VetSpec Working Dog Food Adult

Dry Extruded · completeHigh meatClear label

Working Dog Food Adult
Average
our rating

Our verdict

Is VetSpec Working Dog Food Adult 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 adult dogs, with meat meal, rice and chicken as the main ingredients.

How we score

Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.

Why you might choose it

  • Meat makes up an estimated 39% of the dry matter.
  • 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 adult dogs
  • Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
  • Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - brown / whole grain
  • 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 27% · Fat 14%

Typical analysis (as fed)

NutrientAs fed
Protein27%
Fat14%
Fibre3.50%
Ash7.50%
Omega-3 fatty acids1.40%
Omega-6 fatty acids2.60%

Additives & feeding info

Feeding and storage

Storage

VetSpec products should be stored in a cool dry place.

Feeding guide

Bodyweight (kg) Low Activity g/day Moderate Activity g/day High Activity g/day 3 to 5 50-80 70-100 90-120 6 to 10 80-130 100-170 120-210 11 to 20 130-200 170-260 210-320 21 to 30 200-260 260-340 320-420 31 to 40 260-290 340-400 420-470 41 to 50 290-340 340-400 470-580 51 to 60 340-410 470-540 580-660 over 60 430+ 560+ 680+

No additives recorded yet.

Ingredients (28)17% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

  • meat 39.0%
  • carb 34.1%
  • veg 14.8%
  • oil 6.2%
  • supplement 3.4%
  • fibre 1.4%
  • additive 1.2%
#As declaredMatchedLabel readingDeclared %Est. %
1Chicken Meat Meal (28.0%)Meat Mealmeat · medium2828.0
2Brown Rice (16.4%)Rice - brown / whole graincarb · medium16.416.4
3White Rice (16.4%)Rice - whitecarb · medium16.416.4
4Fresh Chicken (9.2%)Chickenmeat · medium9.29.2
5Peas (6.0%)Peasveg · good66.0
6Sugar Beet PulpBeet Pulpfibre · medium-1.3
7Whole OatsOat Groatscarb · good-1.3
8Chicken Fat (5.0%)Chicken Oil and Fatoil · good55.0
9Whole LinseedsLinseedveg · good-1.2
10Chicken Digest as Gravy (1.8%)Chickenmeat · medium1.81.8
11Fish OilFish Oiloil · good-1.2
12Glucosamine Hcl (0.25%)Glucosaminesupplement · good0.250.3
13Calcium CarbonateCalcium Carbonatesupplement · medium-1.1
14Sodium ChlorideSaltadditive · poor-1.1
15Culinary Herbs BlendHerbsveg · medium-1.1
16Dried SeaweedDried Sea Algaesupplement · good-1.0
17Chicory Extract 0.08%Chicory Root Extractfibre · good0.080.08
18Yeast Extract 0.08%Hydrolysed Yeastadditive · medium0.080.08
19AlfalfaAlfalfaveg · good-1.0
20Yucca ExtractYucca Schidigerasupplement · good-0.9
21RosemaryRosemaryveg · good-0.9
22FennelFennelveg · good-0.9
23BasilBasilveg · good-0.8
24ThymeThymeveg · good-0.8
25OreganoOreganoveg · good-0.8
26ParsleyParsleyveg · good-0.7
27AniseedAniseedveg · good-0.7
28Chondroitin Sulphate (0.03%)Chondroitinsupplement · good0.030.03
  1. 1. Chicken Meat Meal (28.0%)28% declared28.0% estimated
    Meat Meal · meat · medium
  2. 2. Brown Rice (16.4%)16.4% declared16.4% estimated
    Rice - brown / whole grain · carb · medium
  3. 3. White Rice (16.4%)16.4% declared16.4% estimated
    Rice - white · carb · medium
  4. 4. Fresh Chicken (9.2%)9.2% declared9.2% estimated
    Chicken · meat · medium
  5. 5. Peas (6.0%)6% declared6.0% estimated
    Peas · veg · good
  6. 6. Sugar Beet Pulp1.3% estimated
    Beet Pulp · fibre · medium
  7. 7. Whole Oats1.3% estimated
    Oat Groats · carb · good
  8. 8. Chicken Fat (5.0%)5% declared5.0% estimated
    Chicken Oil and Fat · oil · good
  9. 9. Whole Linseeds1.2% estimated
    Linseed · veg · good
  10. 10. Chicken Digest as Gravy (1.8%)1.8% declared1.8% estimated
    Chicken · meat · medium
  11. 11. Fish Oil1.2% estimated
    Fish Oil · oil · good
  12. 12. Glucosamine Hcl (0.25%)0.25% declared0.3% estimated
    Glucosamine · supplement · good
  13. 13. Calcium Carbonate1.1% estimated
    Calcium Carbonate · supplement · medium
  14. 14. Sodium Chloride1.1% estimated
    Salt · additive · poor
  15. 15. Culinary Herbs Blend1.1% estimated
    Herbs · veg · medium
  16. 16. Dried Seaweed1.0% estimated
    Dried Sea Algae · supplement · good
  17. 17. Chicory Extract 0.08%0.08% declared0.08% estimated
    Chicory Root Extract · fibre · good
  18. 18. Yeast Extract 0.08%0.08% declared0.08% estimated
    Hydrolysed Yeast · additive · medium
  19. 19. Alfalfa1.0% estimated
    Alfalfa · veg · good
  20. 20. Yucca Extract0.9% estimated
    Yucca Schidigera · supplement · good
  21. 21. Rosemary0.9% estimated
    Rosemary · veg · good
  22. 22. Fennel0.9% estimated
    Fennel · veg · good
  23. 23. Basil0.8% estimated
    Basil · veg · good
  24. 24. Thyme0.8% estimated
    Thyme · veg · good
  25. 25. Oregano0.8% estimated
    Oregano · veg · good
  26. 26. Parsley0.7% estimated
    Parsley · veg · good
  27. 27. Aniseed0.7% estimated
    Aniseed · veg · good
  28. 28. Chondroitin Sulphate (0.03%)0.03% declared0.03% estimated
    Chondroitin · supplement · good

