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Ingredient file

L-Carnitine

A compound made from amino acids that moves fat into the cells' energy factories.

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 5 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

22%

699 of the 3,205 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 52 brands. 603 dry dog food, 75 wet dog food, 10 frozen dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 28. In the top five of 1 food, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

4%

Usually listed after the salt, which caps it at roughly 1% of the recipe in 96% of foods.

Price per lb

Foods with it $3.25
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 517 priced foods, about level with the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

14%

of the foods that list it are from Blue. 52 brands use it in total.

What it is

Why it turns up in dog food

  • Helps the body burn fat for energy, which is why it appears in weight management and performance recipes.

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. Blue 101 / 186
  2. Royal Canin 89 / 161
  3. NutriSource 64 / 91
  4. Zignature 42 / 46
  5. Hill's 42 / 117
  6. Nulo 32 / 117
  7. Now Fresh 23 / 35
  8. Victor 21 / 27
  9. Earthborn Holistic 21 / 28
  10. Annamaet 20 / 20

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Plus 42 more brands.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #1 Blue Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  2. #4 Hill’s Science Diet Light Small & Mini Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food
  3. #5 Blue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  4. #8 Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Salmon & Potato Formula Dry Dog Food
  5. #27 Blue Life Protection Formula Senior Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  6. #29 Royal Canin Small Adult Dry Dog Food
  7. #35 Blue Life Protection Formula Small Breed Senior Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
  8. #61 Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Chicken Fat 50%
  2. Natural Flavor 44%
  3. Mixed Tocopherols 41%
  4. Chicken Meal 35%
  5. Peas 35%
  6. Chicken 35%
  7. Flaxseed 33%
  8. Brown Rice 31%
  9. Dried Plain Beet Pulp 25%
  10. Oatmeal 20%
  11. Barley 19%
  12. Brewers Rice 16%

