5+ kg: 150+ g (65 g per 5 kg / 1 3/8+1/2 cup per 10 lb). Standard 250 ml cup = 120 g.
Reviews
Trustpilot: 4.9/5 · 2,373 reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish meal
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists barley
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (53)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamb meal (a source of chondroitin sulfate) | Lamb | meat | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 2 | menhaden fish meal | Fish Meal | meat | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 3 | peas | Peas | veg | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 4 | barley | Barley | carb | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 5 | oats | Oats | carb | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 6 | vegetable oil preserved with mixed tocopherols | Vegetable oil | oil | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 7 | pea starch | Pea Starch | carb | poor | - | 2.4 |
| 8 | millet | Millet | carb | good | - | 2.3 |
| 9 | flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 2.3 |
| 10 | natural flavor | Flavor | additive | poor | - | 2.3 |
| 11 | suncured alfalfa meal | Alfalfa Meal | fibre | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 12 | dried citrus pulp | Citrus Pulp | fibre | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 13 | salmon oil | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 2.2 |
| 14 | salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 15 | pea fiber | Pea Fibre | fibre | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 16 | yeast extract | Yeast | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 17 | choline chloride | Choline | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 18 | calcium carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement | medium | - | 2.1 |
| 19 | chicory extract (a source of inulin) | Chicory Root Extract | fibre | good | - | 2.1 |
| 20 | taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 21 | DL-methionine | Methionine | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 22 | potassium chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 23 | ferrous sulfate | Iron sulfate | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 24 | sodium hexametaphosphate | Sodium hexametaphosphate | additive | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 25 | alpha-tocopheryl acetate (a source of vitamin E) | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 26 | ascorbic acid (vitamin C) | Vitamin C | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 27 | zinc oxide | Zinc Oxide | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 28 | turmeric | Turmeric | veg | good | - | 1.9 |
| 29 | dried rosemary | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
| 30 | cloves | Cloves | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
| 31 | yucca schidigera extract | Yucca Schidigera | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 32 | L-carnitine | L-Carnitine | supplement | medium | - | 1.8 |
| 33 | manganous oxide | Manganese (II) Oxide | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 34 | niacin | Niacin | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 35 | d-calcium pantothenate | Calcium pantothenate | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 36 | zinc proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 37 | vitamin A supplement | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 38 | cholecalciferol (a source of vitamin D3) | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 39 | thiamine mononitrate | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 40 | grapefruit extract | Grapefruit | veg | medium | - | 1.6 |
| 41 | biotin | Biotin | supplement | good | - | 1.6 |
| 42 | dried spearmint | Spearmint | veg | good | - | 1.5 |
| 43 | dried parsley | Parsley | veg | good | - | 1.5 |
| 44 | green tea extract | Green Tea | veg | good | - | 1.5 |
| 45 | dried ginger | Ginger | veg | good | - | 1.5 |
| 46 | sodium selenite | Sodium selenite | supplement | poor | - | 1.4 |
| 47 | manganese proteinate | Manganese proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 48 | riboflavin | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 49 | pyridoxine hydrochloride | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 50 | vitamin B12 supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 51 | calcium iodate | Calcium iodate | supplement | medium | - | 1.3 |
| 52 | copper proteinate | Copper proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 53 | folic acid. | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
Brand
- Website
- https://www.1stchoice.ca/
- Phone
- 1 866 752-7378
- Address
- 1361, Graham Bell Street, Boucherville, Quebec, J4B 6A1, Canada
- Contact page
- www.1stchoice.ca
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-19
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.1stchoice.ca
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Scored with model v3 on 2026-09-26. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.08 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 9.6% | -0.115 | -1.11 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 5.2% | -0.092 | -0.48 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 13.7% | -0.005 | -0.07 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.6% | 0.163 | +1.08 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 50.5% | -0.012 | -0.62 |
| Recipe graded poor | 6.1% | -0.065 | -0.40 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 2.4% | 0.060 | +0.14 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -7.82 | 0.222 | -1.74 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.08 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 9.6% | -0.115 | -1.11 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 5.2% | -0.092 | -0.48 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 13.7% | -0.005 | -0.07 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.6% | 0.163 | +1.08 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 50.5% | -0.012 | -0.62 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 6.1% | -0.065 | -0.40 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 2.4% | 0.060 | +0.14 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | no | 2.294 | +0.00 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -7.82 | 0.222 | -1.74 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Subtotal
- 43.9
- Final score
- 44/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 25 | 27.6 (band 18 to 40%) | 96.2 |
| Fat | 15 | 16.6 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 5 | 5.5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.3 | 1.4 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 98.1 |
| Phosphorus | 0.9 | 1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 99.7 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.4 | 1.4 (band 1 to 2%) | 96.7 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 353 | 390.1 | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 100); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Medium confidence: the full five-part analysis is on file; where moisture was not declared it was estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Additives declared, Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin and Coat formula for toy and small breed adult dogs (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Healthy Aging SOLUTION, a clinically proven blend of polyphenol-rich plants and extracts that helps strengthen adult dog's immune system (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken-free option (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| An optimal ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids reduces shedding, protects the skin, and makes the coat shiny (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Vitality+ for energy support and a healthy weight (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Prebiotic fiber and healthy whole grains support bowel function and prevent constipation (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Defense+ unique blend of antioxidants boosts the immune system and protects organs, skin, and coat (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Lamb & Fish 25% Protein 15% Fat (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Other products from 1st Choice
See all products from 1st Choice
Alternatives to Skin & Coat Lamb & Fish
Foods in our database that are similar on ingredients, protein, format or price. Scores and figures are from the same deterministic model used everywhere on the site.
Community
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share how this went down with your dog.