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

Brand and contact: VetSpec
VetSpec logo
Phone
01845 565630
Address
VetSpec, Middle Park Farm, Pickhill, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4JN
Contact page
www.vetspec.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.vetspec.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?

This recipe achieves a total score of 58 out of 100 based on several key factors. The processing format contributed -6.7 points, and the carbohydrate content contributed -4.7 points. Conversely, the overall quality of the ingredient list added +5 points, and the meat content contributed +3.7 points to the overall assessment.

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 quality0.59.191+4.97
Meat share of dry matter38.7%0.096+3.71
Carb share of dry matter40.7%-0.115-4.68
Oil share of dry matter8.3%-0.092-0.76
Vegetable share of dry matter5.0%-0.005-0.03
Additive share of dry matter1.4%0.163+0.23
Supplement share of dry matter4.2%-0.012-0.05
Recipe graded poor1.1%-0.065-0.07
Number of poor ingredients1-0.876-0.88
Largest single poor ingredient1.1%0.060+0.07
Undeclared quantities16.8%-0.106-1.77
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)yes0.707+0.71
Additive penalty-1.440.222-0.32
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 quality0.59.191+4.97
Meat share of dry matter38.7%0.096+3.71
Carb share of dry matter40.7%-0.115-4.68
Oil share of dry matter8.3%-0.092-0.76
Vegetable share of dry matter5.0%-0.005-0.03
Additive share of dry matter1.4%0.163+0.23
Supplement share of dry matter4.2%-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 poor1.1%-0.065-0.07
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients1-0.876-0.88
Largest single poor ingredient1.1%0.060+0.07
Undeclared quantities16.8%-0.106-1.77
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietno2.294+0.00
Frozen or chilled freshno0.000+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)yes0.707+0.71
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 penalty-1.440.222-0.32
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
Subtotal
58.5
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.

ModelScore
v358/100current
v261/100
v160/100
v1.961/100
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
Protein2729.8 (band 18 to 40%)100
Fat1415.5 (band 5.5 to 20%)100
Fibre3.53.9 (band 0.5 to 5%)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 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); 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.

ItemPoints
✓ Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
✓ Printed percentages on the label (83.2% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)16.6/20
✗ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file0/15
✗ Additives declared (mandatory) - not on file0/10
✗ 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)10/10
✓ Country of manufacture stated (voluntary)10/10
✗ Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file0/5

Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Additives declared, 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

  • "CEREAL-GRAIN-FREE" — the declared label says otherwise on grain-free.

6 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
rich in naturally occurring Omega 3s to help maintain healthy joints (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
The specialised supplements include Biotin, and other associated nutrients to improve the coat and promote a supple skin for dogs that that have problems in this area. (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
The prebiotics in the supplement help to maintain a healthy gut in dogs with sensitive stomachs. (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
CEREAL-GRAIN-FREE (on page)Free-fromcontradictedManufacturer assertion
including 55% Salmon with added vegetables and herbs (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Salmon is an excellent high-quality protein source for your dogs (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
It is wheat gluten free with no added artificial colours, preservatives or artificial flavours. (on page)Free-fromnot 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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