Score it for your dog

Best-scoring dog foods

Best-scoring dog foods without chicken or beef on the label for a large senior dog, moderately active, losing weight

For a large senior dog, moderately active and losing weight, leaving out every food that names chicken or beef on its label, the best-scoring food among the 265 dog foods BowlWise scores, all sold in Canada, is Open Farm Pollock & Oatmeal Digestive Health, a kibble, at 85.2 out of 100. The best-scoring of each kind: kibble, Open Farm Pollock & Oatmeal Digestive Health at 85.2. 70 of the 265 foods fit this dog. The scores are BowlWise’s own, worked out from each food’s label on October 13, 2026.

Open Farm Pollock & Oatmeal Digestive Health: On March 11, 2026 Pet Valu listed the 9.98 kg bag at $114.99 in Canadian dollars.

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Kibble

43 kibble foods fit this dog.

  1. 85.2 of 100
    • Low fat (10.0%) supports this dog's weight loss goal
    • High protein content (28.0%) for this dog
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.1%) for this dog's joints and coat
  2. 85 of 100
    • Premium protein content (32.0%) for this dog
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.2%) for this dog's joints and coat
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog

    0.2 points under Open Farm Pollock & Oatmeal Digestive Health:

    • Activity and goal, 25 against 35. Fat is 16.7% of dry matter. For this dog, a moderately active dog losing weight, full points need fat under 13.5%.
  3. 84.7 of 100
    • Low fat (11.0%) supports this dog's weight loss goal
    • Formulated for this dog's senior life stage
    • High fiber (5.5%) supports this dog's senior digestion

    0.3 points under Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Ocean Recipe:

    • Nutritional quality, 13 against 24. Protein is 27.8% of dry matter. Full points for protein start at 33.3%. Omega-3 is 0.7% as fed. Full points for omega-3 start at 0.8%. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given. Calories are 3,797 kcal per kg of dry matter. For kibble, full points are given between 4,000 and 5,000. Fat is 12.2% of dry matter. Full points for fat are given between 13.3% and 22.5%.
    • Life stage, 12.7 against 15. Formulated for this dog's senior life stage. High fiber (5.5%) supports this dog's senior digestion. Omega-3 is 0.7% as fed. For a senior dog, full points start at 0.8%.
    • Price value, 4 against 5. Good value for this dog. Price per kilogram is in the cheaper half of kibble foods, above the cheapest quarter. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
  4. 80.7 of 100
    • Low fat (12.0%) supports this dog's weight loss goal
    • Excellent Omega-3 (0.9%) for this dog's joints and coat
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog

    4 points under Now Fresh Large Breed Senior Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free:

    • Format suitability, 6 against 10. Regular kibble — compatible with this dog's size. This is regular kibble. For a large dog, full points are given for large kibble.
  5. 80 of 100
    • Low fat (12.0%) supports this dog's weight loss goal
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.2%) for this dog's joints and coat
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog

    0.7 points under Go! Solutions Sensitivities Salmon Grain-Free Limited Ingredient:

    • Formulation integrity, 6 against 10. No controversial ingredients — clean nutrition for this dog. None of the label's first five ingredients is a meat named as itself. The label names 1 main protein. Full points for variety are given for 3 or more. No feeding trial is on file for this food.

  6. 5th of 43, level with another

    Open Farm GoodGut Wild-Caught Salmon

    80 of 100
    • Premium protein content (30.0%) for this dog
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.0%) for this dog's joints and coat
    • Balanced fat content (13.5%) for this dog

Gently cooked

Every gently cooked food that fits this dog names chicken or beef on its label, so none is listed.

Air-dried

4 air-dried foods fit this dog. No air-dried food scores 70 or more for this dog; the closest is Smack Prairie Harvest Pork at 57.5.

  1. 57.5 of 100
    • Premium protein content (48.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog
    • Formulated for this dog's senior life stage
  2. 53.5 of 100
    • Premium protein content (40.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog
    • Formulated for this dog's senior life stage

    4 points under Smack Prairie Harvest Pork:

    • Nutritional quality, 15 against 18. Premium protein content (40.0%) for this dog. Optimal caloric density for this dog. The label gives no omega-3 figure, so those points could not be given. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given. Fat is 30.2% of dry matter. Full points for fat are given between 13.3% and 22.5%.
    • Price value, 4 against 5. Good value for this dog. Price per kilogram is in the cheaper half of air-dried foods, above the cheapest quarter. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.

  3. 3rd of 4, level with another

    Ziwi Peak Original Air-Dried Lamb Recipe

    53 of 100
    • Premium protein content (38.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog
    • Formulated for this dog's senior life stage

    0.5 points under Smack Lip Smacking Lamb:

    • Price value, 3.5 against 4. Price per kilogram is above the middle of air-dried foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
  4. 53 of 100
    • Premium protein content (44.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog
    • Formulated for this dog's senior life stage

Freeze-dried

17 freeze-dried foods fit this dog. No freeze-dried food scores 70 or more for this dog; the closest is Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Nuggets at 69.7.

  1. 69.7 of 100
    • Premium protein content (57.0%) for this dog
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.13%) for this dog's joints and coat
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog
  2. 68.2 of 100
    • Premium protein content (55.0%) for this dog
    • Balanced fat content (15.0%) for this dog
    • Formulated for this dog's senior life stage

    1.5 points under Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Nuggets:

    • Nutritional quality, 15 against 23. Premium protein content (55.0%) for this dog. Balanced fat content (15.0%) for this dog. The label gives no omega-3 figure, so those points could not be given. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given. Calories are 4,459 kcal per kg of dry matter. For freeze-dried food, full points are given between 5,000 and 6,200.
    • Life stage, 9.2 against 12.7. Formulated for this dog's senior life stage. High fiber (5.0%) supports this dog's senior digestion. The label gives no omega-3 figure, so those points could not be given.
  3. 68.2 of 100
    • Premium protein content (45.0%) for this dog
    • Balanced fat content (15.0%) for this dog
    • Formulated for this dog's senior life stage

Toppers

A topper is added to a meal, not fed as one, and is scored on other parts than a meal. Each topper’s score here is for a dog whose food must not name chicken or beef. A topper earns more points for such a dog, so its score here can be higher than on its own page, which is worked out for a dog with no allergy. These are not ranked against the foods above. 6 toppers fit this dog; each number is a topper’s score out of 100:

Left out here because the label names chicken or beef

What was left out, and why

70 of the 265 foods fit this dog. The others:

  • 77 foodsMade for the adult life stage, not senior.
  • 28 foodsMade for the puppy life stage, not senior.
  • 2 foodsKibble too small for large breed.
  • 2 foodsNot a complete diet.
  • 2 foodsScored under 50, so it is not offered.
  • 84 foodsName chicken or beef on their label.

BowlWise reads the ingredients printed on each label. It cannot see what a label does not say, such as traces from other foods made in the same place. Check the bag itself before you buy.

A dog a little different

The same dog with every food counted: a large senior dog, moderately active and losing weight.

How to read this

These scores are BowlWise’s own, worked out from each food’s label for one kind of dog at a time. They are not veterinary advice. How a score is worked out: How we score.

Worked out on October 13, 2026.

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