Derma HF Dry Dog Food, 26.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Farmina Vet Life Derma HF Dry Dog Food is a dry formula that features hydrolyzed fish as a protein source, with its life stage not explicitly stated.
This food includes quality fat sources like herring oil, which provides EPA and DHA. It also uses premium micronutrient forms, such as chelated minerals. The formula has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation, which is a strong point for a product without a stated life stage.
The formula is plant-protein-dominated, with rice starch as the number one ingredient. Nothing else concerning in the deck.
Good fit for dogs whose owners prioritize AAFCO feeding trial substantiation. Less ideal if you prefer a meat-first or higher protein formula.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Herring oil anchors position 3, with zero pulses in the top 15. 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) .
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
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 53/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was fat quality (+12 points): Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source). The biggest detractor was protein quality (-18 points): Plant-protein-dominated formula. rice starch as the #1 ingredient. To reach B-tier, this formula would need to gain about 7 points, most likely through protein quality.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
Plant-protein-dominated formula. rice starch as the #1 ingredient.
- Lowest fat quality in Farmina Vet Life's lineup (12/16)
- Lowest carb quality in Farmina Vet Life's lineup (10/16)
- Bottom 3% for DMB protein in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (19.2%)
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.
Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken & Ancestral Low-Grain Mini Breed Formula Dry Dog Food, 5.5-lb bag
Scores 26 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Farmina Vet Life Renal Canine Dry Dog Food, 26.5-lb bag
$4.34/lb vs your seed's $5.66/lb (23% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1rice starch
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with rice starch as the dominant carb.
- 2hydrolyzed fish
- 3herring 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.
- 4fiberpowdered cellulose
Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.
Position 4: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 5mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 6mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 7monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 8mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 9vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 10vitaminvitamin d3 supplement
The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.
- 11vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 12vitaminascorbic acid
Vitamin C. Pulls double duty as a natural antioxidant preservative.
- 13vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 14vitamincalcium pantothenate
Same as d-calcium pantothenate. Vitamin B5 in standardized form.
- 15vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 16vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 17thiamine hydrochloride
- 18vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 19vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
- 20vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
- 21supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 22beta-carotene
- 23zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate
- 24manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate
- 25ferrous glycine
Showing first 25 of 31. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
18 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.