Adult Hydrolyzed Protein Loaf Wet Dog Food, 13.7-oz can, 12 count
Graded by The Sniff System
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Hydrolyzed Protein Loaf Wet Dog Food is a wet food for adult dogs, featuring hydrolyzed soy protein and hydrolyzed chicken liver.
This formula offers reasonable protein quality, with pea starch contributing to solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality fat sources like fish oil, which provides EPA and DHA. The food has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
The formula contains carrageenan, a seaweed-derived thickener that some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation. There's also guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data, though it's a minor penalty in canned food.
Good fit for adult dogs who need a hydrolyzed protein diet. Less ideal if your dog has a sensitive stomach or IBD.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
For Labrador Retrievers with suspected cutaneous adverse food reactions, a strict elimination diet trial must last a minimum of 8 weeks to reliably diagnose or rule out a food-based trigger. Strong fit for active large sporting breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and English Setters navigating skin allergies. The protein deck is built around a single species (chicken), with fish oil at position 8 for EPA/DHA skin support. The National Research Council (2006) recommends a minimum of 2.6 grams of linoleic acid (an omega-6) per 1000 kcal of metabolizable energy to maintain skin barrier function in adult dogs (NRC, 2006) .
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with skin allergies ? 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.
At 43/100, this formula sits below where we look for everyday picks. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 14.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. pea starch delivers solid amino acid coverage. Where it lost ground: controversial-ingredient penalty, costing 5 points. Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD. This formula sits 2.0 points below the C-tier line. The most direct lever is controversial-ingredient penalty.
Reasonable protein quality. pea starch delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..
Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..
- Lowest carb quality in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (7/16)
- Top 4% for crude fiber in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (21.1% DMB)
- Bottom 2% for fat quality in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (12/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Loaf Wet Dog Food, 13.5-oz can, case of 24
Scores 18 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Golden Retriever Loaf Pate Adult Wet Dog Food, 13.5-oz, case of 12
$4.97/lb vs your seed's $7.94/lb (37% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 1
- carrageenanSeaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
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).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1water sufficient for processing
The regulatory phrase for cooking water in wet food. Has no nutritional implication, just labeling formality.
- 2pea starch
Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.
Position 2. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.
- 3hydrolyzed soy protein
- 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.
- 5hydrolyzed chicken liver
- 6vegetable oil
Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 7mineraltricalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.
- 8fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
Position 8. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 9othercarrageenan Flagged
Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →
- 10fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
Position 10: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 11calcium sulfate
Source of calcium. Functional, required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 12sodium aluminosilicate
Anti-caking agent that keeps powder ingredients flowing. Functional, not nutritional.
- 13mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 14mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 15othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 16supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 17supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 18fiberxanthan gum
Thickener common in wet food and gravies. Same emulsifier-microbiome conversation as guar gum, not a clear flag. See why →
- 19glycine
- 20mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 21sodium carbonate
pH buffer used in food processing. Functional, no quality signal.
- 22mineralmagnesium oxide
Inorganic magnesium. Functional at AAFCO doses, less efficiently absorbed than chelated forms.
- 23mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 24mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 25zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
Showing first 25 of 32. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.