Our verdict
Is Virbac Veterinary HPM Baby Small & Toy a good dog food?
We score it 42/100 (Poor). The main reasons are set out in "Why you might not" below, and every step of the calculation is shown under "How we calculated this score".
Complete extruded dry food for senior dogs, with poultry, rice and unspecified animal fats and oils as the main ingredients.
89% 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 beef, lamb, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists poultry
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists poultry
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
- Your dog avoids pork: it is listed as an ingredient
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - white
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
- You are limiting fat: 23.1% 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 36% · Fat 21%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 36% |
| Fat | 21% |
| Fibre | 4% |
| Ash | 7.50% |
| Moisture | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 22.50% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 1% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 2.50% |
| Calcium | 1.20% |
| Phosphorus | 0.90% |
| Sodium | 0.60% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Body weight (kg) Daily ration (g/day) Active - Active = Active + 1 35 35 40 2 50 55 65 3 70 75 85 4 80 90 100 5 95 105 115 6 105 120 130 7 120 130 145 8 130 145 160 9 140 155 170 10 150 170 185 * These amounts are approximate and may vary depending on the dog's breed.
No additives recorded yet.
Ingredients (16)89% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- fibre 25.4%
- meat 15.7%
- supplement 14.5%
- oil 13.6%
- veg 13.6%
- carb 11.0%
- additive 6.2%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dehydrated Pork and Poultry Protein | Poultry | meat · medium | - | 8.3 |
| 2 | 7% Rice | Rice - white | carb · medium | 7 | 7.0 |
| 3 | Animal Fat | Unspecified Animal Fats and Oils | oil · poor | - | 8.0 |
| 4 | Whole Pea | Peas | veg · good | - | 7.7 |
| 5 | 4% Potato Starch | Potato starch | carb · poor | 4 | 4.0 |
| 6 | Hydrolysed Animal Protein | Hydrolysed Animal Protein | meat · medium | - | 7.4 |
| 7 | Lignocellulose | Lignocellulose | fibre · medium | - | 7.1 |
| 8 | Beet Pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 6.8 |
| 9 | Field Bean Hulls | Field Bean Hulls | fibre · medium | - | 6.5 |
| 10 | Mineral Salts | Salt | additive · poor | - | 6.2 |
| 11 | Linseed | Linseed | veg · good | - | 5.9 |
| 12 | Fish Oil | Fish Oil | oil · good | - | 5.6 |
| 13 | Fructo-Oligosaccharides | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement · good | - | 5.3 |
| 14 | Psyllium Fibre | Psyllium fibre | fibre · good | - | 5.0 |
| 15 | Yeast Betaglucan | Yeast Beta-glucan | supplement · good | - | 4.7 |
| 16 | Pasteurised Lactobacillus Acidophilus | Pasteurised Lactobacillus Acidophilus | supplement · good | - | 4.4 |
- 1. Dehydrated Pork and Poultry Protein8.3% estimated
- 2. 7% Rice7% declared7.0% estimated
- 3. Animal Fat8.0% estimated
- 4. Whole Pea7.7% estimated
- 5. 4% Potato Starch4% declared4.0% estimated
- 6. Hydrolysed Animal Protein7.4% estimated
- 7. Lignocellulose7.1% estimated
- 8. Beet Pulp6.8% estimated
- 9. Field Bean Hulls6.5% estimated
- 10. Mineral Salts6.2% estimated
- 11. Linseed5.9% estimated
- 12. Fish Oil5.6% estimated
- 13. Fructo-Oligosaccharides5.3% estimated
- 14. Psyllium Fibre5.0% estimated
- 15. Yeast Betaglucan4.7% estimated
- 16. Pasteurised Lactobacillus Acidophilus4.4% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-14
Brand and contact: Virbac
- 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 v3 (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.
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 42 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +3.7 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -9.4, the processing format subtracted -6.7, and the additive load contributed -1.7 points.
