AVA Veterinary Approved Optimum Health Bulldog Dry Dog Food Chicken

Dry Extruded complete High meat Clear label

Veterinary Approved Optimum Health Bulldog Dry Dog Food Chicken
Average
our rating

Is AVA Veterinary Approved Optimum Health Bulldog Dry Dog Food Chicken a good dog food?

We score it 64/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

How we score

Why this score?

This recipe achieves a total score of 64 out of 100 based on several key factors. The processing format contributed -7 points, and the carbohydrate content contributed -4.4 points. Conversely, the overall quality of the ingredient list added +6.2 points, and the meat content contributed +3.8 points to the overall assessment.

Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.

The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.

Complete extruded dry food for adult dogs, with chicken, dried chicken protein and sweet potatoes as the main ingredients.

Why you might choose it

  • Meat makes up an estimated 33% of the dry matter (39% as fed).
  • Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
  • Doesn't list grain ingredients.

Why you might not

We found no significant drawbacks in the data we hold for this product.

View the source page

Estimated composition

carb42.5%
meat39.4%
fibre6.7%
oil5.7%
supplement4.3%
veg1.4%

Typical analysis (as fed)

Protein
28.50%
Fat
15%
Fibre
3%
Ash
10%
Omega-3 fatty acids
0.80%
Omega-6 fatty acids
1.90%
Calcium
1.20%
Phosphorus
0.80%

Additives & feeding info

Nutritional additives

Vitamin A 56,000 IU; Vitamin D3 1,000 IU; Vitamin E 750 mg; L-Carnitine 300 mg; Zinc (as Zinc Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 100 mg; Copper (as Copper (II) Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 10 mg; Manganese (as Manganese Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 25 mg; Iodine (as Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 1.59 mg; Iron (as Iron (II) Chelate of Protein Hydrolysates) 60 mg; Selenium (as Organic form of Selenium produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060 (Selenised yeast inactivated)) 0.2 mg

Technological additives

Antioxidants; Rosemary Extract

Storage

Store in a cool dry place. Once opened, reseal to maintain freshness.

Feeding guide

Feed Bulldogs from 12 months old. Weigh out daily feeding amount and divide into 2 equal portions at regular times each day. Introduce slowly over 7-10 days when changing foods. Dog Weight / Approx. Per Day: 15-20kg = 200-250g; 20-25kg = 250-295g; 25-30kg = 295-340g. Reduce food amount when giving treats. Weigh dog regularly.

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
  • Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
  • Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
  • You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein

These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.

Ingredients (23)

#As declaredMatchedCategoryTierDeclared %Est. %
12.5% ChickenChickenmeatmedium2.52.5
2Chicken (18.3%)Chickenmeatmedium18.318.3
3Chicken Meal (14.1%)Dried chicken proteinmeatgood14.114.1
4Sweet Potato (18.3%)Sweet Potatoescarbgood18.318.3
5Dried Potato (18.1%)Potatoescarbmedium18.118.1
6Beet Pulp (6.7%)Beet Pulpfibremedium6.76.7
7Brewers YeastBrewer's Yeastsupplementgood-2.3
8Tapioca (4.2%)Tapiocacarbmedium4.24.2
9EggEggmeatgood-2.0
10Chicken Fat (3.9%)Chicken Oil and Fatoilgood3.93.9
11Chicken Gravy (2.5%)Chickenmeatmedium2.52.5
12Salmon OilSalmon Oiloilgood-1.8
13Pea Starch (1.9%)Pea Starchcarbpoor1.91.9
14MineralsVitamins and mineralssupplementmedium-1.6
15Chicory Root Extract (0.2%)Chicory Root Extractfibregood0.20.2
16Yeasts (0.14%)Yeastsupplementgood0.140.1
17Marigold MealCalendulaveggood-1.4
18Glucosamine (0.025%)Glucosaminesupplementgood0.0250.03
19Yucca Extract (0.025%)Yucca Schidigerasupplementgood0.0250.03
20Cranberry Extract (0.018%)Cranberry Extractsupplementgood0.0180.02
21Chondroitin Sulphate (0.017%)Chondroitinsupplementgood0.0170.02
22Pomegranate Extract (0.009%)Pomegranate Extractsupplementgood0.0090.01
23Green Tea Extract (0.009%)Green Teaveggood0.0090.01

Brand

Trust and provenance

Recall history
No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked
2026-09-14
Scored with
Model v2 (methodology)
Product page
www.petsathome.com

Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.

Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.

Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated

Scored with model v2 on 2026-09-22. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-32.336+32.34
Average ingredient quality0.69.915+6.19
Meat share of dry matter32.6%0.116+3.78
Carb share of dry matter39.3%-0.113-4.43
Oil share of dry matter9.4%-0.088-0.83
Supplement share of dry matter6.6%-0.009-0.06
Recipe graded poor1.9%-0.045-0.09
Number of poor ingredients1-0.868-0.87
Largest single poor ingredient1.9%0.056+0.11
Undeclared quantities9.1%-0.131-1.19
Prints ingredient percentagesyes3.194+3.19
Complete dietyes1.703+1.70
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)yes-0.506-0.51
Meat share × printed percentages32.6-0.073-2.39
Processing multiplier1.0032.336+32.34
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.996-7.00
Show all 40 components
ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-32.336+32.34
Average ingredient quality0.69.915+6.19
Meat share of dry matter32.6%0.116+3.78
Carb share of dry matter39.3%-0.113-4.43
Oil share of dry matter9.4%-0.088-0.83
Vegetable share of dry matter2.0%-0.002-0.00
Additive share of dry matter0.0%0.177+0.00
Supplement share of dry matter6.6%-0.009-0.06
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.371+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.022+0.00
Recipe graded poor1.9%-0.045-0.09
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.182+0.00
Number of poor ingredients1-0.868-0.87
Largest single poor ingredient1.9%0.056+0.11
Undeclared quantities9.1%-0.131-1.19
Prints ingredient percentagesyes3.194+3.19
Complete dietyes1.703+1.70
Frozen or chilled freshno11.440+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)yes-0.506-0.51
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)no-1.988+0.00
High carb and low meatno-1.250+0.00
Meat share × printed percentages32.6-0.073-2.39
Meat share × fresh0.0-0.339+0.00
Fresh × high meat0.016.475+0.00
Additive penalty0.000.236+0.00
Processing multiplier1.0032.336+32.34
Processing: Rawno13.322+0.00
Processing: Fresh Chilledno7.712+0.00
Processing: Fresh Frozenno6.583+0.00
Processing: Fresh Refrigeratedno4.857+0.00
Processing: Fresh Shelfno0.072+0.00
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedno11.127+0.00
Processing: Dry Air Driedno9.320+0.00
Processing: Dry Cold Pressedno4.569+0.00
Processing: Dry Bakedno-2.321+0.00
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.996-7.00
Processing: Dry Semi Moistno-6.833+0.00
Processing: Dry Mueslino-10.711+0.00
Processing: Wet Pateno2.935+0.00
Processing: Wet Chunksno2.292+0.00
Processing-type offset
-0.01
Additives declared on label
+2 transparency bonus
Subtotal
64.3
Final score
64/100

Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.

Score history across model versions

The score shown above is always computed with the latest published model. Earlier scores are kept for the record and are never edited or deleted; a scoring change ships as a new model version with a public write-up on the methodology page.

ModelScore
v264/100current
v163/100
v1.964/100
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges

How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.

NutrientAs fed (label)Dry matter (scored)Score
Protein28.531 (band 18 to 40%)100
Fat1516.3 (band 5.5 to 20%)100
Fibre33.3 (band 0.5 to 5%)100
Calcium1.21.3 (band 0.5 to 2.5%)94.1
Phosphorus0.80.9 (band 0.4 to 1.6%)93.5
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.51.5 (band 1 to 2%)100
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3)--100

Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.

Scored over 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 90); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 8% from the food type.

Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture estimated from the food type.

This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.

Transparency: what the label discloses

How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.

ItemPoints
Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
Printed percentages on the label (90.9% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)18.2/20
Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file0/15
Additives declared (mandatory)10/10
Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file0/5
Complete/complementary designation (mandatory)5/5
Feeding guidance given (mandatory)10/10
Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory)5/10
Country of manufacture stated (voluntary)10/10
Batch and date labelling (mandatory)5/5

Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared).

Safety: recall history

Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.

No recalls recorded in our database.

See all current recalls we track.

Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it

The marketing claims made on the pack and product page, and how much evidence sits behind them. We record the claims as stated; we do not assess whether they are true.

ClaimTypeSubstantiation
Hypoallergenic chicken recipe supports health and immunity, ideal for Bulldogs unique needs, with curved kibble for easy feeding. (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
+Imuvita to support their immunity (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
Added L-carnitine to help promote a healthy weight and maintain lean muscle mass (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
Contains MOS and FOS prebiotics to help support the growth of healthy gut bacteria and Yucca to help reduce stool odour (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
Increased Glucosamine and Chondroitin helps support joint condition and general mobility (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
Optimised ratios of Calcium and Phosphorus help maintain strong teeth and bones and maintain overall oral health (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
Beta-Glucans (to aid the effectiveness of your dog's natural immune system) (on page)FunctionalManufacturer assertion
Palatable recipe and quality source of easily digestible chicken protein (on page)ContentManufacturer assertion
Veterinary Approved (on page)ContentManufacturer assertion
Natural source of omega 3 and 6 helps support skin and coat condition, heart and kidney health and ongoing brain function development (on page)NutrientManufacturer assertion
No added grain & hypoallergenic recipe – With no added grain, wheat, wheat gluten, beef, pork, and soya (on page)Free-fromManufacturer assertion
source of antioxidants (to support and neutralise possible damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals) (on page)NutrientManufacturer assertion
A source of carbohydrates and of soluble and insoluble fibre help maintain energy levels and a healthy intestinal function (on page)NutrientManufacturer assertion

Limited: at least one claim rests on manufacturer assertion alone.

The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.

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