Ava

Ava Large Breed Mature review

Name: Ava Large Breed Mature
Brand: Ava

56.5/100Good

DryAdultSenior

The big-dog formula eased down for the second half of life. Protein settles at 23% and fat at 12%, chicken at 38.5% still leads, and the joint pair steps up to 0.08% glucosamine and 0.06% chondroitin. It holds a place in our Good band.

See it on eBay

Affiliate link. Off the Leash may earn a commission from purchases on eBay, at no cost to you.

Our view

Likely to suit

Large breeds moving from adult into senior years. One recipe spans both stages
Older heavy dogs with a lifetime of miles on their joints
Big dogs that thicken as they slow down, since fat at 12% keeps the bowl light
Owners feeding a large appetite week after week, with a 15kg sack on offer

Worth watching

Carbohydrate estimated at 51.4% of dry matter, above the 46.2% typical for adult dry food
Barley and maize, so it suits neither a grain-free nor a gluten-avoiding plan
Chicken and fish both present, through the meat and the salmon oil

Written by our editorial team. Independent guidance, not veterinary advice.

How this scores

How we score

56.5/100Good

Protein and processingAverage

Nutritional balanceAverage

TransparencyOutstanding

ValueGood

The details

Dog fit

Listed for large adult and senior dogs. The label's feeding table starts at 30kg, so a lighter dog's portion needs working out from its weight.

Food type

Dry

Life stage

Adult, Senior

Breed size

Large

Main protein

Chicken

The score, in context

Ava Large Breed Mature 56.5

All one Good. Typical dry food: Good.

A softened recipe that still finishes level with the typical adult dry food, and the gentling is a deliberate choice the label makes openly.

What's in it

Chicken: chicken meal, fresh chicken, chicken fat, chicken gravy38.5%Itemised as 20.5% meal, 12.5% fresh, 3% fat and 2.5% gravy. The fat is trimmed back for an ageing dog.
Rice20%
Maize16%
Whole barley11.5%The whole grain form, the best version of that cereal.
Beet pulp7%A generous fibre allowance for an older digestion.
Salmon oilMarine omega 3, and the fish in a chicken food.
Brewers yeast, whole dried egg, minerals
Chicory root extract, yeasts0.16%, 0.11%Prebiotics for the gut.
Glucosamine, chondroitin0.08%, 0.06%Stepped up for older joints.
Yucca, cranberry, green tea and pomegranate extracts0.02% down to 0.005%Garnish at trace strength.

Taurine at 500 mg minds the heart, and the trace minerals arrive mostly chelated, with selenium from selenised yeast.

Named ingredients

Chicken (38.5%) (Chicken Meal 20.5%, Fresh Chicken 12.5%, Chicken Fat 3%, Chicken Gravy 2.5%), Rice (20%), Maize (16%), Whole Barley (11.5%), Beet Pulp (7%), Salmon Oil, Brewers Yeast, Whole Dried Egg, Minerals, Chicory Root Extract (as a source of Prebiotic Fructooligosaccharide) (0.16%), Yeasts (as a source of Beta-glucans and Prebiotic Mannanoligosaccharide) (0.11%), Glucosamine (0.08%), Chondoritin (0.06%), Yucca Extract (0.02%), Cranberry Extract (0.01%), Green Tea Extract (0.005%), Pomegranate Extract (0.005%)

Against the range

Nutritional analysis

Declared analysis

Energy

348 kcal/100g

Estimated using Modified Atwater factors*

Protein

23%

Fat

12%

Fibre

3.2%

Ash

6.5%

Moisture

Dry weight

Protein

25%

Fat

13%

Fibre

3.5%

Ash

7.1%

Carbs

51.4%

As-fed composition

Estimated breakdown of the finished product by ingredient category, from the declared ingredient list and ingoing weights. These are estimates, not measurements.

Meat

38%

Added water

2.5%

Carbs

54.5%

Veg

0.2%

Oils

2.4%

Other

2.5%