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 | 0.4 | 9.191 | +3.75 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 8.6% | -0.115 | -0.99 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 16.2% | -0.092 | -1.49 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.8% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.7% | 0.163 | +1.09 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 16.0% | -0.012 | -0.20 |
| Recipe graded poor | 18.2% | -0.065 | -1.18 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.0% | 0.060 | +0.48 |
| Undeclared quantities | 89.0% | -0.106 | -9.40 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -7.81 | 0.222 | -1.73 |
| 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 | 0.4 | 9.191 | +3.75 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 8.6% | -0.115 | -0.99 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 16.2% | -0.092 | -1.49 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.8% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.7% | 0.163 | +1.09 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 16.0% | -0.012 | -0.20 |
| 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 | 18.2% | -0.065 | -1.18 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.0% | 0.060 | +0.48 |
| Undeclared quantities | 89.0% | -0.106 | -9.40 |
| 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) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| 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 | -7.81 | 0.222 | -1.73 |
| 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
- 41.8
- Final score
- 42/100
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 | 36 | 39.6 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 21 | 23.1 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 4 | 4.4 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.2 | 1.3 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 94.6 |
| Phosphorus | 0.9 | 1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 99.5 |
| Sodium | 0.6 | 0.7 (band 0.1+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.3 | 1.3 (band 1 to 2%) | 90 |
| 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 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 95); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
No nutritional additives section declared on the label.
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 (11% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 2.2/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| 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) | 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 (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.
67/100 · limited — 3 checkable claims: 2 consistent, 1 contradicted.
Contradicted by the label
- "High protein and fibre, with a reduced energy densitiy to support a senior dog" — the declared label says otherwise on high fibre.
Consistent with the label
- "high in protein and fibre to promote satiety" — supported by the declared high protein data.
- "complete and balanced dry food for neutered dogs in their senior years" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| low energy density to meet reduced energy needs (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Muscle and mobility support (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Oral and dental health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Weight and appetite control (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| high in protein and fibre to promote satiety (on page) | High/low level | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| complete and balanced dry food for neutered dogs in their senior years (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| high protein helps to maintain muscle mass, which is essential for joint stability and support (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed helps you protect your small dog's oral health by limiting plaque and tartar formation and reducing bad breath (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| high level of quality protein in this neutered dog food stimulates water intake and increases urine volume which helps encourage healthy urinary system (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports healthy weight management (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| L-carnitine helps to contribute to healthy fat metabolism (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports joint health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| High protein preserves muscle mass, while functional ingredients like hyaluronic acid and eggshell membrane help to support joint health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Promotes healthy teeth and gums (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed helps to limit plaque and tartar formation, promote healthy gums and reduce bad breath (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports renal health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Low phosphorus levels reduce the burden on the kidneys, helping to maintain a healthy kidney function (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports the urinary system (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| High-quality proteins stimulate water intake, increase urine volume and optimise urinary pH (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Eggshell membrane Supports mobility in the joints (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Eggshell membrane Promotes joint flexibility and elasticity (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Hyaluronic acid Keeps the joints lubricated and moving freely (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chondroitin sulphate Supports the structure of the joint cartilage (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chondroitin sulphate Helps to prevent the breakdown of cartilage (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chondroitin sulphate Supports the production of lubricating fluid in the joints (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| L-carnitine Supports energy production from fat (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| L-carnitine Helps to preserve lean muscle (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| high-protein, low-carbohydrate balance is ideal for preserving lean muscle mass, achieving a healthy weight, and supporting your dog's digestion (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and amino acids to promote skin and coat health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| L-carnitine Amino acid (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Hyaluronic acid Key component of synovial fluid in the joints (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| High protein and fibre, with a reduced energy densitiy to support a senior dog (on page) | High/low level | contradicted | Manufacturer assertion |
| low in phosphorous which helps to support healthy kidney function (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| contains L-carnitine, an amino acid that encourages healthy fat metabolism (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Eggshell membrane Rich in joint-friendly nutrients like collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin (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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