Vom Daxi Hundefutter (Dry)

Rating:

Vom Daxi Hundefutter dog food gets the Advisor’s second highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

The Vom Daxi Hundefutter product line includes two dry dog foods, one claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and one for growth (Vom Daxi Junger Hundefutter).

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

• Vom Daxi Junger Hundefutter
• Vom Daxi Haus No Grain Hundefutter

Vom Daxi Haus No Grain Hundefutter was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.

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 potato product, a dried residue of the potato processing industry consisting primarily of potato pieces, peelings and culls.

With the exception of perhaps its caloric content and a small amount of protein, potato product is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.¹

The third ingredient is tapioca, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.

The fourth ingredient lists peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fifth ingredient includes turkey meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

The sixth ingredient includes canola oil. Many applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.

Much of the objection regarding canola oil appears to be related to the use of genetically modified rapeseed as its raw material source.

Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.²

In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

The seventh ingredient is catfish meal, yet another high protein meat concentrate.

Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.

We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears³ to be ethoxyquin-free.

The next seven items include a series of nutrient-rich vegetables…

• carrots
• celery
• beets
• parsley
• lettuce
• watercress
• spinach

The next 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.

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, we find chicken cartilage, a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, two nutrients added here to support joint health.

Next, this recipe contains fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener⁴ probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.

Then, we note the use of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.

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.

Vom Daxi Hundefutter Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Vom Daxi Hundefutter appears to be an above average dry dog food.

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 32%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 44%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 32% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 43% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 54%.

Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Vom Daxi Hundefutter is a plant-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.

Highly recommended.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

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Notes and Updates

09/01/2010 Original review
10/06/2010 Review updated (new formula)
06/29/2012 Last Update