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Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Hydrolyzed Protein Potato & Soy Formula Dry Dog Food, 24.2-lb bag
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet

Adult Hydrolyzed Protein Potato & Soy Formula Dry Dog Food, 24.2-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $5.91/lb

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Hydrolyzed Protein Potato & Soy Formula Dry Dog Food, 24.2-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 51/100 (C) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Primary concern: plant-protein-dominated formula. potato as the #1 ingredient..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.

CQI

AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.

ACF

Plant-protein-dominated formula. potato as the #1 ingredient.

PQI

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 21% ⓘ
Protein
19%
min (as fed)
Fat
10%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

26 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    potato

    Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.

  2. 2
    hydrolyzed soy protein
  3. 3
    coconut oil

    Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.

  4. 4
    potato protein

    Concentrated potato protein. Like pea protein, it inflates the protein number without matching meat-quality amino acids.

  5. 5
    natural flavors

    Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.

  6. 6
    fish oil

    Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.

  7. 7
    vegetable oil

    Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.

  8. 8
    monocalcium phosphate

    Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.

  9. 9
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  10. 10
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  11. 11
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

  12. 12
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  13. 13
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  14. 14
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

  15. 15
    zinc oxide

    Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.

  16. 16
    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

  17. 17
    manganese proteinate

    Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

  18. 18
    manganous oxide

    Inorganic manganese. Functional, cheaper than chelated forms, less efficiently absorbed.

  19. 19
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

  20. 20
    sodium 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 →

  21. 21
    copper proteinate

    Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.

  22. 22
    calcium iodate

    Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.

  23. 23
    marigold extract
  24. 24
    magnesium oxide

    Inorganic magnesium. Functional at AAFCO doses, less efficiently absorbed than chelated forms.

  25. 25
    rosemary 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.

23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.