Is SquarePet VFS® Active Joints a good dog food?
We score it 48/100 (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 48 out of 100. The inclusion of ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points, and the processing format adjusted the score by -6.7. Conversely, the overall quality of the ingredient list added +5.7 points, while being labelled nutritionally complete contributed +2.3 points to the final evaluation.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe48
- Nutritionallow99
- Transparency55
- Safety100
- Evidencemoderate100
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.
Why you might choose it
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 30%
- Fat
- 14%
- Fibre
- 3%
- Moisture
- 10%
- Calcium
- 1.25%
- Phosphorus
- 0.80%
Energy: 369 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A Supplement; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Vitamin E Supplement (min 500 IU/kg); Niacin Supplement; D-Calcium Pantothenate; Riboflavin Supplement; Thiamine Mononitrate; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Biotin; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Folic Acid; Zinc Proteinate; Iron Proteinate; Copper Proteinate; Manganese Proteinate; Calcium Iodate; Selenium Yeast; Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C min 500 mg/kg); L-Carnitine (min 350 mg/kg); Taurine (min 0.15%)
Technological additives
Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)
Feeding guide
Recommended feeding guidelines for adult dogs per day: 2-10 lbs: 1/4-1 cup; 10-15 lbs: 1-1 1/4 cup; 15-30 lbs: 1 1/4-2 cups; 30-40 lbs: 2-2 1/2 cups; 40-50 lbs: 2 1/2-3 cups; 50-60 lbs: 3-3 1/2 cups; 60-70 lbs: 3 1/2-3 3/4 cups; 70-80 lbs: 3 3/4-4 1/4 cups; 80-90 lbs: 4 1/4-4 1/2 cups; 90-100 lbs: 4 1/2-5 cups. Based on a standard 8oz cup. For puppies: feed twice the adult amount. For pregnant and lactating females: feed 2 to 4 times the adult amount. 387 kcal ME/cup.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists turkey
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists krill meal
- 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. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (15)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkey | Turkey | meat | medium | - | 8.7 |
| 2 | Turkey Meal | Dehydrated turkey protein | meat | good | - | 8.4 |
| 3 | Quinoa | Quinoa | carb | good | - | 8.1 |
| 4 | Brown Rice | Rice - brown / whole grain | carb | medium | - | 7.8 |
| 5 | Turkey Necks (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate) | Neck | meat | medium | - | 7.5 |
| 6 | Krill Meal (Source of DHA-Docohexaenoic Acid & EPA- Eicosapentaenoic Acid) | Krill Meal | meat | medium | - | 7.2 |
| 7 | Natural Turkey Flavor | Flavor | additive | poor | - | 7.0 |
| 8 | Herring Oil (Source of DHA-Docosahexaenoic Acid & EPA-Ecosapentaenoic Acid) | Herring Oil | oil | good | - | 6.7 |
| 9 | Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) | Sunflower oil | oil | good | - | 6.4 |
| 10 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 6.1 |
| 11 | New Zealand Green Mussel (Source of Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate) | Green-Lipped Mussel | supplement | good | - | 5.8 |
| 12 | Inulin (Jerusalem Artichoke) | Inulin | fibre | good | - | 5.5 |
| 13 | Calcium Carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement | medium | - | 5.2 |
| 14 | Egg Shell Membrane Collagen | Collagen | supplement | good | - | 4.9 |
| 15 | Dicalcium Phosphate | Dicalcium phosphate | supplement | medium | - | 4.6 |
Brand
- Website
- https://mysquarepet.com/
- Contact page
- mysquarepet.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-13
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- mysquarepet.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 v3 on 2026-09-26. 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 | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.65 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.2% | -0.115 | -1.98 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 15.8% | -0.092 | -1.46 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 7.7% | 0.163 | +1.25 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 30.1% | -0.012 | -0.37 |
| Recipe graded poor | 7.0% | -0.065 | -0.45 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| 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 | -8.35 | 0.222 | -1.85 |
| 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 | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.65 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.2% | -0.115 | -1.98 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 15.8% | -0.092 | -1.46 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.005 | +0.00 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 7.7% | 0.163 | +1.25 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 30.1% | -0.012 | -0.37 |
| 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 | 7.0% | -0.065 | -0.45 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| 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 | -8.35 | 0.222 | -1.85 |
| 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
- 48.2
- Final score
- 48/100
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 | 30 | 33.1 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 14 | 15.5 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 3 | 3.3 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.25 | 1.4 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 96.4 |
| Phosphorus | 0.8 | 0.9 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 94.2 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.6 | 1.6 (band 1 to 2%) | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 369 | 407.7 | 100 |
Scored over 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 90); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
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 (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| 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) | 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 (Analytical constituents 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.
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.
100/100 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "Chicken-free and reduced sodium formula" — supported by the declared chicken data.
9 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Glucosamine minimum 750 mg/kg and Chondroitin Sulfate minimum 1000 mg/kg - from three natural sources: cage-free turkey necks, New Zealand green lipped mussel and egg shell membrane collagen (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Vet-Formulated High Protein Joint Support Dog Food with Natural Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Antioxidant support from Astaxanthin, Turmeric, Vitamin C (350 mg/kg min) and Vitamin E (500 IU/kg min) (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| L-Carnitine included to support fat metabolism and energy (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| GanedenBC30 probiotic (Bacillus Coagulans min 500,000 CFU/lb) for digestive health support (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Formulated by veterinarians including a board-certified veterinary nutritionist - made in the USA in an SQF-certified facility (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| EPA (min 0.65%) and DHA (min 0.65%) from sustainable Krill Meal and Herring Oil - among the highest omega-3 levels available in an over-the-counter dog food (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Omega 3 Fatty Acids (min) 1.60% (on pack) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken-free and reduced sodium formula (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| 30% crude protein minimum from turkey and turkey meal - supports lean muscle mass alongside joint health (on page) | High/low level | 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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