VF Complete (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

VF Complete Dog Food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

The VF Complete product line includes twelve kibbles. Since we could not locate AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these products on the VF Complete website, we’re unable to report life stage recommendations.

By the way, “VF” stands for Veterinarian Formulated.

  • VF Complete Puppy Formula
  • VF Complete Weight Control Formula
  • VF Complete Turkey and Rice Formula
  • VF Complete Chicken and Rice Formula
  • VF Complete Active Adult Formula
  • VF Complete Performance Formula
  • VF Complete Senior Formula
  • VF Complete Holistic Puppy Formula
  • VF Complete Holistic Adult Formula
  • VF Complete Holistic Weight Control Formula
  • VF Complete Large Breed Puppy Formula
  • VF Complete Large Breed Adult Formula

VF Complete Holistic Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

VF Complete Holistic Adult Formula

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 29% | Fat = 13% | Carbs = 50%

Ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, rice flour, beet pulp, rice bran, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of linoleic acid), chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of linoleic acid), natural chicken flavor, flax seed, dried vegetables (carrot, celery, beet, parsley, lettuce, watercress and spinach), dried egg product, brewers yeast, dried cranberries, fish oil, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, lecithin, dl-methionine, glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamin E supplement, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation extract, yucca schidigera extract, garlic, dried cheese, chondroitin sulfate, zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, niacin, biotin, manganous oxide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, sodium selenite, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfate complex (source of vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, folic acid

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

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 item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The third ingredient is rice flour. Rice flour is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a good gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.

The fourth item mentions beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The fifth ingredient lists rice bran… a healthy by-product of rice milling. Though not as nutritionally complete as whole grain rice, brans are still unusually rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.

The sixth ingredient includes sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is high in linoleic acid… an essential omega-6 fatty acid needed by every dog to sustain life.

But the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in a food is nutritionally critical… and can vary significantly (depending on the quality of the source ingredient itself).

There are several different types of sunflower oil… some better than others. Without knowing more, it is impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.

The seventh ingredients lists chicken fat. Chicken fat 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.

After the natural flavor, we find flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

Following the dried vegetables, we note the inclusion of dried egg product… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary greatly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.

In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

Brewers dried yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.

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 four notable exceptions…

First, garlic can be a controversial item. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.1

However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).

Next, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

Thirdly, this 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.

And lastly, this VF Complete dog food also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

VF Complete Dog Food
The Bottom Line

The ingredients used to make VF Complete Dog Food are generally of above-average quality.

But quality ingredients alone do not necessarily a good dog food make. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 13% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 50%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.

Average protein. Average fat. And average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing moderate amount of meat.

However, it’s unfortunate the company chose to include menadione in its recipes. This controversial supplement made us question ourselves in awarding this favorable rating.

Menadione-phobic consumers may wish to pass on this product.

Bottom line?

VF Complete Dog Food is a rice-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a more economical kibble from the same company may want to check-out our review of Enhance Dog Food.

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

05/23/2010 Original review
12/23/2010 Review updated (unable to locate website)

  1. Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • Frank K

    Mike:

    I have been feeding VF Complete Chicken and Rice to my giant schnauzer and giant weimaraner for a bout 4-5 years. Last week the GS came down with “acquired thrombocytopenia” an autoimmune disease where her blood platelet count dropped to 27 per– when it should have in in the 10,000s per –. She was essentially bleeding to death over a seven hour period during the night. We caught it just in time, now I am researching more nutritious food for my dogs.

    Best:

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    HI Michael… Imagine yourself eating the same meal twice a day for over a year. No changes. Feeding table “scraps” can be a no-no. But that’s only when they’re scraps. Fatty trimmings. Gristle. Connective tissue. Cartilage.

    But we feed Bailey fresh people food all the time. And we rotate his diet. Change proteins. Use canned or fresh toppers over his kibble. And when we do feed kibble, we almost never feed it alone We rarely feed it all by itself.

    There’s much information on all these feeding “tactics” throughout the FAQ and Library. As well as the many comments left by others on this website. Be sure to transition to any changes very slowly over a week or so. After eating the same food meal-after-meal and day-after-day, it’s very easy to “shock” your dog’s digestive system.

    In any case, if you do it right, be prepared for a brand new dog. Hope this helps.

  • Michael Bell

    After feeding our Rottie this food for about a year and a half, now she won’t touch it and when she does eat it because she is so hungry, she has had the worst gas ever. She eats this food and no table scraps or human food of any kind. I am suspicious of a recipe change occurring around summer of 2011.

  • Connie

    We have fed our German Shepherds VF Large Breed food for the last couple of years. With the purchase of the recent bag neither of the dogs will eat it. Has something changed in the formula.

  • Karen

    I’ve started feeding my dog the VF Complete Holistic Adult. Contacted Ainsworth through the proper channels posted on their website several times by email and by phone. My inquiry was: how many calories are there per cup and what is the phosphorus percentage? That information is not listed on the bag. I never received a response. Their lack of communication makes me think twice about purchasing this food for my dog again….

