veterinary diet

This is a medical nutrition decision. Speak to your vet.

This is a veterinary diet product: a "dietetic" feed designed for a particular nutritional purpose and intended for use under veterinary direction. The score and figures below are readings of the label, the same as for any other food: they can't tell you whether this product is right for your dog.

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Calibra VD Dog Diabetes & Obesity

Dry Extruded complete veterinary diet Clear label

VD Dog Diabetes & Obesity
Average
our rating

Is Calibra VD Dog Diabetes & Obesity a good dog food?

We score it 50/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

How we score

Why this score?

The overall score is 50 out of 100. Ingredients without printed percentages contributed -7.3, and the processing format contributed -6.7. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +5.9, while the carbohydrate content contributed -3.6. This is a general explanation of how the score works, not veterinary advice. For any health condition, food choice is a decision for your vet.

70% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.

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 dried chicken protein, maize and turkey as the main ingredients.

Why you might choose it

  • Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
  • Low in fat for its format: 9% fat on a dry-matter basis.
  • High in protein: 39% protein on a dry-matter basis.

Why you might not

  • Its additive load costs about 2 points in the rating.

View the source page

Estimated composition

supplement36.4%
carb30.1%
meat17.6%
additive8.1%
veg7.7%
fibre0.1%
oil0.1%

Typical analysis (as fed)

Protein
35%
Fat
8%
Fibre
9.50%
Ash
7%
Moisture
10%
Omega-3 fatty acids
0.30%
Omega-6 fatty acids
0.90%
Calcium
1.20%
Phosphorus
0.90%
Sodium
0.25%

Energy: 298 kcal/100g

Additives & feeding info

Nutritional additives

vitamin A (3a672a) 20,000 I.U.; vitamin D3 (3a671) 1,000 I.U.; vitamin E (3a700) 600 mg; choline chloride (3a890) 2,000 mg; biotin (3a880) 2.5 mg; calcium-D-panthothenate (3a841) 30 mg; niacinamide (3a315) 50 mg; organic zinc (3b606) 132 mg; organic iron (3b106) 39 mg; organic manganese (3b504) 54 mg; organic copper (3b406) 4 mg; potassium iodide (3b201) 3 mg; organic selenium (3b810) 0.16 mg; L-carnitine (3a910) 1,000 mg

Technological additives

tocopherol extracts from vegetable oil (1b306(i)); ascorbyl palmitate (1b304); rosemary extract

Storage

Best use before the date shown on the package. Keep in a dry and cool place, avoid direct sunlight.

Feeding guide

Complete feed. Low level of mono- and disaccharides. It is recommended that a veterinarian's opinion be sought before use and before extending the period of use. Recommended length of time by Diabetes mellitus: initially up to 6 months. For the reduction of excessive body weight: until target body weight is achieved and after if required to maintain target bodyweight. Water should be available at all times. Feed the food dry or slightly moistened. Recommended daily amounts are shown in the feeding table. For an efficient weight loss or ideal weight maintenance, the recommended daily energy intake should not be exceeded.

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
  • Doesn't list beef, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
  • Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists turkey
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
  • Your dog avoids grain: the label lists maize / corn
  • 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 (20)

#As declaredMatchedCategoryTierDeclared %Est. %
1chicken proteinDried chicken proteinmeatgood-8.2
2corn (20%)Maize / Corncarbmedium2020.0
3turkey proteinTurkeymeatmedium-7.8
4barley (10%)Barleycarbmedium1010.0
50.08% dried applesDried Applesfruitgood0.080.08
60.07% corn glutenMaize glutencarbpoor0.070.07
70.07% salmon oilSalmon Oiloilgood0.070.07
80.07% lignocelluloseLignocellulosefibremedium0.070.07
90.07% hydrolysed chicken liverHydrolysed Chicken Livermeatmedium0.070.07
100.07% brewer's yeastBrewer's Yeastsupplementgood0.070.07
110.07% psyllium husk and seedsPsylliumfibregood0.070.07
12sodium chlorideSaltadditivepoor-7.4
13algaeSeaweedveggood-7.1
14Schizochytrium limacinumSchizochytrium Algaesupplementgood-6.7
15glucosamineGlucosaminesupplementgood-6.3
16chondroitin sulphateChondroitinsupplementgood-5.9
17fructo-oligosaccharidesFructo-oligosaccharidessupplementgood-5.6
18β-glucansBeta-Glucanssupplementgood-5.2
19mannan-oligosaccharidesMannanoligosaccharidessupplementgood-4.8
20Lactobacillus acidophilus HA–122 inactivatedInactivated Lactobacillus helveticussupplementgood-4.5

