What’s Your Dog’s Feeding Type? Cat Food Advisor NEW! Dr Mike Sagman is the creator of the Dog Food Advisor. He founded the website in 2008, after his unquestioning trust in commercial dog food led to the tragic death of his dog Penny. Julia is the content director at the Dog Food Advisor and responsible for the overall strategy of the website. Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, Glyco Care Formulabitter melon extract before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry. All Glyco Care reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee. Victor Purpose Dry product range is made up of 10 recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars. Victor’s Purpose line is designed for dogs with specific needs, such as joint health, weight management, or sensitive skin and stomach. Formulas cater to all different life stages and sizes.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified. Victor Purpose Nutra Pro was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken. The second ingredient is blood meal. Blood meal is a by-product of slaughter and used to make high-protein (very low ash) animal feeds. Yet even though some consider it a controversial ingredient, blood meal can still be considered a quality source of animal protein. The third ingredient is millet, a gluten-free grain harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber as well as other essential minerals. The next ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient. The fifth ingredient is yeast culture. Although yeast culture is high in B-vitamins and protein, it can also be used as a probiotic to aid in digestion. The sixth item is sorghum. Sorghum (milo) is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn. Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient. The seventh ingredient is menhaden fish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate. Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. They’re rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deep water species. The eighth ingredient is beef meal, yet another high protein meat concentrate.

The ninth ingredient is alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds. From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Victor product. With seven notable exceptions… First, we find tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, GlycoCares Health Guideblood sugar balance soup and ketchup. Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others believe it’s often used as an inexpensive pet food filler. As the presence of fiber in a dog’s diet is shown to have great importance, we view the inclusion of tomato pomace in this food as a positive. Next, dried seaweed meal is a product made from a family of brown algae known as Fucaceae (Rockweed).

Although it does contain a number of healthy nutrients, seaweed meal is primarily used as a source of inexpensive carbohydrates (about 60% dry matter). This item is only rarely used to make pet food and is more typically found in feeds for cattle, horses, hogs, hens and sheep. We also note the use of taurine, Glyco Care Formulabitter melon extract an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient. Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition. Additionally, we note the inclusion of vegetable oil, a generic oil of unknown origin. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in any oil is nutritionally critical and can vary significantly (depending on the source). Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of an item so vaguely described.