Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
SquarePet product range is made up of eight recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.
Please note: Two of the recipes are not rated, this is because one is intended for supplementary feeding only. This means the product does not meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition. The other recipe is a vegetarian recipe and our review methodology favors dog foods rich in meat, and judging a plant-based diet against this criteria would always give a low rating. Studies of plant-based diets for dogs are showing some great results, as well as providing preferable options for many dogs with allergies or those wanting to choose more environmentally sustainable options.
Pros
- Veterinarian formulated recipes
- No artificial preservatives
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Does not support hydration
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.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| SquarePet VFS Skin and Digestive Support | 5 | M |
| SquarePet VFS Low Fat | 5 | M |
| SquarePet VFS Ideal Digestion | 5 | A |
| SquarePet VFS Low Phosphorus | Not Rated | S |
| SquarePet VFS Active Joints | 5 | A |
| SquarePet VFS Powerhound Red Meat | 5 | A |
| SquarePet VFS Powerhound Turkey and Chicken | 5 | A |
| SquarePet Square Egg Meat Free | Not Rated | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
SquarePet VFS Ideal Digestion was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
SquarePet VFS Ideal Digestion
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Turkey, whole egg, pork meal, tapioca, brown rice, pumpkin, miscanthus grass, natural turkey flavor, pork fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potassium chloride, inulin (jerusalem artichoke), salt, choline chloride, nutritional yeast, herring oil (source of DHA-docosahexaenoic acid & EPA-ecosapentaenoic acid), dicalcium phosphate, vitamins (vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, calcium iodate, selenium yeast), ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), calcium carbonate, l-threonine, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 28% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 31% | 16% | 45% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 27% | 33% | 40% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1
Turkey is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is whole egg. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The third ingredient is pork meal. Pork meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh pork. Yet it can also be high in ash – about 25-30%.
However, the ash content of the final product is typically adjusted in the recipe to allow its mineral profile to meet AAFCO guidelines.
The fourth ingredient is tapioca, a gluten-free, starchy carbohydrate extract made from the root of the cassava plant.
The fifth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.
The seventh ingredient is miscanthus grass, also known as elephant grass. Miscanthus is a non-GMO source of crude fiber.
After natural turkey flavor, we find pork fat, a product from rendering pig meat.
Commonly known as lard, pork fat can add significant flavor to a dog food. And it can be high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.
Although it may not sound very appetizing, pork fat (in moderate amounts) is actually an acceptable pet food 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, this food 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.
Next, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
Also, herring oil. Herring 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, herring oil should be considered a commendable addition.
And lastly, this recipe also includes selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, SquarePet VFS Ideal Digestion looks like an above-average dry dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32.1%, a fat level of 16.3% and estimated carbohydrates of about 40.4%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 32.1% and a mean fat level of 16.7%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 39.3% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.
Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this still looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
SquarePet Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to SquarePet through December 2025.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of SquarePet Dog Food
SquarePet includes both grain-free and grain-inclusive dry dog foods using a significant amount of named meat meal as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
About
Peter Atkins is the CEO of SquarePet, the pet food company he founded in January 2018 in Austin, Texas, and it is a family-owned and operated pet nutrition business.
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A Final Word
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