Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Renal Function Dry review

Ingredients, as declared: Corn*, Rice*, Dried egg*, Dried whey*, Pork fat, Sugar, Digest*, Dried beet pulp*, Minerals, Soybean oil, Fish oil

Corn and rice take the first two places, with dried egg and dried whey behind them doing the protein work. Pork fat follows, then digest as the palatant coating, dried beet pulp, minerals, soybean oil and fish oil. Several entries carry an asterisk, although the list gives no legend explaining what the mark stands for.

Egg and whey in those positions put dairy and egg into the recipe, and the pork fat and fish oil add two further species for an owner who is tracking sensitivities. Sugar appears on the list with no marker of any kind against it.

The analysis is the part that makes this a therapeutic diet rather than a light one. Protein converts to just 14.1% of dry matter, crude ash to 4.9% and fat to 15.8%, with the carbohydrate estimate at 63.0% and energy at 390 kcal per 100g. A protein figure that low and a mineral load that restrained would be a serious question on an everyday food; on a diet drawn up to this brief they are the specification. Whether they are right for your dog belongs to the vet managing the case.

Palatability gets real attention here, with digest coating the kibble and sugar in the mix, which is a practical answer to a dog who has gone off food rather than a flourish.

The dosed additions are printed in detail, vitamin E at 350 IU per kilo. Iron follows at 200 mg per kilo, iodine at 3.1, copper at 21, manganese at 74, zinc at 185 and selenium at 0.22. The feeding table runs from 65 grams a day at 2.5kg to 615 grams at 70kg, with 220 grams given at 15kg.

It is sold in 3kg and 12kg bags, at £5.69 a kilo. On the energy content a 15kg dog works out at roughly 215 grams a day, which comes to £1.23.