Is SquarePet VFS® POWERHOUND™ Red Meat for Dogs a good dog food?
We score it 49/100 (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 49 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +5.6 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 -2.5 points.
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.
- Recipe49
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency55
- Safety100
- Evidencestrong100
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
- Doesn't list grain ingredients.
- 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.
- Its additive load costs about 2 points in the rating.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 40%
- Fat
- 20%
- Fibre
- 5%
- Moisture
- 10%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 1%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 2%
- Calcium
- 1.90%
- Phosphorus
- 1%
Energy: 398 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin E Supplement; Vitamin A Supplement; Vitamin D3 Supplement; 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; Vitamin E min 300 IU/kg; Glucosamine min 400 mg/kg; Taurine min 0.15%; Bacillus Coagulans min 500,000 CFU/lb
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols (preservative for Pork Fat and Sunflower Oil)
Feeding guide
Recommended feeding guidelines for adult dogs per day: 2–10 lbs: 1/4-1/2 cup; 10–15 lbs: 1/2-3/4 cup; 15–30 lbs: 3/4-1 1/2 cup; 30–40 lbs: 1 1/2-2 cup; 40–50 lbs: 2-2 1/4 cup; 50–60 lbs: 2 1/4-2 1/2 cup; 60–70 lbs: 2 1/2-2 3/4 cup; 70–80 lbs: 2 3/4-3 cup; 80–90 lbs: 3-3 1/4 cup; 90–100 lbs: 3 1/4-3 3/4 cup (standard 8oz cup). For puppies: feed twice the adult amount. For pregnant/lactating females: feed 2 to 4 times the adult amount.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list chicken, turkey, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids beef: the label lists beef
- Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists herring oil
- Your dog avoids pork: the label lists pork
- 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 (19)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beef | Beef | meat | medium | - | 6.9 |
| 2 | Pork | Pork | meat | medium | - | 6.7 |
| 3 | Potatoes | Potatoes | carb | medium | - | 6.5 |
| 4 | Lamb Meal | Lamb | meat | medium | - | 6.4 |
| 5 | Pork Meal | Dehydrated Pork Protein | meat | good | - | 6.2 |
| 6 | Pork Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) | Pork Fat | oil | medium | - | 6.0 |
| 7 | Herring Oil (Source of DHA – Docosahexaenoic Acid & EPA – Eicosapentaenoic Acid) | Herring Oil | oil | good | - | 5.8 |
| 8 | Miscanthus Grass | Miscanthus Grass | fibre | medium | - | 5.6 |
| 9 | Natural Vegetarian Flavor | Flavor | additive | poor | - | 5.4 |
| 10 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 5.3 |
| 11 | Sunflower Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) | Sunflower oil | oil | good | - | 5.1 |
| 12 | Tomatoes | Tomato | veg | good | - | 4.9 |
| 13 | Apples | Apples | veg | good | - | 4.7 |
| 14 | Carrots | Carrots | veg | good | - | 4.5 |
| 15 | Chicory Root | Chicory root | veg | good | - | 4.4 |
| 16 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 4.2 |
| 17 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement | good | - | 4.0 |
| 18 | Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 3.8 |
| 19 | Ascorbic Acid (Source of Vitamin C) | Vitamin C | supplement | good | - | 3.6 |
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 | +5.55 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.5% | -0.115 | -0.29 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 25.5% | -0.092 | -2.35 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 11.5% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 12.7% | 0.163 | +2.07 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 16.6% | -0.012 | -0.20 |
| Recipe graded poor | 5.4% | -0.065 | -0.35 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 5.4% | 0.060 | +0.33 |
| 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 | -11.18 | 0.222 | -2.48 |
| 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 | +5.55 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 2.5% | -0.115 | -0.29 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 25.5% | -0.092 | -2.35 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 11.5% | -0.005 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 12.7% | 0.163 | +2.07 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 16.6% | -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 | 5.4% | -0.065 | -0.35 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 5.4% | 0.060 | +0.33 |
| 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 | -11.18 | 0.222 | -2.48 |
| 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
- 49.2
- Final score
- 49/100
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 | 40 | 44.2 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 20 | 22.1 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 5 | 5.5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.9 | 2.1 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 1 | 1.1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.9 | 1.9 (band 1 to 2%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 398 | 439.8 | 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 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 100); 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 · strong — 3 checkable claims: 3 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "Very high protein: 40% minimum crude protein confirmed in the guaranteed analysis" — supported by the declared high protein data.
- "No peas lentils or legumes; also grain free" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
- "Complete and balanced for All Life Stages except growth of large breed dogs 70 lbs or more as an adult" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
8 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Strong: at least three checkable claims, all consistent with the declared label, and no compliance cap.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made in the USA by a family owned company within an SQF certified manufacturing facility (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Very High Protein, Low Carbohydrate Protein PowerHouse Nutrition for Puppies and Adult dogs (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| GanedenBC30 probiotic (Bacillus Coagulans minimum 500,000 CFU/lb) to support digestive health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Very high protein: 40% minimum crude protein confirmed in the guaranteed analysis (on page) | High/low level | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| No peas lentils or legumes; also grain free (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Veterinarian Formulated (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Complete and balanced for All Life Stages except growth of large breed dogs 70 lbs or more as an adult (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Built around beef pork and lamb meal (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with real fruits and vegetables including tomatoes apples and carrots for natural antioxidant support (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Herring Oil as a source of DHA and EPA with a Glucosamine guarantee of 400 mg/kg minimum (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Low carbohydrate: up to 10% dietary starch confirmed in the guaranteed analysis (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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