Vetspec

VetSpec SuperLite Low-Calorie Formula review

Name: VetSpec SuperLite Low-Calorie Formula
Brand: Vetspec

64.4/100Good

DryAdult

Good, and a light food with the right shape: protein held up, fat taken out, fibre put in. Chicken fat at 0.8% is the clearest sign of what the recipe is for. L-carnitine is dosed at 250 mg per kilo, the classic addition to a weight food.

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Our view

Likely to suit

Dogs a bit heavier than their frame wants
A neutered or naturally steady dog that gains on ordinary kibble
Dogs that beg between meals. Fibre at 7.7% of dry matter helps a measured portion go further
Owners who want the weight extras in print, L-carnitine and taurine included
Chicken eaters, with chicken the one animal named in the meat, meal, fat and gravy

Worth watching

Oatfeed high on the list, so this recipe contains cereal
Fish oil, if fish is being avoided
Better suited to a dog on a diet than one facing a long working day

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

How this scores

How we score

64.4/100Good

Protein and processingGood

Nutritional balanceGood

TransparencyOutstanding

ValueGood

The details

Dog fit

Listed for adults of every size. A lighter food only works if the portions come down, so weigh the bowl: the low activity guide asks 120 to 180 grams for a dog of 11kg to 20kg.

Food type

Dry

Life stage

Adult

Breed size

Toy, Small, Medium, Large, Giant

Main protein

Chicken

The score, in context

VetSpec SuperLite Low-Calorie Formula 64.4

All one Good. Typical dry food: Good.

Fibre standing in for fat is the design, and it keeps its place in the middle of the adult dry shelf on that shape.

What's in it

Chicken25.7%Loses much of its water once baked.
Chicken meat meal23.7%What props the protein up in the bag.
Potato19.4%
OatfeedThe fibrous outer part of the oat: low in energy, generous in bulk, and a cereal by-product.
Peas4.7%
Whole linseeds, sugar beet pulpPlant omega 3 and both kinds of fibre.
Chicken digest as gravy, chicken fat1.6% and 0.8%The fat held right down.
Fish oilThe omega 3 a dog can use straight away; with so little added fat it does a lot of the work.
Seaweed, chicory extract, yeast extract, herbs0.31% chicoryFOS and MOS for the gut.
Taurine, DL-methionine, lysineAdded by name.

L-carnitine at 250mg/kg with vitamins A, D3 and E, and iron, copper, zinc and manganese each given partly as an amino acid chelate, with selenium from selenised yeast.

The energy figure is estimated, not declared on the label.

Named ingredients

Chicken (25.7%), chicken meat meal (23.7%), potato (19.4%), oatfeed, peas (4.7%), whole linseeds, sugar beet pulp, chicken digest as gravy (1.6%), chicken fat (0.8%), fish oil, calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, culinary herbs blend (dried seaweed (0.2%), chicory extract as source of fructo-oligosaccharides (0.31%), yeast extract as source of mannanoligosaccharides (0.08%), alfalfa, yucca extract, rosemary, fennel, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, aniseed), taurine, DLmethionine, Lysine HCl

Against the range

A low-calorie chicken kibble: fresh chicken at 25.7% and chicken meat meal at 23.7%, chicken fat held to 0.8%, and oatfeed and potato doing the bulking. Protein converts to 29.7% of dry matter while fat drops to 11.5%.

Nutritional analysis

Declared analysis

Energy

320.2 kcal/100g

Estimated using Modified Atwater factors*

Protein

27%

Fat

10.5%

Fibre

Ash

7.5%

Moisture

Dry weight

Protein

29.7%

Fat

11.5%

Fibre

7.7%

Ash

8.2%

Carbs

42.9%

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

51%

Carbs

30.4%

Veg

0.2%

Oils

2.8%

Other

15.6%

Pricing & size