Brand

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
calibrastore.co.uk

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 v3 on 2026-10-06. 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+5.87
Meat share of dry matter0.1%0.096+0.01
Carb share of dry matter31.1%-0.115-3.58
Oil share of dry matter0.1%-0.092-0.01
Vegetable share of dry matter8.2%-0.005-0.04
Additive share of dry matter8.5%0.163+1.39
Supplement share of dry matter39.4%-0.012-0.48
Recipe graded poor8.1%-0.065-0.53
Number of poor ingredients2-0.876-1.75
Largest single poor ingredient8.1%0.060+0.48
Undeclared quantities69.5%-0.106-7.34
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)yes-3.158-3.16
Additive penalty-9.850.222-2.19
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+5.87
Meat share of dry matter0.1%0.096+0.01
Carb share of dry matter31.1%-0.115-3.58
Oil share of dry matter0.1%-0.092-0.01
Vegetable share of dry matter8.2%-0.005-0.04
Additive share of dry matter8.5%0.163+1.39
Supplement share of dry matter39.4%-0.012-0.48
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.375+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor8.1%-0.065-0.53
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients2-0.876-1.75
Largest single poor ingredient8.1%0.060+0.48
Undeclared quantities69.5%-0.106-7.34
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)yes-3.158-3.16
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 penalty-9.850.222-2.19
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
50.3
Final score
50/100

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
v350/100current
v252/100
v149/100
v1.950/100
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
Protein3538.9 (band 18 to 40%)100
Fat88.9 (band 5.5 to 20%)84
Fibre9.510.6 (band 0.5 to 5%)68.1
Calcium1.21.3 (band 0.5 to 2.5%)95
Phosphorus0.91 (band 0.4 to 1.6%)100
Sodium0.250.3 (band 0.1+%)100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.31.3 (band 1 to 2%)90
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3)--53
Energy (kcal/100g)298331.1100

Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 53). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.

Scored over 9 declared nutrients (combined weight 105); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.

Declared fortification: 14 nutritional additives on the label
  • vitamin A (3a672a) 20,000 I.U.
  • vitamin D3 (3a671) 1,000 I.U.
  • vitamin E (3a700) 600 mg
  • choline chloride (3a890) 2,000 mg
  • biotin (3a880) 2.5 mg
  • calcium-D-panthothenate (3a841) 30 mg
  • niacinamide (3a315) 50 mg
  • organic zinc (3b606) 132 mg
  • organic iron (3b106) 39 mg
  • organic manganese (3b504) 54 mg
  • organic copper (3b406) 4 mg
  • potassium iodide (3b201) 3 mg
  • organic selenium (3b810) 0.16 mg
  • L-carnitine (3a910) 1,000 mg

High confidence: full analysis plus minerals or omegas and declared energy.

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 (30.5% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)6.1/20
✓ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory)15/15
✓ Additives declared (mandatory)10/10
✓ Energy value declared (voluntary)5/5
✓ 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.

100/100 · moderate — 2 checkable claims: 2 consistent, 0 contradicted.

Consistent with the label

  • "high protein, low calorie and low carbohydrate levels" — supported by the declared high protein data.
  • "Complete & balanced Veterinary Diet dry dog food." — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.

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

Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
increased fibre to support weight control (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
includes a metabolic management complex with low glycaemic index ingredients, L-carnitine, vitamins and antioxidants to support metabolism and energy balance (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
support for diabetes management, weight reduction and weight maintenance (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
high protein, low calorie and low carbohydrate levels (on page)High/low levelconsistentManufacturer assertion
Complete & balanced Veterinary Diet dry dog food. (on page)ContentconsistentManufacturer 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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