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.
Calibra VD Dog Hepatic
Dry Extruded · completeveterinary dietClear label
Our verdict
Is Calibra VD Dog Hepatic a good dog food?
We score it 53/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Complete extruded dry food for dogs of all life stages, with rice, salmon protein and chicken oil and fat as the main ingredients.
Declared analysis sits below the FEDIAF minimum for protein.
31% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists hydrolysed chicken liver
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon protein
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - white
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
- You need more protein than this: 17.8% on a dry-matter basis is in the low band
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 16% · Fat 16%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16% |
| Fat | 16% |
| Fibre | 3% |
| Ash | 4% |
| Moisture | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 51% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.60% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 2.20% |
| Calcium | 0.65% |
| Phosphorus | 0.60% |
| Sodium | 0.10% |
Energy: 386 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Complete feed. Moderate level of protein, selected and highly digestible. It is recommended that a veterinarian's opinion / advice be sought before use or before extending the period of use. Period of use: for the support of liver function should be initially up to 4 months, for the reduction of copper initially up to 6 months. Recommended daily amount should be divided into smaller portions offered several times during the day. Feed the food dry or slightly moistened. Water should be available at all times. Recommended daily amounts are shown in the feeding table.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
vitamin A (3a672a) 12,000 I.U.; vitamin D3 (3a671) 1,000 I.U.; vitamin E (3a700) 600 mg; vitamin C (3a312) 500 mg; choline chloride (3a890) 2,200 mg; biotin (3a880) 2.5 mg; calcium-D-panthothenate (3a841) 35 mg; niacinamide (3a315) 85 mg; organic zinc (3b606) 200 mg; organic iron (3b106) 60 mg; organic manganese (3b504) 55 mg; potassium iodide (3b201) 4 mg; organic selenium (3b810) 0.3 mg; L-carnitine (3a910) 1,000 mg; taurine (3a370) 1,000 mg
Technological additives
tocopherol extracts from vegetable oil (1b306(i)); ascorbyl palmitate (1b304); rosemary extract
Ingredients (20)31% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 55.0%
- meat 18.3%
- supplement 11.6%
- oil 4.8%
- unknown 4.3%
- veg 3.6%
- fruit 2.4%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | rice (55%) | Rice - white | carb · medium | 55 | 55.0 |
| 2 | salmon protein (10%) | Salmon Protein | meat · good | 10 | 10.0 |
| 3 | chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 2.5 |
| 4 | dried apples | Dried Apples | fruit · good | - | 2.4 |
| 5 | salmon oil | Salmon Oil | oil · good | - | 2.3 |
| 6 | hydrolysed salmon protein | Salmon Protein | meat · good | - | 2.3 |
| 7 | mass ≤ 5 | unmatched | - | - | 2.2 |
| 8 | 000 Da | unmatched | - | - | 2.1 |
| 9 | dried eggs (4%) | Dried Egg | meat · medium | 4 | 4.0 |
| 10 | hydrolysed chicken liver | Hydrolysed Chicken Liver | meat · medium | - | 2.0 |
| 11 | brewer‘s yeast | Brewer's Yeast | supplement · good | - | 1.9 |
| 12 | fulvic acid (0.5%) | Fulvic Acid | supplement · medium | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 13 | algae | Seaweed | veg · good | - | 1.9 |
| 14 | Schizochytrium limacinum | Schizochytrium Algae | supplement · good | - | 1.8 |
| 15 | milk thistle seeds | Milk Thistle | veg · good | - | 1.7 |
| 16 | fructo-oligosaccharides | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement · good | - | 1.6 |
| 17 | β-glucans | Beta-Glucans | supplement · good | - | 1.6 |
| 18 | mannan-oligosaccharides | Mannanoligosaccharides | supplement · good | - | 1.5 |
| 19 | Mojave yucca | Yucca Schidigera | supplement · good | - | 1.4 |
| 20 | Lactobacillus acidophilus HA – 122 inactivated | Inactivated Lactobacillus helveticus | supplement · good | - | 1.3 |
- 1. rice (55%)55% declared55.0% estimated
- 2. salmon protein (10%)10% declared10.0% estimated
- 3. chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols)2.5% estimated
- 4. dried apples2.4% estimated
- 5. salmon oil2.3% estimated
- 6. hydrolysed salmon protein2.3% estimated
- 7. mass ≤ 52.2% estimated
- 8. 000 Da2.1% estimated
- 9. dried eggs (4%)4% declared4.0% estimated
- 10. hydrolysed chicken liver2.0% estimated
- 11. brewer‘s yeast1.9% estimated
- 12. fulvic acid (0.5%)0.5% declared0.5% estimated
- 13. algae1.9% estimated
- 14. Schizochytrium limacinum1.8% estimated
- 15. milk thistle seeds1.7% estimated
- 16. fructo-oligosaccharides1.6% estimated
- 17. β-glucans1.6% estimated
- 18. mannan-oligosaccharides1.5% estimated
- 19. Mojave yucca1.4% estimated
- 20. Lactobacillus acidophilus HA – 122 inactivated1.3% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-10-21
Brand and contact: Calibra
- Website
- https://calibrastore.co.uk/
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-10-21
- 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.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
2 reviews on this product · 5.0/5
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?
