Cesar Complete Dry: With Chicken, Salmon and Vegetables review

Both recipes finish in our Average band, a step behind the Good band where the typical adult dry food sits. Our approach leans heavily on the animal protein a recipe can show, and this one shows little. The meat is a broad derivatives term free to change species between batches, the oils are mostly unnamed, and the carbohydrate share climbs past what is typical for a dry food. None of that makes it unsafe, and it is a complete food that small dogs reliably enjoy; it simply means a label reader cannot see far into the bowl.

Ingredients, as declared: Cereals* (including Rice 4% in the Triangular Kibbles, Wholegrain Wheat* minimum 40%), Meat and Animal Derivatives (30%, including Fresh Chicken* 4% in the Square Kibbles), Oils and Fats (including Fish Oil 0.2%), Derivatives of Vegetable Origin (including Sugar Beet Pulp* 3%), Fish and Fish Derivatives (including Salmon 4% in the Triangular Kibbles), Minerals, Vegetables* (including Dried Carrots 0.5%, equivalent to Carrots 4%, Dried Peas 1%, equivalent to Peas 4%, and Dried Tomatoes 0.2%, equivalent to Tomatoes 4% in the Circular Kibbles), Yeast (including Brewer's Yeast 0.2%), Herbs (including Herbs de Provence 0.3%), *Natural Ingredients, Brown Triangular Kibble typically 65% of product, Square Brown Semi-Moist Kibble typically 15% of product, Orange and Green Circular Kibbles each typically 10% of product, * Wholegrains

The recipe is upfront about its structure in one respect: it tells you the bowl is typically 65% crunchy triangular kibble, 15% soft semi-moist squares and two lots of 10% vegetable-toned circles. That texture mix is the product's whole personality and the reason many small dogs prefer it to a uniform biscuit.

Wholegrain wheat at a minimum of 40% is the foundation. Wheat is an efficient grain and most dogs digest it without any trouble at all. Wheat also turns up more than any other cereal when a dog does have a grain issue. Know about it, and there is no need to fear it.

Meat and animal derivatives is the widest term European labelling allows, covering everything from prime cuts to processing leftovers, with the species free to vary. A 4% fresh share is named in each recipe, which anchors the flavour but not much else. Fish oil is dosed at just 0.2%, and sugar beet pulp at 3% supplies fibre.

The additive panel covers the essentials, vitamin D3, vitamin E and a full trace mineral line, alongside antioxidants, preservatives and colourants. The colours exist because owners choose with their eyes; your dog would never miss them.

Here the triangles carry rice at 4% and salmon at 4%, with fresh chicken at 4% in the squares, and this is the only version of the pair to offer the larger 7kg bag.

The beef recipe comes in a 1.4kg bag; the chicken and salmon recipe is sold in 1.4kg and 7kg bags.

The label feeds a 10kg dog 145 to 160 grams a day, scaling down to 45 to 50 grams for a 2kg dog, so even the small bag lasts a light eater a fair while.