AVA Veterinary Approved Optimum Health Medium Breed Senior Chicken

Dry Extruded · completeClear label

Veterinary Approved Optimum Health Medium Breed Senior Chicken
Average
our rating

Our verdict

Is AVA Veterinary Approved Optimum Health Medium Breed Senior Chicken a good dog food?

We score it 63/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

Complete extruded dry food for senior dogs, with dried chicken protein, chicken and chicken oil and fat as the main ingredients.

How we score

Why you might choose it

  • Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
  • Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.

Why you might not

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

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for senior dogs
  • Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at medium dogs
  • Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
  • Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - white
  • 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. Find foods that fit your dog.

Nutrition and feedingProtein 24% · Fat 12%

Typical analysis (as fed)

NutrientAs fed
Protein24%
Fat12%
Fibre3.20%
Ash6.50%
Moisture8%
Omega-3 fatty acids0.40%
Omega-6 fatty acids1.95%
Calcium1.20%
Phosphorus0.75%

Additives & feeding info

Feeding and storage

Storage

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

Feeding guide

5-10kg: 90-155g; 10-20kg: 155-260g; 20-30kg: 260-305g daily, fed in 2 equal meals at regular times.

Additives declared on the label

Nutritional additives

Vitamin A 27,000 IU; Vitamin D3 1,350 IU; Vitamin E 450 mg; Zinc (as Zinc Chelate Of Protein Hydrolysates) 64.2 mg; Manganese (as Manganese Chelate Of Protein Hydrolysates) 7.8 mg; Copper (as Copper (II) Chelate Of Amino Acid Hydrate) 8 mg; Iodine (as Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 1.27 mg; Selenium (as Organic form of selenium produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CNCM I-3060)) 0.16 mg

Technological additives

Antioxidants; Rosemary Extract

Ingredients (20)7% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

  • carb 46.5%
  • meat 37.1%
  • fibre 7.7%
  • oil 5.2%
  • supplement 3.5%
#As declaredMatchedLabel readingDeclared %Est. %
1Chicken Meal 20.5%Dried chicken proteinmeat · good20.520.5
2Fresh Chicken 12.5%Chickenmeat · medium12.512.5
3Chicken Fat 3%Chicken Oil and Fatoil · good33.0
4Chicken Gravy 2.5%Chickenmeat · medium2.52.5
5Rice (20%)Rice - whitecarb · medium2020.0
6Maize (17.5%)Maize / Corncarb · medium17.517.5
7Whole Barley (9%)Barleycarb · medium99.0
8Beet Pulp (7.5%)Beet Pulpfibre · medium7.57.5
9Salmon OilSalmon Oiloil · good-2.2
10Brewers YeastBrewer's Yeastsupplement · good-1.9
11Whole Dried EggDried Eggmeat · medium-1.6
12MineralsVitamins and mineralssupplement · medium-1.4
13Chicory Root Extract (as a source Pre-biotic Fructooligosaccharide) (0.16%)Chicory Root Extractfibre · good0.160.2
14Yeasts (as a source of Beta-glucans and prebiotic Mannanoliogsaccharide) (0.11%)Yeastsupplement · good0.110.1
15Glucosamine (0.06%)Glucosaminesupplement · good0.060.06
16Chondroitin (0.045%)Chondroitinsupplement · good0.0450.04
17Yucca Extract (0.02%)Yucca Schidigerasupplement · good0.020.02
18Cranberry Extract (0.01%)Cranberry Extractsupplement · good0.010.01
19Green Tea Extract (0.005%)Green Teaveg · good0.0050.01
20Pomegranate Extract (0.005%)Pomegranateveg · good0.0050.01
  1. 1. Chicken Meal 20.5%20.5% declared20.5% estimated
    Dried chicken protein · meat · good
  2. 2. Fresh Chicken 12.5%12.5% declared12.5% estimated
    Chicken · meat · medium
  3. 3. Chicken Fat 3%3% declared3.0% estimated
    Chicken Oil and Fat · oil · good
  4. 4. Chicken Gravy 2.5%2.5% declared2.5% estimated
    Chicken · meat · medium
  5. 5. Rice (20%)20% declared20.0% estimated
    Rice - white · carb · medium
  6. 6. Maize (17.5%)17.5% declared17.5% estimated
    Maize / Corn · carb · medium
  7. 7. Whole Barley (9%)9% declared9.0% estimated
    Barley · carb · medium
  8. 8. Beet Pulp (7.5%)7.5% declared7.5% estimated
    Beet Pulp · fibre · medium
  9. 9. Salmon Oil2.2% estimated
    Salmon Oil · oil · good
  10. 10. Brewers Yeast1.9% estimated
    Brewer's Yeast · supplement · good
  11. 11. Whole Dried Egg1.6% estimated
    Dried Egg · meat · medium
  12. 12. Minerals1.4% estimated
    Vitamins and minerals · supplement · medium
  13. 13. Chicory Root Extract (as a source Pre-biotic Fructooligosaccharide) (0.16%)0.16% declared0.2% estimated
    Chicory Root Extract · fibre · good
  14. 14. Yeasts (as a source of Beta-glucans and prebiotic Mannanoliogsaccharide) (0.11%)0.11% declared0.1% estimated
    Yeast · supplement · good
  15. 15. Glucosamine (0.06%)0.06% declared0.06% estimated
    Glucosamine · supplement · good
  16. 16. Chondroitin (0.045%)0.045% declared0.04% estimated
    Chondroitin · supplement · good
  17. 17. Yucca Extract (0.02%)0.02% declared0.02% estimated
    Yucca Schidigera · supplement · good
  18. 18. Cranberry Extract (0.01%)0.01% declared0.01% estimated
    Cranberry Extract · supplement · good
  19. 19. Green Tea Extract (0.005%)0.005% declared0.01% estimated
    Green Tea · veg · good
  20. 20. Pomegranate Extract (0.005%)0.005% declared0.01% estimated
    Pomegranate · veg · good

Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-14

Brand and contact: AVA

Trust and provenance

Recall history
No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked
2026-09-14
Scored with
Model v3 (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.

External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.

13 reviews on this product · 4.6/5

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

Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence

Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated

Why this score?

This recipe achieves an overall score of 63 out of 100. Positive contributions come from the meat content, which adds +2.7 points, and the overall quality of the ingredient list, which contributes +5.6 points. However, the score is reduced by the processing format, contributing -6.7 points, and the carbohydrate content, which adds -5.9 points.

Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.69.191+5.56
Meat share of dry matter28.1%0.096+2.70
Carb share of dry matter51.0%-0.115-5.87
Oil share of dry matter6.4%-0.092-0.59
Supplement share of dry matter4.0%-0.012-0.05
Undeclared quantities7.1%-0.106-0.75
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Show all 40 components
ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.69.191+5.56
Meat share of dry matter28.1%0.096+2.70
Carb share of dry matter51.0%-0.115-5.87
Oil share of dry matter6.4%-0.092-0.59
Vegetable share of dry matter0.0%-0.005+0.00
Additive share of dry matter0.0%0.163+0.00
Supplement share of dry matter4.0%-0.012-0.05
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.375+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor0.0%-0.065+0.00
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients0-0.876+0.00
Largest single poor ingredient0.0%0.060+0.00
Undeclared quantities7.1%-0.106-0.75
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Frozen or chilled freshno0.000+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)no0.707+0.00
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)no-3.158+0.00
High carb and low meatno-1.180+0.00
Meat share × printed percentages0.00.000+0.00
Meat share × fresh0.00.000+0.00
Fresh × high meat0.011.084+0.00
Additive penalty0.000.222+0.00
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Rawno-0.054+0.00
Processing: Fresh Chilledno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Frozenno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Refrigeratedno0.000+0.00
Processing: Fresh Shelfno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedno6.629+0.00
Processing: Dry Air Driedno6.331+0.00
Processing: Dry Cold Pressedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Bakedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Processing: Dry Semi Moistno-6.174+0.00
Processing: Dry Mueslino-10.146+0.00
Processing: Wet Pateno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Wet Chunksno-0.672+0.00
Processing-type offset
+0.02
Additives declared on label
+2 transparency bonus
Subtotal
62.6
Final score
63/100

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
v363/100current
v261/100
v157/100
v1.959/100
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
Protein2426.1 (band 18 to 40%)92.1
Fat1213 (band 5.5 to 20%)100
Fibre3.23.5 (band 0.5 to 5%)100
Calcium1.21.3 (band 0.5 to 2.5%)94.1
Phosphorus0.750.8 (band 0.4 to 1.6%)90.8
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.61.6 (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.

Declared fortification: 8 nutritional additives on the label
  • Vitamin A 27,000 IU
  • Vitamin D3 1,350 IU
  • Vitamin E 450 mg
  • Zinc (as Zinc Chelate Of Protein Hydrolysates) 64.2 mg
  • Manganese (as Manganese Chelate Of Protein Hydrolysates) 7.8 mg
  • Copper (as Copper (II) Chelate Of Amino Acid Hydrate) 8 mg
  • Iodine (as Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 1.27 mg
  • Selenium (as Organic form of selenium produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CNCM I-3060)) 0.16 mg

Medium confidence: the full five-part analysis is on file; where moisture was not declared it was 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 (92.9% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)18.6/20
✓ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory)15/15
✓ 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
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 claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.

0/100 · limited — 1 checkable claim: 0 consistent, 1 contradicted.

Contradicted by the label

  • "Hypoallergenic recipe – Excludes wheat and wheat gluten" — the declared label says otherwise on grain-free.

9 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.

Limited: at least one claim contradicts the declared label, or a recent upheld ASA ruling applies.

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
Digestible chicken protein with omega 3 & 6 for skin, coat, heart, and brain health (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Supports digestion, joints, teeth, and bones (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Contains MOS and FOS prebiotics to support internal body health and functional conditioning (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Yucca to reduce stool odour (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Added Glucosamine and Chondroitin helps support joint condition and general mobility (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Optimised ratios of Calcium and Phosphorus help maintain strong teeth and bones (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
High quality source of easily digestible protein (on pack)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Contains +Imuvita - a unique combination of beneficial natural botanical extracts, vitamins, and selected minerals (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Hypoallergenic recipe – Excludes wheat and wheat gluten (on pack)Free-fromcontradictedManufacturer assertion
A rich source of omega 3 and 6 helps support skin and coat condition, heart and kidney health and ongoing brain function development (on pack)Nutrientnot checkableManufacturer assertion

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

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