Selected Protein Potato & Whitefish Moderate Calorie Formula Adult Dry Dog Food, 24.2-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Selected Protein Potato & Whitefish Moderate Calorie Formula is a dry food for adult dogs, primarily featuring fish protein.
This formula uses quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber, and its fat sources are good, including named fats and marine oil for EPA and DHA. It also has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance, which is a strong positive.
The formula is plant-protein-dominated, with potato as the first ingredient. This means a significant portion of the protein comes from plant sources rather than animal sources.
Good fit for adult dogs needing a moderate calorie diet or those with sensitivities to common proteins. Less ideal if you prefer a meat-first formula.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. Strong fit for adult Labrador Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating weight management. At 257 kcal/cup this formula runs on the lean side, with crude fiber at 9.8% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). The 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines define overweight as a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6-7 on a 9-point scale. A score of 8 or 9 indicates obesity, representing 20-30% and >30% above ideal body weight, respectively (Brooks et al., 2014) .
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? 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.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- APOP, 2023prevalence
- Raffan et al., 2016genetics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 45/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from carbohydrate quality, worth 13 points to the final number: Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 24 points. Plant-protein-dominated formula. potato as the #1 ingredient.
Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Plant-protein-dominated formula. potato as the #1 ingredient.
- Lowest protein quality in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (1.2/27)
- Top 4% for crude fiber in grain-free dry kibbles (10.9% DMB)
- Lowest caloric density in grain-free dry kibbles (257 kcal/cup)
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.
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Scores 16 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Vegetarian Dry Dog Food, 17.6-lb bag
$5.51/lb vs your seed's $6.45/lb (15% 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.
- 1vegetablepotato
Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.
Position 1: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 2protein animalfish meal
Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile. See why →
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3fiberpowdered cellulose
Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.
Position 3: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 4fatcoconut oil
Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.
Position 4: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 5protein plantpotato protein
Concentrated potato protein. Like pea protein, it inflates the protein number without matching meat-quality amino acids.
Position 5: plant protein in the top 5. Stacked with animal protein, can inflate the crude protein number without matching the amino-acid quality of named animal sources.
- 6othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 7vegetable oil
Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.
Position 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 8monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 9mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 10supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 11supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 12supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 13mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 14fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
Position 14. Trace marine oil. Contributes some omega-3 but well below the level that drives EPA/DHA totals.
- 15mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 16zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
- 17mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 18mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 19manganous oxide
Inorganic manganese. Functional, cheaper than chelated forms, less efficiently absorbed.
- 20mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 21mineralcopper proteinate
Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.
- 22mineralcalcium iodate
Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.
- 23mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 24supplementl-carnitine
Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.
- 25preservative naturalrosemary extract
Natural preservative. Replaces synthetic ones like BHA and BHT.
Showing first 25 of 26. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
25 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.