Adult Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Treats, 17.6-oz bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Treats are dry treats formulated with hydrolyzed soy protein, designed for adult dogs.
This treat uses quality carbohydrate sources that include fermentable fiber, which is good for gut health. It also features quality fat sources like named chicken fat and fish oil, providing beneficial EPA and DHA. The formula has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
The formula is plant-protein-dominated, with brewers rice as the first ingredient. This means the protein content relies more heavily on plant sources than animal sources.
Good fit for adult dogs with sensitivities who need a hydrolyzed protein treat. Nothing serious working against it for that specific use case.
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. Working in its favor: taurine listed as added ingredient. Chicken fat 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Middle-of-pack grade. 54/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Carbohydrate quality did the heavy lifting (+13 points): Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. What we'd flag for vet discussion: protein quality (-18 points). Plant-protein-dominated formula. brewers rice as the #1 ingredient. B-tier is 6 points up. Protein quality is where to find them.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Plant-protein-dominated formula. brewers rice as the #1 ingredient.
- Lowest crude fiber in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (2.9% DMB)
- Bottom 2% for fat quality in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (12/16)
- Bottom quartile for DMB protein in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (24.4%)
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.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Adult Dog Treats, 17.6-oz bag
Scores 6 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Weight Control Medium Breed Dry Dog Food, 17.6-lb bag
$4.83/lb vs your seed's $11.81/lb (59% 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.
- 1brewers rice
Broken rice kernels left over from milling, usually destined for human beer-making. Cheaper than whole or even white rice. Same carbs, less nutrition than the brown version. See why →
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with brewers rice as the dominant carb.
- 2hydrolyzed soy protein
- 3fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 3: primary fat source. Drives the formula's caloric density and omega-6 content.
- 4othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 5vegetable oil
Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.
Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 6dried plain beet pulp
Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality. See why →
Position 6: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 7sodium silico aluminate
Same role as sodium aluminosilicate. Anti-caking agent at trace inclusion.
- 8calcium sulfate
Source of calcium. Functional, required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 9mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 10fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
Position 10. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 11monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 12fiberfructooligosaccharides
Prebiotic fiber, often called FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria, similar in function to inulin.
Position 12: trace fiber inclusion.
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 15mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 16supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 17supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 18supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 19mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 20zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
- 21mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 22manganous oxide
Inorganic manganese. Functional, cheaper than chelated forms, less efficiently absorbed.
- 23mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 24mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 25mineralsodium selenite Flagged
Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →
Showing first 25 of 32. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.