Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hepatic review

Ingredients, as declared: Rice, hydrolysed soya protein isolate*, maize, animal fats, beet pulp, hydrolysed animal proteins*, minerals, soya oil, vegetable fibres, fish oil, fructo-oligo-saccharides, algal oil Schizochytrium sp. (source of DHA), marigold meal. *Protein sources: 13.6%. Highly digestible ingredients: 78.3%.

Rice comes first and hydrolysed soya protein isolate second, which makes the main protein source a plant one rather than a meat. Maize follows, then animal fats and beet pulp, with hydrolysed animal proteins as the other protein contributor. The pack puts its protein sources at 13.6% between them and describes 78.3% of the recipe as highly digestible.

Protein is declared at 16.0% as fed and converts to 17.4% of dry matter, with fat settling on the same 17.4%. A protein figure that low is the intended shape of a liver diet, not a sign the recipe is short of anything. It is also why the food is fed on prescription and never sold as an everyday kibble.

The carbohydrate estimate takes the largest single share of the dry matter at 57.6%, which follows from a recipe leaning on rice and maize for its energy while protein stays low. Energy itself is declared at 388 kcal per 100g, and calcium comes out at 0.79% of dry matter.

The added mineral panel repays a close read. Iron is dosed at 123 mg per kilo, iodine at 6 mg, manganese at 57 mg, zinc at 155 mg and selenium at 0.4 mg, and copper is not among them. Leaving copper out of a liver diet is a deliberate piece of formulation, not a gap in the printing.

Fish oil and algal oil from Schizochytrium bring the omega 3 side, fructo-oligo-saccharides sit near the end as the prebiotic, and taurine is printed at 1.9 g per kilo. The pack's table runs from 54 grams a day at 2kg up to 862 grams at 80kg. Where your dog sits on it is the vet's decision, not a reading taken off the bag.

It is sold in 1.5kg, 7kg and 12kg bags.