Chicken in Pet Food

Grade B-1 ptsProteins

What It Is

"Clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone from named species."

Health Impact

Named, whole, real food. No penalty. The catch: fresh chicken is about 70% water. After cooking, it shrinks significantly — so a food listing "chicken" as the first ingredient may actually have less chicken protein than one listing "chicken meal" third. Look at the whole ingredient list, not just #1. Score: 8/10.

Why This Grade

A minor caveat applies — usually a processing step (e.g. rendering into a meal), a moderate allergen history, or a named-but-fattier source — but nothing on our risk watchlist. -1 pt deducted.

Sources & Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chicken safe for dogs and cats?

Rated B (-1 pts) by PetPro-tectors™. Named, whole, real food. No penalty. The catch: fresh chicken is about 70% water. After cooking, it shrinks significantly — so a food listing "chicken" as the first ingredient may actually have less chicken protein than one listing "chicken meal" third. Look at the whole ingredient list, not just #1. Score: 8/10.

What is Chicken in pet food?

Clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone from named species.

Related Proteins Ingredients

SalmonSardineAnchovyMackerel
← Back to full glossary
Sources: FDA, AAFCO Official Publication, National Toxicology Program,
WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, Journal of Animal Science.

PetPro-tection League™