Our verdict
Is NutriCare VetBasics Canine Maintenance a good dog food?
We score it 45/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
100% 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 adult dogs
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish meal
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists pearled barley
- 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.
Ingredients (14)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 25.9%
- meat 22.3%
- supplement 16.6%
- additive 12.3%
- oil 8.0%
- fibre 7.6%
- veg 7.3%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken Meal | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | - | 9.3 |
| 2 | Pearled Barley | Pearled Barley | carb · medium | - | 9.0 |
| 3 | Whole Grain Corn | Whole-Grain Maize | carb · medium | - | 8.6 |
| 4 | Brewers Rice | Rice - white | carb · medium | - | 8.3 |
| 5 | Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and Citric Acid) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 8.0 |
| 6 | Dried Plain Beet Pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 7.6 |
| 7 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg · good | - | 7.3 |
| 8 | Natural Flavors | Flavor | additive · poor | - | 7.0 |
| 9 | Fish Meal | Fish Meal | meat · medium | - | 6.6 |
| 10 | Dried Egg Product | Dried Egg | meat · medium | - | 6.3 |
| 11 | Dried Brewers Yeast | Brewer's Yeast | supplement · good | - | 6.0 |
| 12 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 5.6 |
| 13 | Salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 5.3 |
| 14 | Fructooligosaccharides | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement · good | - | 5.0 |
- 1. Chicken Meal9.3% estimated
- 2. Pearled Barley9.0% estimated
- 3. Whole Grain Corn8.6% estimated
- 4. Brewers Rice8.3% estimated
- 5. Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and Citric Acid)8.0% estimated
- 6. Dried Plain Beet Pulp7.6% estimated
- 7. Flaxseed7.3% estimated
- 8. Natural Flavors7.0% estimated
- 9. Fish Meal6.6% estimated
- 10. Dried Egg Product6.3% estimated
- 11. Dried Brewers Yeast6.0% estimated
- 12. Potassium Chloride5.6% estimated
- 13. Salt5.3% estimated
- 14. Fructooligosaccharides5.0% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 21% · Fat 12%
Guaranteed analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed | Dry matter | Directory average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 21% | 22.20% | - |
| Fat | 12% | 13.10% | - |
| Fibre | 4% | 2.40% | - |
| Ash | 6.20% | 6.20% | - |
| Moisture | 10% | - | - |
| Carbohydrates | 48.10% | 48.10% | - |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.50% | - | - |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 2.80% | - | - |
| Calcium | 0.60% | - | - |
| Phosphorus | 0.50% | - | - |
| Sodium | 0.29% | - | - |
Energy: 360 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Body Weight (lbs): Cups per Day — 5 to 10: 1/2-1; 10 to 20: 1-1 2/3; 20 to 30: 1 2/3-2 1/4; 30 to 40: 2 1/4-2 3/4; 40 to 60: 2 3/4-3 3/4; 60 to 80: 3 3/4-4 1/2; 80 to 100: 4 1/2-5 1/4; 100 to 120: 5 1/4-6 1/8. Based on standard 8 oz. fluid measuring cup. Recommended for healthy adult dogs ages 1 to 6 years with increased levels of activity.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin E Supplement; L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C); Vitamin A Supplement; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Niacin; Calcium Pantothenate; Thiamine Mononitrate; Riboflavin; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Folic Acid; Biotin; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Zinc Sulfate; Zinc Amino Acid Chelate; Ferrous Sulfate; Copper Sulfate; Copper Amino Acid Chelate; Manganese Sulfate; Manganese Amino Acid Chelate; Calcium Iodate; Sodium Selenite; Cobalt Carbonate; L-Carnitine 200 mg/kg
Technological additives
preserved with mixed tocopherols and Citric Acid; Rosemary Extract
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-29
Brand and contact: NutriCare
- Website
- https://ivet.com/
- Phone
- 1.800.436.5909
- Address
- iVet by Virbac, 6300 Kelly Drive, Parkville, MO 64152
- Contact page
- ivet.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-29
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- ivet.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.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
Trustpilot: 4.6/5 · 37 reviews
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 45 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +4.1 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6, the processing format subtracted -6.7, and the additive load contributed -3.3 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 | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.14 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 25.1% | -0.115 | -2.88 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 8.7% | -0.092 | -0.80 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.2% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 12.2% | 0.163 | +1.98 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 16.8% | -0.012 | -0.20 |
| Recipe graded poor | 12.3% | -0.065 | -0.80 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 7.0% | 0.060 | +0.42 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -14.86 | 0.222 | -3.30 |
| 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 | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.14 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 25.1% | -0.115 | -2.88 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 8.7% | -0.092 | -0.80 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.2% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 12.2% | 0.163 | +1.98 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 16.8% | -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 | 12.3% | -0.065 | -0.80 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 7.0% | 0.060 | +0.42 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| 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) | 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 | -14.86 | 0.222 | -3.30 |
| 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
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 44.7
- Final score
- 45/100
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.
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 | 12 | 13.3 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 4 | 4.4 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 0.6 | 0.7 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 74.9 |
| Phosphorus | 0.5 | 0.6 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 77.6 |
| Sodium | 0.29 | 0.3 (band 0.1+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.2 | 1.2 (band 1 to 2%) | 82 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 360 | 397.8 | 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 9 declared nutrients (combined weight 105); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 23 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin E Supplement
- L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C)
- Vitamin A Supplement
- Vitamin D3 Supplement
- Niacin
- Calcium Pantothenate
- Thiamine Mononitrate
- Riboflavin
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Folic Acid
- Biotin
- Vitamin B12 Supplement
- Zinc Sulfate
- Zinc Amino Acid Chelate
- Ferrous Sulfate
- Copper Sulfate
- Copper Amino Acid Chelate
- Manganese Sulfate
- Manganese Amino Acid Chelate
- Calcium Iodate
- Sodium Selenite
- Cobalt Carbonate
- L-Carnitine 200 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 (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| 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 file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| helps promote a healthy life for your dog (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| nutrition necessary to maintain strong muscles and a healthy immune system (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| maintains an ideal balance of protein and fat (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Essential nutrition (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| approximately 22% more protein and fat compared to iVet VetBasics Canine Maintenance formula (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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