Ava Medium Breed Adult: White Fish review

Both members of this small range land in our Good band, level with the typical adult dry food. There is nothing between the two on our reading, with both rated Average for protein and processing and for nutritional balance, Outstanding for transparency and Good for value, level with where each variety lands overall. Either way the choice sits level with the middle of the market.

Ingredients, as declared: Fish (39%) (White Fish Meal 24%, White Fish 12.5%, Fish Stock 2.5%), Brown Rice (23.5%), Maize (18%), Beet Pulp (7%), Chicken Fat, Salmon Oil, Brewers' Yeast, Minerals, Whole Dried Egg, Chicory Root Extract (as a source of Prebiotic Fructooligosaccharide) (0.16%), Yeasts (as a source of Beta-glucans and Prebiotic Mannanoligosaccharide) (0.11%), Yucca Extract (0.02%), Glucosamine (0.02%), Chondroitin (0.015%), Cranberry Extract (0.01%), Green Tea Extract (0.005%), Pomegranate Extract (0.005%)

Each variety declares its animal content as an itemised bracket with the dried meal as the largest single entry, 24% in both cases. That is the right way round for a kibble: meal arrives with the water already driven off, so its protein survives into the finished food at full weight.

The plant half never changes across the pair. Brown rice at 23.5% and maize at 18% do the binding, workmanlike cereals rather than showpieces, and beet pulp at 7% looks after the fibre.

Across both recipes the gut gets a prebiotic pairing, fructooligosaccharides at 0.16% with mannanoligosaccharides at 0.11%. Whole dried egg brings a line of complete protein and brewers yeast its B vitamins.

Glucosamine at 0.02% and chondroitin at 0.015% are trace inclusions rather than working joint doses, and the closing extracts of cranberry, green tea and pomegranate are garnish. The added trace minerals are mostly chelated, each with its dose printed on both labels.

Fish at 39% takes over the top of the list, split as white fish meal at 24%, white fish at 12.5% and fish stock at 2.5%. Chicken fat stays in the recipe, so it is fish-led without being chicken-free. Transparency reads Outstanding here too, and with its moisture undeclared, the dry matter figures on this page assume the standard 8%.

Both varieties work out at £3.47 a kilo from their 15kg bags; the chicken original also comes in a 2kg bag at £5.45 a kilo.

For a 15kg adult dog in moderate condition, the usual maintenance figure is about 840 kcal a day (110 × bodyweight^0.75). That means about 234 grams and £0.81 a day on the chicken, or 227 grams and £0.79 a day on the White Fish.