VFS Low Phosphorus Formula Dry Dog Food, 4.4-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
SquarePet VFS Low Phosphorus Formula Dry Dog Food is a dry food featuring turkey and egg, designed with a low phosphorus profile.
This formula uses quality carbohydrate sources like brown and white rice, and includes named fat sources like turkey fat and salmon oil, which provides beneficial EPA and DHA. It also features egg and turkey as protein sources, offering good bioavailability.
The most significant watch item is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified. Additionally, the dry matter analysis shows relatively low protein and high fat.
Good fit for dogs whose vets recommend a low phosphorus diet. Less ideal if you need an AAFCO statement for completeness verification.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Working in its favor: taurine listed as added ingredient. Egg anchors position 2, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus salmon oil at position 9. 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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. 49/100 (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 declared fiber. What capped it: the score can't exceed 49 because the guaranteed analysis falls below AAFCO's minimum nutrient profile. How it could climb: a formula update that meets AAFCO minimums, which would lift the cap into B-band range.
Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
- Lowest protein quality in SquarePet's lineup (13.6/27)
- Top 10% for caloric density in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (462 kcal/cup)
- Lowest carb quality in SquarePet's lineup (13/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Chicken instead of turkey, matched score, different brand.
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.
- 1grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with brown rice as the dominant carb.
- 2egg
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4grainwhite rice
Refined grain with the bran stripped off. Easy to digest, but not as nutrient-dense as brown rice.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5turkey fat
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6tapioca
Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.
- 7vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 8natural turkey flavor
Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 9fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
Position 9. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 10mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 11mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 12vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 13vitaminvitamin d3 supplement
The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.
- 14vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 15vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 16vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 17vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 18vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 19vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 20vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 21vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
- 22vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
- 23mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 24supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 25supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
Showing first 25 of 36. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.