Vet Life is built as a set of six kibbles, each sold for a named purpose: Derma Management, Obesity, Struvite, Convalescence and Diabetic, plus a general Canine recipe. All six contain grain. Chicken and fish each appear in five recipes and egg in four. Three include peas or lentils, and three contain potato or sweet potato.
The recipes differ widely. Protein runs from 17.5% in Derma Management to 33% in Diabetic, as fed, and estimated starch runs from 31.1% in Convalescence to 53% in Derma Management. Calories run from 281 per cup in Obesity to 418 in Struvite. Against the 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, the line averages less protein (24.3% against 26.9%), more estimated starch (44.5% against 37.4%) and fewer calories per cup (363 against 395).
The catch is that these recipes are narrow. Each is built around one purpose, so figures that fit one dog, such as the 6.2% fat in Obesity or the 22% fat in Convalescence, can be a poor match for another. Only Diabetic and Convalescence sit below the catalog average for estimated starch.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetic Canine | 33% | 10.5% | 35.1% | -- | dehydrated chicken, whole spelt, hydrolyzed ocean fish protein |
| Convalescence Canine | 32% | 22% | 31.1% | 402 | dehydrated chicken, rice, chicken fat |
| Pet Foods - - Farmina Vet Life Canine | 22% | 9.5% | 50.5% | 357 | rice, sweet potatoes, dehydrated chicken |
| Obesity canine | 22% | 6.2% | 50.5% | 281 | whole spelt, dried beet pulp, dehydrated chicken |
| Struvite Canine | 19.5% | 19% | 46.7% | 418 | rice, dehydrated chicken, chicken fat |
| Derma Management with Fish canine | 17.5% | 11% | 53% | 358 | sweet potatoes, dehydrated fish, herring oil |
| Line average | 24.3% | 13% | 44.5% | 363 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
33% protein · 10.5% fat · 35.1% starch · Adult
Diabetic has the most protein in the line at 33%, with 7.9% fiber and 35.1% estimated starch, and is sold for adult dogs with diabetes. Hydrolyzed ocean fish protein sits among its first ingredients alongside dehydrated chicken and whole spelt, suiting owners seeking a higher protein option.
Full review of Diabetic Canine32% protein · 22% fat · 31.1% starch · 402 kcal/cup
Convalescence pairs the line's most fat at 22% with its least estimated starch at 31.1%, plus 32% protein and 402 calories per cup. Chicken and egg are its only animal proteins, with no fish, so it suits owners after a calorie dense kibble sold for dogs in recovery.
Full review of Convalescence Canine22% protein · 9.5% fat · 50.5% starch · 357 kcal/cup
The general Canine recipe opens with rice and sweet potatoes and is the only line mate with grain, peas or lentils, and potato together. It has 22% protein and 50.5% estimated starch, and suits owners who want a general kibble rather than one sold for a named purpose.
Full review of Pet Foods - - Farmina Vet Life Canine22% protein · 6.2% fat · 50.5% starch · 281 kcal/cup · Adult
Obesity is sold for adult dogs and has the line's least fat at 6.2% and fewest calories at 281 per cup, with 7.8% fiber. Whole spelt and dried beet pulp lead its list, and it is the only recipe free of peas, lentils and potato, suiting owners managing calorie intake.
Full review of Obesity canine19.5% protein · 19% fat · 46.7% starch · 418 kcal/cup
Struvite has the most calories in the line at 418 per cup, with 19% fat and the line's lowest fiber at 1.3%. Rice, dehydrated chicken, chicken fat and potato lead its list, so it suits owners looking for a struvite recipe who do not need a low calorie food.
Full review of Struvite Canine17.5% protein · 11% fat · 53% starch · 358 kcal/cup
Derma Management is the only recipe whose sole animal protein is fish, listing sweet potatoes, dehydrated fish, herring oil and corn starch first. It has the line's least protein at 17.5% and most estimated starch at 53%, so it suits owners who want to avoid chicken and egg.
Full review of Derma Management with Fish canineNo. All six Vet Life dry recipes contain grain, such as rice in Canine, Struvite and Convalescence, and whole spelt in Obesity and Diabetic.
Diabetic Canine has the most protein at 33%, followed by Convalescence Canine at 32%. Derma Management with Fish has the least at 17.5%.
Three of the six recipes do: Canine, Convalescence and Diabetic. Derma Management, Obesity and Struvite do not include peas or lentils.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (26.4% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 44% of the food as fed.
33% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
0% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Farmina has never had one. See the recall log
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