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.
Happy Dog Recovery Diet
Wet Pate · completeveterinary dietHigh meatClear label
Our verdict
Is Happy Dog Recovery Diet a good dog food?
We score it 74/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
29% 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
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: it is listed as an ingredient
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists turkey
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
- You are limiting fat: 29.6% on a dry-matter basis is in the high 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 12.80% · Fat 7.40%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 12.80% |
| Fat | 7.40% |
| Fibre | 0.30% |
| Ash | 1.80% |
| Moisture | 75% |
| Calcium | 0.28% |
| Phosphorus | 0.22% |
| Sodium | 0.15% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Once opened, keep the tin covered in the fridge and use it within 2-4 days.
Feeding guide
See our portion guide based on weight and activity. Coming soon.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A (3a672a) 3000 I.E./kg; Vitamin D3 (3a671) 225 I.E./kg; Vitamin E (all rac-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate 3a700i) 45 mg/kg; Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate 3a821) 15 mg/kg; Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin 3a825i) 6 mg/kg; Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride 3a831) 38 mg/kg; Biotin (3a880) 900 mcg/kg; Calcium D-Pantothenate (3a841) 8 mg/kg; Nicotinic Acid Amide (3a315) 38 mg/kg; Vitamin B12 58 mcg/kg; Choline Chloride (3a890) 600 mg/kg; L-Carnitine (3a910) 1000 mg/kg; Taurine (3a3a370) 750 mg/kg; Copper (copper(II) sulfate-pentahydrate 3b405) 1 mg/kg; Zinc (zinc oxide 3b603) 27 mg/kg; Manganese (manganese(II) sulfate, monohydrate 3b503) 3 mg/kg; Iodine (calcium iodate, anhydrous 3b202) 0.75 mg/kg
Ingredients (10)29% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 67.0%
- carb 12.1%
- supplement 7.9%
- fibre 6.8%
- veg 5.7%
- oil 0.5%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meat and offal of chicken (50 %) | Offal | meat · medium | 50 | 50.0 |
| 2 | and turkey (15%) | Turkey | meat · medium | 15 | 15.0 |
| 3 | sweet potato (3 %) | Sweet Potatoes | carb · good | 3 | 3.0 |
| 4 | whole egg powder (2 %) | Dried Whole Egg | meat · good | 2 | 2.0 |
| 5 | potato protein | Potato protein | carb · medium | - | 9.1 |
| 6 | minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement · medium | - | 7.9 |
| 7 | salmon oil (0.5 %) | Salmon Oil | oil · good | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 8 | cellulose | Cellulose | fibre · medium | - | 6.8 |
| 9 | chicory root | Chicory root | veg · good | - | 5.7 |
| 10 | milk thistle seeds (0.05 %) | Milk Thistle | veg · good | 0.05 | 0.05 |
- 1. Meat and offal of chicken (50 %)50% declared50.0% estimated
- 2. and turkey (15%)15% declared15.0% estimated
- 3. sweet potato (3 %)3% declared3.0% estimated
- 4. whole egg powder (2 %)2% declared2.0% estimated
- 5. potato protein9.1% estimated
- 6. minerals7.9% estimated
- 7. salmon oil (0.5 %)0.5% declared0.5% estimated
- 8. cellulose6.8% estimated
- 9. chicory root5.7% estimated
- 10. milk thistle seeds (0.05 %)0.05% declared0.05% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-14
Brand and contact: Happy Dog
- Website
- https://www.happydoguk.com/
- [email protected]
- Phone
- (530) 267-6262
- Address
- 300 Salem Street Chico,CA 95928
- Contact page
- www.happydog.com
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.happydoguk.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.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
The recipe scored 74 out of 100. The meat content contributed +5.1 points, and the overall quality of the ingredient list added a further +4.9 points. Ingredients without printed percentages pulled the score down by -3.1, while being labelled nutritionally complete added +2.3 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 | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.92 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 53.0% | 0.096 | +5.09 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 8.0% | -0.115 | -0.92 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 1.3% | -0.092 | -0.12 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 2.3% | -0.005 | -0.01 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 19.3% | -0.012 | -0.24 |
| Undeclared quantities | 29.4% | -0.106 | -3.11 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 33.786 | +33.79 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | yes | -0.672 | -0.67 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.92 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 53.0% | 0.096 | +5.09 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 8.0% | -0.115 | -0.92 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 1.3% | -0.092 | -0.12 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 2.3% | -0.005 | -0.01 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 19.3% | -0.012 | -0.24 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| 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 | 29.4% | -0.106 | -3.11 |
| 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) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -3.158 | +0.00 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| 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 | 1.00 | 33.786 | +33.79 |
| 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 | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | yes | -0.672 | -0.67 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- -0.08
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 73.6
- Final score
- 74/100
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 | 12.8 | 51.2 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 7.4 | 29.6 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 0.3 | 1.2 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 79.3 |
| Calcium | 0.28 | 1.1 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 88.6 |
| Phosphorus | 0.22 | 0.9 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 94 |
| Sodium | 0.15 | 0.6 (band 0.1+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.3 | 1.3 (band 1 to 2%) | 86.4 |
Scored over 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 85); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Declared fortification: 17 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin A (3a672a) 3000 I.E./kg
- Vitamin D3 (3a671) 225 I.E./kg
- Vitamin E (all rac-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate 3a700i) 45 mg/kg
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate 3a821) 15 mg/kg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin 3a825i) 6 mg/kg
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride 3a831) 38 mg/kg
- Biotin (3a880) 900 mcg/kg
- Calcium D-Pantothenate (3a841) 8 mg/kg
- Nicotinic Acid Amide (3a315) 38 mg/kg
- Vitamin B12 58 mcg/kg
- Choline Chloride (3a890) 600 mg/kg
- L-Carnitine (3a910) 1000 mg/kg
- Taurine (3a3a370) 750 mg/kg
- Copper (copper(II) sulfate-pentahydrate 3b405) 1 mg/kg
- Zinc (zinc oxide 3b603) 27 mg/kg
- Manganese (manganese(II) sulfate, monohydrate 3b503) 3 mg/kg
- Iodine (calcium iodate, anhydrous 3b202) 0.75 mg/kg
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.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (70.6% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 14.1/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| 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.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| High protein digestibility (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Easily digestible: chicken, turkey, egg, salmon oil (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| For dogs and cats in recovery (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| VET Recovery promotes weight gain and regeneration in dogs and cats (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| High energy content (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| High energy and nutrient concentration (on pack) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Particularly tasty (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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