  • Ray

    I have been feeding my British/Irish male lab VF Complete “Active Adult” (regular not “holistic”) and VF Complete “Performance” since his was a puppy. He’s now 5+ years. I switch to “Performance” in August for hunting season, then back to Active Adult in late March. I have had nothing sort of SUPERIOR results with this dog food! I carefully measure his daily feeding depending on his level of activity, and add nothing to his feed. He weighs a constant 62-64 lbs, gets 2 1/2 measured cups a day (except when hunting very hard then maybe 2 3/4 – 3 cups) . My dog has thrived on this food!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Michelle… Probably for liability reasons, and because in hard times some humans have had to resort to eating dog food, many products are labeled “not suitable for human consumption”. This is not necessarily a sign of an inferior product. It’s simply a warning that the food is not recommended for feeding to your human family. After all, this is dog food. Not people food.

  • Antonio

    Bob K, you beat me to the punch, I was wondering the same thing, if a person has a dog that’s going downhill for 3 years and suddenly takes their dog to the vet on the 3rd year I would wonder more about the owner than i would the pet food at this point. But I’m sure that was just a misinterpretation, but in all honesty I agree w/ Bob if you fed this for 3 years at what point did you notice all the above mentioned symptons, and up until recently Enhance was made by Arkat, which was a Bakers award winning facility, and it was also a family owned buniness located in Dumas, AR, the people there generally answered the phone anytime you called, now they were a bit slow on email, but generally if you called their phone line you would get a live voice, so I’m not sure if you and your vet were calling the wrong number or if there were any calls actually placed at all. And no I’m not a rep for this company, but I have used this food in the past and it is not a bad food at all, the only problem here is that since Ainsworth Pet purchased Arkat, it’s been difficult finding their products in my state.

  • Bob K

    Michelle – Get a grip on reality. You fed your dogs this food for three years and all of a sudden its “BAD”. What were you doing the last 3 years? How did you come to the conclusion that your dogs were overdosed on yeast? Maybe you got a bad bag? Not fit for human consumption means just that – “Its not for people to eat.” it does not necessarily mean its the worst leftovers and fillers. Food can also be graded many ways for many reasons incuding quality, expiration dates, pricing, packaging, distribution or even marketing reasons. Lots of bulk materials and foods come from the same source but are grade, packaged, stored differently.

  • Michelle

    When a dog food bag says “not fit for human consumption” means that the meat used in the food is the worst leftovers and fillers you can GET>

  • Michelle

    This is a BAD dog food. It contributed to our dog’s bloat and almost killed him with an overdose of yeast. Our veterinarian has had a tough time contacting this company and we are still nursing our dogs from the toxic overdose. We had our dogs on this for almost 3 years. Our male’s coat became dull and shed with dandruff, their eyes became dull and cloudy, and it contributed to their “allergies”. BAD BAD BAD!!!!!!!!! We have since started to follow a raw food diet and his coat has become shiny, his eyes are cleared up and his dandruff is no more. Do not trust or use this product without getting more information, if you can.

  • connie

    my bl lab has so much more energy since i started feeding him vf large breed .also he likes it &it is not tooo high priced so u can feed your dog something healthy. the omegas &glucousamines r good in this product.right!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Cindy… The Dog Food Advisor is an independent review site. You’ll need to contact the manufacturer to get an answer to your question.

  • http://spirithawklabs.com cindy

    What part of your products come from China?

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Renee… I wouldn’t read anything into this warning. We see this a lot on dog foods. Not sure whether this statement is a legal requirement or if it’s just a precautionary alert designed to insulate the manufacturer from potential liability claims. In hard times, it’s sad that some humans have been known to turn to pet food for their own nutrition. :(

  • Renee

    Can you tell me if you think it is ok that it says on this bag that it is not fit for human consumption. I have used this dog food without any problems but I must admit that statement bothers me and there are other brands to choose from that do not say this. Is there an explanation for it.

    any insight would be appreciated

    Thanks!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Debra… In the very near future, we’ll be adding a special “Where to Buy” directory of dog food retailers. So, you’ll soon be able to find a retailer that sells the foods you’re looking for. And you’ll be able to search by either brand or by zip and postal code. Until then, you’ll need to contact the manufacturer for this information.

  • Debra Trautman

    Where can i purchase “VF puppy small bites” for my Cav. King Charles Spaniel? I am in Beaverton, Or.

    Thank you, Deb.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Avi… The company that makes VF Complete was recently (September 2010) re-structured and goes under the name Ainsworth Pet Nutrition. They appear to have taken down their old website and look to be in the process of opening a new one for all their products. So, stay tuned.

  • Avi

    Hi, i have been trying to order online the VF Complete Turkey and Rice Formula ( 18kg bag ) but couldn’t find it anywhere on the web. Will be grateful to get a link or an address.

    Thanks

    Avi

  • paul ballew

    I AM GLAD TO HAVE FINALLY FOUND A DOG FOOD THAT ALL OF MY FOUR DOGS WILL EAT, AND IS GOOD FOR THEM. I USE THE VF CHICKEN AND RICE. I ALSO LIKE THAT THE KIBBLE IS SMALL ENOUGH FOR MY SMALL DOG TO EAT. THANKS FOR THE PRODUCT.