Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Puppy review

Ingredients, as declared: Rice*, dehydrated poultry proteins*, animal fats, dehydrated pork proteins*, maize*, wheat gluten*, beet pulp, hydrolysed animal proteins*, minerals, egg powder*, soya oil, yeasts products, fish oil, psyllium husks and seeds, fructo-oligosaccharides, yeasts (source of manno-oligosaccharides and betaglucans), algal oil Schizochytrium sp. (source of DHA), marigold meal. Highly digestible ingredients: *Highly digestible protein sources: 63.3%, Highly digestible fat sources: 14.3%.

Rice opens, followed by dehydrated poultry proteins, animal fats and dehydrated pork proteins, with maize and wheat gluten behind them. Pork is the one meat named to the species; poultry remains a category and the hydrolysed animal proteins are left open. The pack closes with its own digestibility figures, protein sources at 63.3% and fat sources at 14.3%.

For a food aimed at growing dogs, the analysis is where the intent shows. Protein converts to 32.2% of dry matter and fat to 24.4%, with the carbohydrate estimate held down at 33.3% and energy at 424 kcal per 100g. The growth figure worth knowing is calcium, which reads 1.56% once the moisture is taken out.

Taurine is printed at 5 g per kilo, with vitamin C at 400 mg and vitamin E at 500 mg beside it. Clinoptilolite appears at 10g as a technological additive, and the trace minerals run from iron at 42 mg through to zinc at 136 mg, each dosed in print.

The yeast entry is credited with manno-oligosaccharides and betaglucans, and fructo-oligosaccharides sit next to it. DHA comes from algal oil from Schizochytrium, the entry growth formulas usually carry for that fat. Psyllium husks and seeds bring a soluble fibre and beet pulp a fermentable one.

Between them the ingredients take in pork, egg, fish oil, soya and wheat gluten, so the protein side is broad rather than narrowed. In a digestive recipe built for growth, that is the usual trade. The printed feeding guide does not come through clearly enough here to quote a daily amount. That figure is best set by the vet, against your puppy's weight and the curve she is growing along.

It is sold in 1kg, 2.5kg and 10kg bags.