Virbac

Virbac Veterinary HPM Senior Large & Medium review

Name: Virbac Veterinary HPM Senior Large & Medium
Brand: Virbac

68.9/100Good

DryAdultSenior

A senior food that keeps the protein up where an older dog needs it, at 35.2% of dry matter, and finishes in our Good band. Carbohydrate sits at 31.9%, well under the 46.2% a typical adult dry food carries. A small joint and coat kit closes the list.

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Our view

Likely to suit

Medium and large dogs heading into their later years with their appetite intact
Ageing joints, with egg membrane and fermented hyaluronic acid on the list
A coat that has lost its shine: fish oil sits beside linseed
A senior food that has not quietly dropped its meat, protein declared at 32%

Worth watching

Fish oil, egg membrane and a pork and poultry protein together, so no elimination plan
Joint entries at the tail with no declared amount, a helping hand and not a measured dose

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

How this scores

How we score

68.9/100Good

Protein and processingGood

Nutritional balanceExcellent

TransparencyExcellent

ValueGood

The details

Dog fit

Listed for medium and large adults and seniors. The bag's table asks 235 grams a day for a 15kg dog; let the waistline settle the rest.

Food type

Dry

Life stage

Adult, Senior

Breed size

Medium, Large

Main protein

Pork

The score, in context

Virbac Veterinary HPM Senior Large & Medium 68.9

All one Good. Typical dry food: Good.

High protein and low starch for a senior food are the strengths; the poultry never named to a bird and a fibre load that is mostly purified powder hold it back.

What's in it

Dehydrated pork and poultry proteinsThe right direction for a dog whose muscle is harder to hold onto. No bird is named for the poultry.
RiceThe only cereal.
LignocellulosePurified fibre powder, a large share of the fibre here.
Hydrolysed pork and poultry proteins, poultry fatsThe fat names only the family.
Peas, pea fibre
Minerals, dried sugar beet pulpBeet pulp is what remains after the sugar is extracted, so nothing here sweetens the food.
Linseed, fish oilFish oil brings the marine omega 3s a dog uses more readily, and means the recipe is not fish free.
Fructo-oligosaccharides, psyllium fibre, inactivated brewer's yeast
Egg membrane, hyaluronic acid from fermentationCollagen and joint compounds, with no amount given.
Inactivated Lactobacillus helveticus

Every vitamin and trace mineral dosed in print, taurine included at 1500 mg/kg.

Named ingredients

Dehydrated pork and poultry proteins; Rice; Lignocellulose; Hydrolysed pork and poultry proteins; Poultry Fats; Peas; Pea Fiber; Minerals; Dried (sugar) beet pulp; Linseed; Fish oil; Fructo-oligosaccharides; Psyllium fibre (Plantago (L.) spp.); Inactivated brewer's yeast; Egg membrane; hyaluronic acid from fermentation; Inactivated Lactobacillus helveticus.

Against the range

A single senior kibble for medium and large dogs. Dehydrated pork and poultry proteins lead, rice is the only cereal, and fish oil, egg membrane and fermented hyaluronic acid sit at the tail with no declared amounts.

Nutritional analysis

Declared analysis

Energy

327 kcal/100g

Protein

32%

Fat

14%

Fibre

9.5%

Ash

6.5%

Moisture

Dry weight

Protein

35.2%

Fat

15.4%

Fibre

10.4%

Ash

7.1%

Carbs

31.9%

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.

Oils

100%

Pricing & size