Rating: 
Victor Dog Food receives the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.
The Victor Dog Food product line includes 6 kibbles… each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Victor Hi Pro Plus Formula
- Victor Professional Formula
- Victor High Energy Formula
- Victor Normally Active Formula
- Victor Performance Plus Formula
- Victor Chicken, Rice and Lamb Formula
Victor Professional Formula dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Victor Professional Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef meal, whole grain sorghum, chicken Meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pork meal, millet, alfalfa meal, flax seed (source of omega 3 fatty acid), potassium chloride, dried kelp, yeast culture, montmorillonite, alfalfa nutrient concentrate, monosodium phosphate, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), biotin, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), folic acid, minerals ( zinc sulfate ferrous sulfate, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper sulfate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese sulfate, manganese amino acid chelate, magnesium amino acid chelate, folic acid, cobalt carbonate) dried chicory root, selenium yeast, choline chloride, lecithin, hydrolyzed yeast, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, Yucca schidigera extract, taurine, mixed tocopherols and citric acid (preservatives), rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.2%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists beef meal. Beef meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh beef.
The second ingredient is sorghum. Sorghum 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 third ingredient includes chicken meal… another high protein meat concentrate.
The fourth ingredient is 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.
The fifth ingredient is pork meal… yet one more meat concentrate.
The sixth ingredient is millet… gluten-free grains harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber… as well as other essential minerals.
The seventh 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.
The eighth ingredient is 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.
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 five notable exceptions…
First, montmorillonite is a naturally occurring clay compound rich in many trace minerals. It’s been approved for use in USDA Organic Certified products.
Reported benefits include the binding of certain mold-based toxins and even controlling diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
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.
Chicory root is naturally rich in a substance known as inulin… a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Next, this recipe also contains selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium, this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
And lastly, 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.
Victor Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Victor Dog Food appears to be an above-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 29%, a fat level of 20% and estimated carbohydrates of about 44%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Above-average fat. And below-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 a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Victor Dog Food is a plant-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken or beef meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly 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
11/30/2010 Original review
04/14/2011 Review updated due to recipe change
06/07/2011 Review updated
09/27/2011 Review updated (added 2 products to line)
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.