Rating: 
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hypoallergenic dry dog food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of 3 stars.
The Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hypoallergenic Selected Protein product line includes four dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Selected Protein Adult PD
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Selected Protein Adult PR
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Selected Protein Adult PV
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Selected Protein Moderate Calorie Adult PW
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Selected Protein Adult PV was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hypoallergenic Selected Protein Adult PV
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Dried potato, venison meal, potato protein, coconut oil, natural flavors, vegetable oil, fish oil, salt, dl-methionine, l-lysine, choline chloride, taurine, monosodium phosphate, vitamins [dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), l-ascorbyl 2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), biotin,d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin A acetate, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], trace minerals (zinc oxide, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), rosemary extract, preserved with natural mixed tocopherols and citric acid.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.2%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 20% | 10% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 22% | 11% | 59% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 20% | 25% | 55% |
The first item in this dog food is dried potatoes, a dehydrated item usually made from the by-products of potato processing. Compared to cornmeal, dried potatoes contain slightly more protein.
The second ingredient is venison meal. Venison meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh venison.
The third ingredient is potato protein, the dry residue remaining after removing the starchy part of a potato.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fourth ingredient is coconut oil. Depending upon the quality of the raw material, coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids.
Coconut oil has been reported to have a beneficial effect on a dog’s skin and coat, improve digestion, and reduce allergic reactions.1
After the natural flavors, we find 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 any item vaguely described as simply “vegetable oil”.
The seventh ingredient lists fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
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 product.
With one notable exception…
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hypoallergenic
Selecetd Protein Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Even though this is a prescription product, we continue to limit our judgment to the estimated meat content of the recipe as well as the apparent quality of its ingredients. And nothing else.
Our ratings have nothing to do with the accuracy of claims made by the manufacturer as to this product’s ability to effectively treat or cure a specific health condition.
So, to find out whether or not this dog food is appropriate for your particular pet, you must consult your veterinarian.
With that understanding…
Judging by its ingredients by themselves, Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hypoallergenic Selected Protein dry dog food looks to be an average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 11% and estimated carbohydrates of about 59%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 22% and a mean fat level of 11%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 59% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
In addition, when you consider the plant-based protein-boosting effect of the potato protein, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a limited amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hypoallergenic Selected Protein dry dog food is a potato-based kibble using only a limited amount of various meats as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3 stars.
Recommended.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
04/16/2011 Original review
05/03/2012 Last Update
- Dr. Bruce Fife, Healthy Ways Newsletter, Vol 4:3 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.