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Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Ultamino Dry Dog Food, 19.8-lb bag
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet

Adult Ultamino Dry Dog Food, 19.8-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $7.22/lb

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Ultamino Dry Dog Food, 19.8-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 50/100 (C) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Primary concern: plant-protein-dominated formula. corn starch 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

AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.

ACF

Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.

MNI

Plant-protein-dominated formula. corn starch 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: 18% ⓘ
Protein
16.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
14.5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4.2%
max (as fed)
Moisture
8.5%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

33 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    corn starch
  2. 2
    hydrolyzed poultry by-products aggregate
  3. 3
    coconut oil

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

  4. 4
    vegetable oil

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

  5. 5
    natural flavors

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

  6. 6
    powdered cellulose

    Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.

  7. 7
    dried chicory root

    Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.

  8. 8
    sodium aluminosilicate

    Anti-caking agent that keeps powder ingredients flowing. Functional, not nutritional.

  9. 9
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  10. 10
    monocalcium phosphate

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

  11. 11
    l-tyrosine
  12. 12
    fructooligosaccharides

    Prebiotic fiber, often called FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria, similar in function to inulin.

  13. 13
    fish oil

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

  14. 14
    choline chloride

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

  15. 15
    l-lysine

    Essential amino acid. Plant-protein-heavy formulas sometimes add it to round out the amino acid profile.

  16. 16
    calcium carbonate

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

  17. 17
    dl-methionine

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

  18. 18
    taurine

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

  19. 19
    l-tryptophan

    Essential amino acid. Sometimes added in calming or weight-management formulas.

  20. 20
    histidine
  21. 21
    zinc proteinate

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

  22. 22
    ferrous sulfate

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

  23. 23
    zinc oxide

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

  24. 24
    manganese proteinate

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

  25. 25
    copper sulfate

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

Showing first 25 of 33. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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