Canagan Small Breed Light / Senior Dry Dog Food
Dry Extruded complete High meat Clear label
Is Canagan Small Breed Light / Senior Dry Dog Food a good dog food?
We score it 68/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe achieves a total score of 68 out of 100 based on its formulation. Positive contributions come from the meat content which adds +8 and the overall quality of the ingredient list contributing +7.7. However, these are balanced by reductions for the processing format which takes off -7 and ingredients without printed percentages resulting in a deduction of -5.1.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
39% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe68
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited33
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.
Complete extruded dry food for senior dogs, with chicken, dried chicken protein and sweet potatoes as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Meat makes up an estimated 69% of the dry matter (59% as fed).
- Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
- Single named animal protein: chicken.
Why you might not
We found no significant drawbacks in the data we hold for this product.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 34%
- Fat
- 14%
- Fibre
- 3%
- Ash
- 8.50%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 2.40%
- Calcium
- 1.60%
- Phosphorus
- 0.95%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 15,000 IU; Vitamin D3 1,200 IU; Vitamin E 150mg; Taurine 1,500mg; Iodine (Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 2mg; Copper (Copper (II) Sulphate Pentahydrate) 10mg; Zinc (Chelate Hydrate) 45mg; Zinc (Oxide) 90mg; Selenium (Sodium Selenite) 0.2mg
Storage
Store in a cool dry place.
Feeding guide
Transition gradually over a week: day 1 mix 25% Canagan with 75% previous food, day 3 50/50, day 5 75% Canagan, day 7 100% Canagan. Reduce by 10% if overweight, increase by 10% if underweight. Always ensure clean drinking water is available. SMALL BREED DOG (SENIOR / LIGHT) daily grams: 3kg senior 50 / overweight 40; 5kg senior 80 / overweight 70; 7kg senior 105 / overweight 90; 10kg senior 130 / overweight 110.
Reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for senior dogs
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at small dogs
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Single named protein: chicken
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
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 (20)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshly Prepared Free Range Chicken (27%) | Chicken | meat | medium | 27 | 27.0 |
| 2 | Dried Chicken (27%) | Dried chicken protein | meat | good | 27 | 27.0 |
| 3 | Sweet Potato | Sweet Potatoes | carb | good | - | 3.4 |
| 4 | Potato | Potatoes | carb | medium | - | 3.3 |
| 5 | Peas | Peas | veg | good | - | 3.2 |
| 6 | Alfalfa | Alfalfa | veg | good | - | 3.1 |
| 7 | Dried Egg (3%) | Dried Egg | meat | medium | 3 | 3.0 |
| 8 | Chicken Fat (2.3%) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | good | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| 9 | Chicken Gravy (1.5%) | Chicken | meat | medium | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 10 | Apple | Apples | veg | good | - | 3.0 |
| 11 | Carrot | Carrots | veg | good | - | 2.8 |
| 12 | Fructooligosaccharides | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement | good | - | 2.7 |
| 13 | Spinach | Spinach | veg | good | - | 2.6 |
| 14 | Psyllium | Psyllium | fibre | good | - | 2.5 |
| 15 | Seaweed | Seaweed | veg | good | - | 2.4 |
| 16 | Peppermint | Peppermint | veg | good | - | 2.3 |
| 17 | Camomile | Chamomile | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 18 | Marigold | Calendula | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 19 | Cranberry | Cranberries | veg | good | - | 1.9 |
| 20 | Aniseed & Fenugreek | Fenugreek | veg | good | - | 1.8 |
Brand
- Website
- https://canagan.com/
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +44
- Address
- Thomas Road Wooburn Green Buckinghamshire HP10 0PE
- Contact page
- www.canagan.co.uk
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-08-29
- Scored with
- Model v2 (methodology)
- Product page
- canagan.com
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 v2 on 2026-09-22. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.8 | 9.915 | +7.73 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 68.9% | 0.116 | +7.99 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 3.3% | -0.113 | -0.37 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 4.4% | -0.088 | -0.39 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 14.1% | -0.002 | -0.03 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 4.9% | -0.009 | -0.04 |
| Undeclared quantities | 39.2% | -0.131 | -5.13 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 68.9 | -0.073 | -5.05 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.996 | -7.00 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.8 | 9.915 | +7.73 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 68.9% | 0.116 | +7.99 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 3.3% | -0.113 | -0.37 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 4.4% | -0.088 | -0.39 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 14.1% | -0.002 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.177 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 4.9% | -0.009 | -0.04 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.371 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.022 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 0.0% | -0.045 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.182 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.868 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.056 | +0.00 |
| Undeclared quantities | 39.2% | -0.131 | -5.13 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 11.440 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -1.988 | +0.00 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.250 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 68.9 | -0.073 | -5.05 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | -0.339 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 16.475 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | 0.00 | 0.236 | +0.00 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Raw | no | 13.322 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | 7.712 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | 6.583 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 4.857 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | 0.072 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 11.127 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 9.320 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | 4.569 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -2.321 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.996 | -7.00 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.833 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.711 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | 2.935 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | 2.292 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- -0.01
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 67.8
- Final score
- 68/100
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.
Score history across model versions
The score shown above is always computed with the latest published model. Earlier scores are kept for the record and are never edited or deleted; a scoring change ships as a new model version with a public write-up on the methodology page.
| Model | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| v2 | 68/100 | current |
| v1 | 67/100 | |
| v1.9 | 68/100 |
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.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 34 | 37 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 14 | 15.2 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 3 | 3.3 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.6 | 1.7 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 0.95 | 1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.7 | 1.7 (band 1 to 2%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 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 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 90); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 8% from the food type.
Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture 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 (60.8% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 12.2/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| 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 (Analytical constituents 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.
See all current recalls we track.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The marketing claims made on the pack and product page, and how much evidence sits behind them. We record the claims as stated; we do not assess whether they are true.
| Claim | Type | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|
| added glucosamine, MSM, and chondroitin for joint care (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, phosphorous and selenium which is good for the immune system (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| A highly digestible premium source of slow-release energy, rich in anti-oxidants and a great source of soluble fibre (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Provides a natural and valuable source of minerals which contain iodine to support thyroid function and control metabolism (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Marigold stimulates white blood cell production and strengthens the immune system (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Cranberry is rich in Vitamin C and helps promote a healthy urinary tract (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Camomile is thought to reduce stress (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Grain free dog food (on page) | Free-from | Manufacturer assertion |
| with a lower fat and calorie content for older or overweight dogs (on page) | High/low level | Manufacturer assertion |
| with free range chicken and specially selected vegetables and botanicals (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
Limited: at least one claim rests on manufacturer assertion alone.
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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