The overall score is 53 out of 100. The carbohydrate content contributed -7 points. The processing format contributed -6.7 points. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +5.6 points, while ingredients without printed percentages contributed -3.2 points. 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.
Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.57 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 8.1% | 0.096 | +0.78 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 60.9% | -0.115 | -7.00 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 6.0% | -0.092 | -0.55 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 2.4% | -0.005 | -0.01 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 13.4% | -0.012 | -0.16 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 2.7% | -0.027 | -0.07 |
| Undeclared quantities | 30.5% | -0.106 | -3.22 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | yes | -1.180 | -1.18 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.57 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 8.1% | 0.096 | +0.78 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 60.9% | -0.115 | -7.00 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 6.0% | -0.092 | -0.55 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 2.4% | -0.005 | -0.01 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 13.4% | -0.012 | -0.16 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 2.7% | -0.027 | -0.07 |
| Recipe graded poor | 0.0% | -0.065 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.876 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.060 | +0.00 |
| Undeclared quantities | 30.5% | -0.106 | -3.22 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | yes | -1.180 | -1.18 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | 0.00 | 0.222 | +0.00 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 52.6
- Final score
- 53/100
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.
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.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 16 | 17.8 (band 19.3 to 40%) | 64.5 |
| Fat | 16 | 17.8 (band 5.897222222222222 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 3 | 3.3 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 0.65 | 0.7 (band 0.5361111111111111 to 2.5%) | 75.7 |
| Phosphorus | 0.6 | 0.7 (band 0.4288888888888889 to 1.6%) | 82.2 |
| Sodium | 0.1 | 0.1 (band 0.10722222222222222+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.1 | 1.1 (band 1 to 2%) | 75 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 386 | 428.9 | 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 9 declared nutrients (combined weight 105); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Declared fortification: 15 nutritional additives on the label
- vitamin A (3a672a) 12,000 I.U.
- vitamin D3 (3a671) 1,000 I.U.
- vitamin E (3a700) 600 mg
- vitamin C (3a312) 500 mg
- choline chloride (3a890) 2,200 mg
- biotin (3a880) 2.5 mg
- calcium-D-panthothenate (3a841) 35 mg
- niacinamide (3a315) 85 mg
- organic zinc (3b606) 200 mg
- organic iron (3b106) 60 mg
- organic manganese (3b504) 55 mg
- potassium iodide (3b201) 4 mg
- organic selenium (3b810) 0.3 mg
- L-carnitine (3a910) 1,000 mg
- taurine (3a370) 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.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (69.5% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 13.9/20 |
| 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) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Batch and date labelling).
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 — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "Complete & balanced Veterinary Diet dry dog food." — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
4 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete & balanced Veterinary Diet dry dog food. (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Suitable for dogs requiring support for liver function, including chronic liver insufficiency and reduced copper intake. (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Liver support system with low protein, low copper and low sodium in a highly digestible formula, plus prebiotics and fulvic acid to help reduce toxins. (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Includes a liver support complex with silymarin, vitamins, antioxidants, L-carnitine, taurine and zinc to support liver function. (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Created by a team of veterinarians (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer 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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