Skintopic Medium & Large Adult Dry Dog Food, 30.86-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Skintopic Medium & Large Adult Dry Dog Food is a dry formula with chicken by-product meal as its main protein source.
This formula includes quality fat sources like chicken fat and fish oil, which provides EPA and DHA. It also features quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber, and the product has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
The primary protein source, chicken by-product meal, is noted for its lower protein quality, meaning it delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
Good fit for adult dogs whose owners prioritize feeding trial substantiation and specific fat and carbohydrate quality. Less ideal if you prefer formulas with higher quality protein sources.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Neutral fit for adult Labrador Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds. Chicken by-product meal leads the deck at position 1, 23% DMB protein, 16% DMB fat.
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers ? 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 2 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- McGreevy et al., 2018lifespan · mortality · ear health· cited in 3 claims
- AKCbreed standard
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 60/100, landing in B-tier territory. 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 (-16.5 points): Low protein quality. chicken by-product meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Low protein quality. chicken by-product meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
- Bottom 2% for fat quality in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (12/16)
- Top quartile for overall Sniff Score in Royal Canin Veterinary Diet's lineup (60/100)
- Bottom 10% for DMB protein in dry kibbles (23.5%)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
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$3.33/lb vs your seed's $4.83/lb (31% 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.
- 1protein animalchicken by-product meal
Ground organs, bone, and tissue. Nutritionally dense, especially the liver and gizzard fractions. Named species ('chicken') is what matters. Generic 'poultry by-product meal' is the one to worry about. See why →
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2graincorn
Whole corn is more nutritious than it gets credit for, with decent amino acids and steady carbs. The bigger concern is when corn dominates the top of the ingredient list at the expense of named meat.
Position 2: major carbohydrate source.
- 3brewers 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 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4grainwheat
Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 6fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 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.
- 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.
- 9dried 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 9: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 10fiberpea fiber
Insoluble fiber from peas. Doesn't carry the protein-inflation concern of pea protein. Mostly there for stool quality.
Position 10. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 11monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 12sodium aluminosilicate
Anti-caking agent that keeps powder ingredients flowing. Functional, not nutritional.
- 13mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 14mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 15supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 16mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 17powdered psyllium seed husk
- 18turmeric extract
- 19supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 20gla safflower oil
- 21mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 22mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 23mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 24zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
- 25manganous oxide
Inorganic manganese. Functional, cheaper than chelated forms, less efficiently absorbed.
Showing first 25 of 33. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.