Specific

Specific CAD Active review

Name: Specific CAD Active
Brand: Specific

39.5/100Average

DryAdult

A high-energy kibble for dogs that work for a living, in our Average band because of how a working ration has to be built. Pork fat leads the list on purpose: energy reaches 441 kcal per 100 grams. Taurine, L-carnitine and yeast beta-glucans show the thinking behind it.

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Our view

Likely to suit

Working dogs in season, from gundogs and sled teams to farm dogs
Dogs that struggle to hold condition. Less food carries more of what they need
A mixed kennel, with a chart running from a 2.5kg dog to an 80kg one
Taurine and L-carnitine printed on the label

Worth watching

Fat at 26%, so a dog that is not working hard will gain weight on the label's portions
Dextrose, a fast sugar, with no amount given
Wheat, maize protein and fish all on the list

Written by our editorial team. Independent guidance, not veterinary advice.

How this scores

How we score

39.5/100Average

Protein and processingPoor

Nutritional balanceGood

TransparencyGood

ValueAverage

The details

Dog fit

Listed for adult dogs of every size, but written around dogs doing real work. For a pet dog, feed below the chart and watch the waistline.

Food type

Dry

Life stage

Adult

Breed size

Toy, Small, Medium, Large, Giant

Main protein

Fish

The score, in context

Specific CAD Active 39.5

All one Average. Typical dry food: Good.

Our scoring reads named meat share and label detail, and a ration built around fat and plant protein will always come out low on that measure while still doing the job it was designed for.

What's in it

Pork fatFirst on the list, the shortest route to a dense ration. Naming the animal behind the fat is better than most manage.
Wheat, maize proteinCarry the structure, a point for anyone keeping a dog off grain.
Fish meal, egg powderThe named animal proteins. Egg is close to complete.
Rice, potato proteinPotato protein is a good deal less digestible than meat protein.
Minerals, yeastThe yeast is there for its beta-glucans.
DextroseA fast sugar with a place in a hard-working dog's diet, though still a sugar, and undeclared in amount.
Animal protein hydrolysateFor palatability. No species given.
Fish oil
Vitamins and trace elements, psyllium huskSome chelated trace elements. Psyllium adds soluble fibre, with crude fibre only 1.1%.
Methionine, taurine, L-carnitine, rosemary extractMethionine balances the plant protein; L-carnitine helps turn fat into usable energy.

Vitamins and trace elements, including chelated forms, are listed inline with the ingredients; no separate dosed panel is published.

No ash declared, so dry-matter figures cannot be worked out and the analysis reads as fed.

Named ingredients

Pork fat, wheat, maize protein, fish meal, egg powder, rice, potato protein, minerals, yeast (including source of ß-1.3/1.6-glucans), dextrose, animal protein hydrolysate, fish oil, vitamins and trace elements (including chelated trace elements), psyllium husk, methionine, taurine, L-carnitine, rosemary extract. With natural, antioxidants (tocopherols and vitamin C).

Against the range

One working ration built for energy density, with pork fat as the first ingredient. Protein at 29% is assembled from wheat, maize protein, fish meal, egg powder and potato protein. No ash is declared, so the analysis can only be read as fed.

Nutritional analysis

Declared analysis

Energy

441 kcal/100g

Protein

29%

Fat

26%

Fibre

1.1%

Moisture

8.5%

Dry weight

Protein

31.7%

Fat

28.4%

Fibre

1.2%

As-fed composition

Estimated breakdown of the finished product by ingredient category, from the declared ingredient list and ingoing weights. These are estimates, not measurements.

Meat

20.3%

Carbs

55.1%

Oils

22%

Other

2.6%

Pricing & size