Review of Cesar Wet Dog Food
Rating:
Cesar Classics Wet Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-lowest tier rating of 2.5 stars.
The Cesar Classics product line includes the 22 recipe cups listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Cesar Grilled Chicken Flavor Classic Loaf in Sauce 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.
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient ContentProtein =
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, beef lung, chicken broth, water, pork by-products, chicken heart, calcium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, carrageenan, potassium chloride, xanthan gum, magnesium proteinate, dried yam, dl-methionine, salt, erythorbic acid (preservative), grilled chicken flavor, guar gum, natural flavor, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, monocalcium phosphate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), sodium nitrite (for color retention), d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin D3 supplement, potassium iodide
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.6%
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 9% | 4% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 47% | 22% | 23% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 38% | 44% | 18% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is beef lung. Beef lung is a protein-rich organ meat that’s also low in fat.
The next ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.
The fifth ingredient is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The sixth ingredient includes pork by-products, slaughterhouse waste. This is what’s left of a slaughtered pig after all the prime cuts have been removed.
With the exception of hair, horns, teeth and hooves, this item can include almost any other part of the animal.
The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.
The seventh ingredient is chicken heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The eighth ingredient is calcium carbonate, likely used here as a dietary mineral supplement.
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 have much of an effect on the overall rating of this Cesar product.
With 3 notable exceptions…
First, carrageenan is a gelatin-like thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Although carrageenan has been used as a food additive for hundreds of years, there appears to be some recent controversy regarding its long term biological safety.
The article, The Carrageenan Controversy, published in Scientific American, does a good job of addressing this topic.
Next, with the exception of magnesium, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
And lastly, we note the inclusion of sodium nitrite, a controversial color preservative. Sodium nitrite has been linked to the production of cancer-causing substances (known as nitrosamines) when meats are exposed to high cooking temperatures.
Based on its ingredients alone, Cesar Classics Dog Food looks like a average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47%, a fat level of 22% and estimated carbohydrates of about 23%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 47% and a mean fat level of 23%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 22% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs as compared to a typical wet dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing a significant amount of meat.
We really like this dog food. However, it’s unfortunate the company chose to include so many controversial ingredients in its recipe. Otherwise, we may have been compelled to award this product a higher rating.
Why You Should Opt for Cesar Dog Food
All of the Cesar Dog Foods are high-quality, but the best one for you depends on your dog and their individual needs. These are the best 5 on the market today:
The right one for your dog will depend on their age and personal tastes. Dogs love the taste of Cesar dog Foods.
Cesar dog foods creates both wet and dry foods. All wet pet foods contain mostly water. So keep that in mind when feeding your pets wet food. Owners need to feed their dog more food in general to get the nutrition needed. Cesar has formulated most food for smaller dogs which need less Calories in general than larger dogs. For information on dry dog foods click here.
Top Cesar Dog Foods
This sample pack allows your dog to sample four flavors without committing to purchasing a whole case. This pack has flavors Grilled Steak and Eggs, Smoked Bacon and Eggs, Scrambled Egg and Sausage, and Chicken and Cheddar Cheese Souffle. Although aimed at small dogs, it has adequate nutrition for dogs of all sizes. The food is fortified with vitamins and minerals to be a helpful part of a balanced diet.
Using a combination of flavors, Cesar aims to find something that will please even the pickiest of dogs. Your dog will never get bored with the variety pack. This gourmet food comes in convenient trays that seal in freshness. Just peel off the top and serve. This is considered wet dog food that comes as a pate.
On top of the great taste, these foods have been designed to meet the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards for maintenance. This means it has everything an adult dog needs to get a complete and balanced meal. It does not meet the standard for dogs in the growth or reproduction stages of life.
The biggest drawback here is the price. When broken down to a per-tray price, you are paying just over $2 for each one. This is why it is important to read carefully before making a purchase online. This product is more aimed at helping you figure out what your dog will eat and then purchasing that flavor by the case. If you have a larger dog, you may find that these 3.5oz containers don’t cut it for them. It may take two or you may have to supplement with dry food. This makes the cost even more unappealing.
The first ingredient is meat by-products instead of actual meat. There is also added color and sodium nitrate to maintain that color. This is done to make it more appealing for the owner.
Overall, this is an okay choice of dog food for your dog. With its breakfast style flavors, it makes a great choice for the first meal of the day.
This type of food is made up of 8% Protein, 3.5% Fat, and 1% Carbs. Most of the content of this food is moisture.
