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Farmina Vet Life Derma HF Canine Wet Dog Food, 10.58-oz can, case of 6
Farmina Vet Life

Derma HF Canine Wet Dog Food, 10.58-oz can, case of 6

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $8.30/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Farmina Vet Life Derma HF Canine Wet Dog Food is a wet food that features sweet potato starch and hydrolyzed fish, formulated for dogs with specific dietary needs.

This formula uses quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber, which is good for digestive health. It also includes quality fat sources like herring oil, providing beneficial EPA and DHA. The product's nutritional adequacy is substantiated by AAFCO feeding trials.

The formula is plant-protein-dominated, with sweet potato starch as the first ingredient. This means the primary protein source is not animal-based.

Good fit for dogs needing quality carbohydrate and fat sources. Less ideal if you prefer an animal protein as the first ingredient.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022  (FDA, 2022) . Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Herring oil anchors position 3, with zero pulses in the top 15.

Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.

Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.

Research informing this analysis

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

  • FDA, 2022
    cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    diet composition· cited in 2 claims
  • NRC, 2006
    nutrient bioavailability

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

At 57/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from carbohydrate quality, worth 14 points to the final number: Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 17 points. Plant-protein-dominated formula. sweet potato starch as the #1 ingredient. This formula sits 3.0 points below the B-tier line. The most direct lever is protein quality.

What lifted the score

Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.

CQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.

ACF
What pulled it down

Plant-protein-dominated formula. sweet potato starch as the #1 ingredient.

PQI
What sets this apart
  • Lowest fat quality in Farmina Vet Life's lineup (12/16)
  • Top quartile for crude fiber in Farmina Vet Life's lineup (11.1% DMB)
  • Bottom 1% for DMB protein in grain-free wet foods (22.2%)

Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.

Similar dog foods worth considering

Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Farmina Natural & Delicious Ocean Trout & Salmon Canned Dog Food, 10-oz can, case of 6
Farmina

Farmina Natural & Delicious Ocean Trout & Salmon Canned Dog Food, 10-oz can, case of 6

74

Scores 17 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Dave's Pet Food Skin & Coat Support Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Pate Wet Canned Dog Food, 13.2-oz can, case of 12
Dave's Pet Food

Dave's Pet Food Skin & Coat Support Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Pate Wet Canned Dog Food, 13.2-oz can, case of 12

59

$4.75/lb vs your seed's $8.30/lb (43% less) at a comparable score.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 22% ⓘ
Protein
4%
min (as fed)
Fat
2%
min (as fed)
Fiber
2%
max (as fed)
Moisture
82%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 22%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

22 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    sweet potato starch
  2. 2
    hydrolyzed fish
  3. 3
    herring oil

    Concentrated omega-3 from herring. Same role as salmon oil, skin and coat support.

    Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  4. 4
    quinoa seed

    Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.

  5. 5
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

    Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.

  6. 6
    powdered cellulose

    Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.

    Position 6: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.

  7. 7
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  8. 8
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  9. 9
    monocalcium phosphate

    Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.

  10. 10
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  11. 11
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  12. 12
    vitamin d3 supplement

    The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

  13. 13
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  14. 14
    zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate
  15. 15
    manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate
  16. 16
    ferrous glycine
  17. 17
    copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate
  18. 18
    selenium yeast

    Organic selenium grown in yeast. The form premium brands use, gentler and more bioavailable than sodium selenite.

  19. 19
    calcium iodate

    Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.

  20. 20
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

  21. 21
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  22. 22
    l-carnitine

    Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.

15 of 22 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.