canine x dog food reviews

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Sportmix CanineX Dog Food Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: March 12, 2024

DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how

All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.

Which Sportmix CanineX Recipes GetOur Best Ratings?

Sportmix CanineX Dog Food receives the Advisors second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

The Sportmix CanineX product line includes the 2 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Sportmix CanineX Chicken Meal and Vegetables was selected to represent both products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

Sportmix CanineX Chicken Meal and Vegetables

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Chicken meal (natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin), chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), peas, pea starch, dried yeast, whitefish meal (source of DHA-docosahexaenoic acid), beet pulp, egg, flaxseed, l-carnitine, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid], minerals [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate], rosemary extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Guaranteed Analysis	30%	22%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	33%	24%	34%
Calorie Weighted Basis	26%	47%	27%

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The next ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The fourth ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth ingredient is dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

Whats more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.

The sixth ingredient is whitefish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.¹

The seventh ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The eighth ingredient lists eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

The ninth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.

But realistically, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Sportmix product.

With 3 notable exceptions

First, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.

Next, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

And lastly, we note the presence of sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Sportmix CanineX Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 24% and estimated carbohydrates of about 34%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31% and a mean fat level of 26%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 35% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 83%.

Which means this Sportmix product line contains

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, dried yeast and flaxseed, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

However, with 47% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 26% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for every animal on a low fat diet. In addition, this same finding also prevents us from awarding the brand a higher rating.

Our Rating of Sportmix CanineX Dog Food

Sportmix CanineX is a grain-free dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.

Highly recommended.

Sportmix CanineX Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Sportmix through April.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Get Free Recall Alerts

Get free dog food recall alerts sent to you by email. Subscribe to The Advisors recall notification list.

More Sportmix Brand Reviews

The following Sportmix dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

Compare This Dog Food

How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?

A Final Word

The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Dog Food Review (Dry)

Home Reviews Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Dog Food Review (Dry)

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Dog Food Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: March 21, 2024

DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how

All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.

Review of Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Dog Food receives the Advisors mid-tier rating of 3 stars.

The Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small product line includes the 4 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Adult was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Adult

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Brewers rice, corn, chicken by-product meal, chicken fat, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, natural flavors, dried chicory root, vegetable oil, fish oil, psyllium seed husk, potassium chloride, calcium sulfate, monocalcium phosphate, salt, l-tyrosine, l-lysine, calcium carbonate, dl-methionine, fructooligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, l-arginine, choline chloride, vitamins [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], magnesium oxide, trace minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, copper proteinate], l-carnitine, rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Guaranteed Analysis	22%	16%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	24%	18%	50%
Calorie Weighted Basis	21%	37%	42%

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is brewers rice. Brewers rice is a cereal grain by-product consisting of the small fragments left over after milling whole rice. Aside from the caloric energy it contains, this item is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The second ingredient is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.

The third ingredient is chicken by-product meal, a dry rendered product of slaughterhouse waste. Its made from whats left of a slaughtered chicken after all the choice cuts have been removed.

In addition to organs, this item can also include feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs and almost anything other than prime skeletal muscle.

On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.

The fourth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The next ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.

Although corn gluten meal contains 60% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The sixth ingredient is wheat gluten, another plant-based protein booster.

Although wheat gluten contains 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

After the natural flavor, we find chicory root. Chicory is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.

The next ingredient is vegetable oil, a generic oil of unknown origin. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in any oil is nutritionally critical and can vary significantly (depending on the source).

Without knowing more, its impossible to judge the quality of an item so vaguely described. However, compared to a named animal fat, a generic vegetable oil cannot be considered a quality ingredient.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Royal Canin product.

With 4 notable exceptions

First, we find fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.

Next, this recipe contains fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener¹ probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.

In addition, we find sodium selenite in this product. Sodium selenite is a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

And lastly, this food includes chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Dog Food looks like an average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 24%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 68%.

Which means this Royal Canin product line contains

Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the corn and wheat glutens, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing just a moderate amount of meat.

However, with 37% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 21% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for pets on a low-fat diet.

Our Rating of Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Dog Food

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a moderate amount of named by-product meal as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3 stars.

Recommended.