Growing Paws Senior / Lite Dog Food
Dry Extruded · completeHigh meatClear label
Our verdict
Is Growing Paws Senior / Lite Dog Food a good dog food?
We score it 58/100 (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 rice, oats and beef as the main ingredients.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
72% 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 senior dogs
- Doesn't list turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
- Your dog avoids beef: the label lists beef
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists green-lipped mussel
- 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 21% · Fat 6.50%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 21% |
| Fat | 6.50% |
| Fibre | 5% |
| Ash | 7% |
Additives & feeding info
No additives recorded yet.
Ingredients (25)72% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- veg 32.0%
- meat 31.7%
- supplement 12.7%
- carb 12.6%
- oil 6.9%
- fibre 4.0%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice | Rice - white | carb · medium | - | 4.7 |
| 2 | Whole grain oats | Oats | carb · medium | - | 4.6 |
| 3 | Beef meal | Beef | meat · medium | - | 4.5 |
| 4 | min 14% | Lentils | veg · medium | 14 | 14.0 |
| 5 | Chicken meal | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | - | 4.4 |
| 6 | Whole grain barley | Barley | carb · medium | - | 4.3 |
| 7 | Beet pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 4.2 |
| 8 | Peas | Peas | veg · good | - | 4.1 |
| 9 | Lucerne | Alfalfa | veg · good | - | 4.0 |
| 10 | Chicken liver | Chicken Liver | meat · good | - | 3.9 |
| 11 | Chicken fat | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 3.8 |
| 12 | Minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement · medium | - | 3.7 |
| 13 | Yeast | Yeast | supplement · good | - | 3.6 |
| 14 | Salmon oil (source of omega 3 fatty acids) | Salmon Oil | oil · good | - | 3.5 |
| 15 | Seaweed | Seaweed | veg · good | - | 3.4 |
| 16 | Milk thistle | Milk Thistle | veg · good | - | 3.3 |
| 17 | Marigold | Calendula | veg · good | - | 3.2 |
| 18 | Green lipped mussel | Green-Lipped Mussel | supplement · good | - | 3.1 |
| 19 | Yucca schidigera | Yucca Schidigera | supplement · good | - | 3.0 |
| 20 | Blackcurrant | Blackcurrant | veg · good | - | 2.9 |
| 21 | Pomegranate | Pomegranate | veg · good | - | 2.8 |
| 22 | Rosemary | Rosemary | veg · good | - | 2.7 |
| 23 | Rosehip | Rose Hip | veg · good | - | 2.7 |
| 24 | Spinach | Spinach | veg · good | - | 2.6 |
| 25 | Beetroot | Beetroot | veg · good | - | 2.5 |
- 1. Rice4.7% estimated
- 2. Whole grain oats4.6% estimated
- 3. Beef meal4.5% estimated
- 4. min 14%14% declared14.0% estimated
- 5. Chicken meal4.4% estimated
- 6. Whole grain barley4.3% estimated
- 7. Beet pulp4.2% estimated
- 8. Peas4.1% estimated
- 9. Lucerne4.0% estimated
- 10. Chicken liver3.9% estimated
- 11. Chicken fat3.8% estimated
- 12. Minerals3.7% estimated
- 13. Yeast3.6% estimated
- 14. Salmon oil (source of omega 3 fatty acids)3.5% estimated
- 15. Seaweed3.4% estimated
- 16. Milk thistle3.3% estimated
- 17. Marigold3.2% estimated
- 18. Green lipped mussel3.1% estimated
- 19. Yucca schidigera3.0% estimated
- 20. Blackcurrant2.9% estimated
- 21. Pomegranate2.8% estimated
- 22. Rosemary2.7% estimated
- 23. Rosehip2.7% estimated
- 24. Spinach2.6% estimated
- 25. Beetroot2.5% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-14
Brand and contact: Growing Paws
- Address
- Comber, Co. Down, Northern Ireland
- Contact page
- www.growingpaws.co.uk
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.growingpaws.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.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
This recipe achieves an overall rating of 58 out of 100. The meat content contributed +3.7 points, while the overall quality of the ingredient list added +6.6 points to the total. However, the processing format reduced the score by -6.7 and ingredients without printed percentages decreased it by -7.6.
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 | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.59 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 38.3% | 0.096 | +3.68 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 16.5% | -0.115 | -1.90 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.2% | -0.092 | -0.94 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 10.7% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 17.4% | -0.012 | -0.21 |
| Undeclared quantities | 72.0% | -0.106 | -7.60 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| 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 | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.59 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 38.3% | 0.096 | +3.68 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 16.5% | -0.115 | -1.90 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.2% | -0.092 | -0.94 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 10.7% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 17.4% | -0.012 | -0.21 |
| 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 | 72.0% | -0.106 | -7.60 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | no | 2.294 | +0.00 |
| 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 | 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
- Subtotal
- 57.6
- Final score
- 58/100
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.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 21 | 23.2 (band 18 to 40%) | 84.2 |
| Fat | 6.5 | 7.2 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 77 |
| Fibre | 5 | 5.5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
No nutritional additives section declared on the label.
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.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (28% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 5.6/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Additives declared, Feeding guidance given, 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.
0/100 · limited — 1 checkable claim: 0 consistent, 1 contradicted.
Contradicted by the label
- "Wheat-gluten free - clean recipe without common allergens" — the declared label says otherwise on grain-free.
8 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.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| enriched with joint support ingredients (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| gentle on older digestive systems (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Lower calorie formula - helps maintain a healthy weight in less active or older dogs (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Glucosamine & Green Lipped Mussel - supports ageing joints and mobility (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Easily digestible ingredients - gentler on older digestive systems (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| L-Carnitine - supports healthy fat metabolism (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Wheat-gluten free - clean recipe without common allergens (on page) | Free-from | contradicted | Manufacturer assertion |
| lower in calories than our standard adult range (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Salmon oil (source of omega 3 fatty acids) (on page) | Nutrient | 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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