On the shelf

Foods that list L-Carnitine

699 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Evanger’s EVX Restricted Diet: Hip & Joint and Senior Support Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s EVX Restricted Diet: Hip & Joint and Senior Support Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelEvanger’s EVX Restricted Diet: Weight Management Wet Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s EVX Restricted Diet: Weight Management Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 8 on the labelZignature Essence LIR Ranch Recipe Food Can Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Essence LIR Ranch Recipe Food Can Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 12 on the labelWellness Core Bowl Boosters Functional Toppers Hearth Health Dog Food TopperWellnessWellness Core Bowl Boosters Functional Toppers Hearth Health Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 12 on the labelTaste of the Wild Prey Turkey Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodTaste of the WildTaste of the Wild Prey Turkey Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelTaste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodTaste of the WildTaste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelSimply Nourish Hip & Joint Recipe Wet Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Hip & Joint Recipe Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 13 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Venture Turkey Meal & Pumpkin Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Venture Turkey Meal & Pumpkin Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Duck Meal & Pumpkin Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Duck Meal & Pumpkin Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelWholeHearted Active Performance High-Protein Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodWholeHeartedWholeHearted Active Performance High-Protein Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelZignature Essence LIR Ocean Recipe Food Can Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Essence LIR Ocean Recipe Food Can Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 14 on the labelZignature Original Food Turkey Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Turkey Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 14 on the label
Show 48 more
Evanger’s Heritage Classic Senior & Weight Management Wet Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s Heritage Classic Senior & Weight Management Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 9 on the labelTaste of the Wild Prey Trout Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodTaste of the WildTaste of the Wild Prey Trout Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Small Breed Ancient Grains Salmon, Oats & Acadian Redfish Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Small Breed Ancient Grains Salmon, Oats & Acadian Redfish Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Ancient Grains Salmon, Oats & Haddock Recipe Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Ancient Grains Salmon, Oats & Haddock Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelZignature Select Cuts Turkey Formula with Super Grains Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Select Cuts Turkey Formula with Super Grains Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelZignature Inception Chicken Formula Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Inception Chicken Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelZignature Inception Fish Formula Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Inception Fish Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Rabbit Meal & Pumpkin Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Rabbit Meal & Pumpkin Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelDiamond>Naturals Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDiamond NaturalsDiamond>Naturals Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the label4health Shreds Large Breed Adult Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food4health4health Shreds Large Breed Adult Chicken Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelZignature Essence LIR Landfowl Recipe Food Can Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Essence LIR Landfowl Recipe Food Can Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelZignature Original Food Whitefish Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Whitefish Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelZignature Original Food Venison Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Venison Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelZignature Original Food Duck Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Duck Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelZignature Original Food Puppy Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Puppy Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 15 on the labelNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Small Breed Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo FreeStyle Limited+ Small Breed Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelZignature Original Turkey Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Turkey Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelZignature Original Pork Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Pork Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelZignature Original Small Bites Turkey Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Small Bites Turkey Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelRoyal Canin Veterinary Early Cardiac Dry Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Veterinary Early Cardiac Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelWellness Complete Health Small Breed Healthy Weight Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Complete Health Small Breed Healthy Weight Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Smoked Wild Boar & Butternut Squash Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Smoked Wild Boar & Butternut Squash Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Smoked Turkey & Butternut Squash Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Smoked Turkey & Butternut Squash Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelDiamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDiamondDiamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelDiamond>Naturals Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDiamond NaturalsDiamond>Naturals Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelZignature Original Food Kangaroo Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Kangaroo Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 16 on the labelZignature Select Cuts Trout & Salmon Meal Formula with Super Grains Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Select Cuts Trout & Salmon Meal Formula with Super Grains Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelZignature Inception Pork Formula Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Inception Pork Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Roasted Lamb & Butternut Squash Dry Dog FoodEarthborn HolisticEarthborn Holistic Venture Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Roasted Lamb & Butternut Squash Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelDiamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDiamondDiamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelZignature Original Lamb Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Lamb Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelRoyal Canin Shih Tzu Loaf In Sauce Wet Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Shih Tzu Loaf In Sauce Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelDiamond>Care Diamond Care Weight Management Formula Dry Dog FoodDiamond CareDiamond>Care Diamond Care Weight Management Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelWholeHearted Healthy Benefits Weight Control Lamb and Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodWholeHeartedWholeHearted Healthy Benefits Weight Control Lamb and Pea Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelZignature Original Food Pork Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Pork Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelZignature Original Food Lamb Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Lamb Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelZignature Original Food Zssential Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Food Zssential Formula Grain-Free Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelBlue Homestyle Recipe Healthy Weight Chicken Pate Wet Dog FoodBlueBlue Homestyle Recipe Healthy Weight Chicken Pate Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 17 on the labelZignature Essence LIR Landfowl Recipe Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Essence LIR Landfowl Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelZignature Original Whitefish Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Whitefish Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelZignature Original Small Bites Lamb Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodZignatureZignature Original Small Bites Lamb Formula with Probiotics Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelVerus Advanced Opticoat Menhaden Fish Meal and Potato Formula Dry Dog FoodVerusVerus Advanced Opticoat Menhaden Fish Meal and Potato Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelDiamond Care Weight Management Formula for Adult Dogs Dry Dog FoodDiamondDiamond Care Weight Management Formula for Adult Dogs Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelBixbi Liberty Dry Dog FoodBIXBIBixbi Liberty Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 18 on the labelTruDog Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Small Breed ca Wet Dog FoodTruDogTruDog Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Small Breed ca Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 18 on the labelDave’s Pet Food Carbolight Carbohydrate & Weight Management for Dogs / Wet Dog FoodDave's Pet FoodDave’s Pet Food Carbolight Carbohydrate & Weight Management for Dogs / Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 18 on the labelI and Love and You Top That Move Beef With Bison Recipe In Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperI and Love and YouI and Love and You Top That Move Beef With Bison Recipe In Gravy Grain-Free Dog Food TopperTopper // No. 18 on the labelHalo Holistic Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Small Breed Wet Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Grain Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Small Breed Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 18 on the label
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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