Virbac Digestive Support Dog Wet Food
Wet Pate complete
Is Virbac Digestive Support Dog Wet Food a good dog food?
We score it 61/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe achieves an overall rating of 61 out of 100. The meat content contributed +3.1 points, while the processing format added +2.9 points. Additionally, the overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +5.8 points. However, ingredients without printed percentages resulted in a deduction of -13.1 points.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe61
- Nutritionalmedium96
- Transparency55
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited33
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 wet paté food for adult dogs, with neck, chicken liver and kidney as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Doesn't list grain ingredients.
- High in protein: 46% protein on a dry-matter basis.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- High in fat: 34% fat on a dry-matter basis.
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 13%
- Fat
- 9.50%
- Fibre
- 1.10%
- Ash
- 2.40%
- Moisture
- 72%
- Carbohydrates
- 2%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 0.75%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 2.50%
- Calcium
- 0.26%
- Phosphorus
- 0.18%
- Sodium
- 0.25%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 22000 iu/kg; Vitamin D3 240 iu/kg; Vitamin E 200 mg/kg; Vitamin B1 Thiamine 1.8 mg/kg; Vitamin B2 Riboflavine 5 mg/kg; Vitamin B3 PP. niacine nicotic AC 40 mg/kg; Vitamin B5 Pantothenic AC 9 mg/kg; Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine 1.5 mg/kg; Vitamin B8 Biotine. Vitamin H 0.08 mg/kg; Vitamin B9 Folic AC 0.2 mg/kg; Vitamin B12 Cobalamine 0.03 mg/kg; Choline 1000 mg/kg; Taurine 1000 mg/kg; Copper 5 mg/kg; Iron 40 mg/kg; Iodine 0.8 mg/kg; Manganese 8 mg/kg; Selenium 0.4 mg/kg; Zinc 40 mg/kg
Technological additives
Bentonite 900 mg/kg
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken liver
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
- Your dog avoids pork: the label lists pork
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
- You are limiting fat: 33.9% 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. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (15)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | chicken neck | Neck | meat | medium | - | 8.7 |
| 2 | chicken liver | Chicken Liver | meat | good | - | 8.4 |
| 3 | pork kidney | Kidney | meat | good | - | 8.1 |
| 4 | chicken tripes | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 7.8 |
| 5 | mechanically deboned chicken meat | Deboned Chicken | meat | good | - | 7.5 |
| 6 | pea protein extract | Pea protein | carb | medium | - | 7.2 |
| 7 | fish oil | Fish Oil | oil | good | - | 7.0 |
| 8 | sunflower oil | Sunflower oil | oil | good | - | 6.7 |
| 9 | pork plasma | Pork | meat | medium | - | 6.4 |
| 10 | egg white | Egg | meat | good | - | 6.1 |
| 11 | minerals and vitamins | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | - | 5.8 |
| 12 | cellulose | Cellulose | fibre | medium | - | 5.5 |
| 13 | lignocellulose | Lignocellulose | fibre | medium | - | 5.2 |
| 14 | potato starch | Potato starch | carb | poor | - | 4.9 |
| 15 | caramel | Caramel Colour | additive | poor | - | 4.6 |
Brand
- Website
- https://uk.virbac.com/
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-14
- Scored with
- Model v2 (methodology)
- Product page
- uk.virbac.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.
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Scored with model v2 on 2026-09-22. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.915 | +5.76 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 27.0% | 0.116 | +3.13 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 13.8% | -0.113 | -1.55 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 24.5% | -0.088 | -2.16 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 7.6% | 0.177 | +1.34 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 9.7% | -0.009 | -0.09 |
| Recipe graded poor | 9.6% | -0.045 | -0.43 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.868 | -1.74 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 4.9% | 0.056 | +0.28 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.131 | -13.09 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Additive penalty | -5.57 | 0.236 | -1.31 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | yes | 2.935 | +2.94 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.915 | +5.76 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 27.0% | 0.116 | +3.13 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 13.8% | -0.113 | -1.55 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 24.5% | -0.088 | -2.16 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.002 | +0.00 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 7.6% | 0.177 | +1.34 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 9.7% | -0.009 | -0.09 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.371 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.022 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 9.6% | -0.045 | -0.43 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.182 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.868 | -1.74 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 4.9% | 0.056 | +0.28 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.131 | -13.09 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 3.194 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 11.440 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | -0.506 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -1.988 | +0.00 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.250 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | -0.073 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | -0.339 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 16.475 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -5.57 | 0.236 | -1.31 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Raw | no | 13.322 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | 7.712 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | 6.583 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 4.857 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | 0.072 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 11.127 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 9.320 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | 4.569 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -2.321 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | no | -6.996 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.833 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.711 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | yes | 2.935 | +2.94 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | 2.292 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- -0.16
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 61.3
- Final score
- 61/100
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.
| Model | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| v2 | 61/100 | current |
| v1 | 61/100 | |
| v1.9 | 61/100 |
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.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 13 | 46.4 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 9.5 | 33.9 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 1.1 | 3.9 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 0.26 | 0.9 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 82.9 |
| Phosphorus | 0.18 | 0.6 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 82.1 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.4 | 1.4 (band 1 to 2%) | 96.7 |
| 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 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 90); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
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 (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| 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) | 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 (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 marketing claims made on the pack and product page, and how much evidence sits behind them. We record the claims as stated; we do not assess whether they are true.
| Claim | Type | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|
| Highly digestible ingredients (on pack) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports digestive function (on pack) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports recovery and convalescence (on pack) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| clinically formulated to aid dogs with gastrointestinal disorders (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports nutritional recovery and the management of acute and chronic gastrointestinal conditions (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| gentle on your dog's sensitive stomach and digestive system (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| limits the workload of the digestive tract (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| The high water content of the food supports hydration (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports muscle mass and ideal body composition (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Stimulates water intake to improve hydration (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| rich in naturally tasty animal ingredients with high fat and protein content (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| very low in carbohydrates (on page) | High/low level | Manufacturer assertion |
| highly digestible proteins and fats (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| VETERINARY HPM® Digestive Support Dog Wet Food - For Sensitive Stomachs (on pack) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete and balanced food (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| High-quality protein 13% protein (87% animal origin) (on page) | Nutrient | Manufacturer assertion |
| Bentonite Helps to regulate the digestive tract (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Promotes well-formed stools (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Reduces stool odour (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Compensates for nutrient loss (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Energy- and nutrient-dense formula to compensate for malabsorption (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Helps to restore optimal body condition (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Helps to restore lost muscle mass and a return to a healthy weight (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| High digestible fats and protein to help provide high digestive tolerance (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports digestive recovery (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Provides complete nutrition in smaller portions to reduce the workload of the digestive system (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| High proportion of animal origin ingredients makes the formula highly palatable (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| High protein and water content help to stimulate drinking and boost hydration (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| 2.3% carbohydrates (on page) | Nutrient | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete nutrition (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| Not suitable for dogs with chronic kidney disease or growing dogs (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| rich animal proteins (on page) | Nutrient | Manufacturer assertion |
| to respect the natural carnivore diet (on page) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
Limited: at least one claim rests on manufacturer assertion alone.
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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