Ci Foods Ci Top Drawer Puppy: Chicken & Brown Rice review

Our Excellent band is where this one lands. The typical wet puppy food reads Excellent as well, in a field that scores strongly, so holding that mark means something. Nutritional balance and transparency both come back Outstanding, the highest readings in the set, with protein and processing and value at Excellent behind them. A single meat at 65%, carbohydrate down at 12.0% of dry matter where a typical wet puppy food carries 13.6%, and a list short enough to read at a glance are what earn the position.

Ingredients, as declared: Chicken (65%), Brown Rice (5%), Dried Peas (1.3% equivalent to 4% Peas), Dried Carrots (1.3% equivalent to 10% Carrots), Fish Oil, Dried Basil, Dried Parsley, Dried Rosemary, Dried Mint, Dried Sage, Minerals, High Nucleotide Yeast Extract (0.015%), Seaweed Meal, Glucosamine (0.004%), Chondroitin Sulphate (0.002%), Cranberry (0.002%), Yucca Schidigera (0.025%)

Chicken at 65% is the whole story here, and the analysis agrees with it. Protein converts to 48.0% of dry matter and fat to 22.0%. That is what a food made of meat looks like on paper. Chicken is also the most digestible and best-liked meat in the category, which counts for a great deal while a puppy is still working out what mealtimes are.

The plant side is deliberately small. Brown rice at 5%, dried peas at 1.3% and dried carrots at 1.3%, with the label helpfully converting those last two to 4% peas and 10% carrots in their fresh state. Carbohydrate lands at 12.0% of dry matter, under the 13.6% a typical wet puppy food carries, so nothing is padding this tray out.

Fish oil brings the marine omega 3 that a growing coat and brain need. It is also the reason fish appears in the allergen list for a recipe whose only meat is chicken. Behind it come dried herbs for seasoning: basil and parsley with mint and sage. The rosemary earns its keep twice over as a natural antioxidant slowing the fats from turning.

Ash converts to 12.0% of dry matter, a healthy mineral load for building bone, but no calcium figure is printed and that is the one gap in an otherwise open label. This tray is offered for every size of dog, giant breeds included. A claim like that needs a calcium number standing behind it, so ask the maker for one before you settle a big pup on this tray.

The tail is light. High nucleotide yeast extract at 0.015% covers gut and immune support, and seaweed meal brings natural minerals and iodine. Then yucca schidigera at 0.025%, cranberry at 0.002%, and glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate at 0.004% and 0.002%. Those last two are on the list without a working dose, so read them as a nod towards the joints.

The added panel declares amounts for vitamins A, D3 and E, with zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine and selenium beside them. Energy at 99 kcal per 100g is our own estimate. It sits a little under the 106 a typical wet puppy food carries, so the portions run slightly larger.

£6.08 a kilo, sold as a 395g tray.

A puppy eats more of a wet food than of kibble, and the amount climbs steeply through the early months. Set the number of trays against the growth guide on the pack, and revisit it as your pup fills out.