Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food – In-depth Review

The Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food is made by Royal Canin, which is a sub-company that belongs to Mars Petcare Incorporated. Royal Canin, as a brand, started in the garage of a French veterinarian in 1968.

This vet noticed that the cereal-based recipe he made in his garage cured a few dogs of various health problems they had. After a while, he began to sell this recipe to companies, and that’s how the brand Royal Canin came about.

Just to emphasize this, the Royal Canin recipe is approved by the AAFCO. AAFCO believes that this recipe provides pets with complete and balanced nutrition which is necessary for the growth and maintenance of adult dogs.

Now that we’ve seen what the brand that makes the product we’re looking at today is like, it’s time to look at the product itself.

If you already feel like the product today is not for you, you can skip to our alternatives section. There you will find similar products that you might prefer to this one.

Table of Contents

Who Is The Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food For?

The Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food is great for small dogs, especially those who find it difficult to chew kibble.

Furthermore, this is gastrointestinal dog food. So, it’s for dogs who have problems digesting fats, or dogs who have any other kind of problems with digestion. These problems with digestion include vomiting, diarrhea, or a lack of appetite. If your dog has any of the issues we mentioned above, then feeding him this dog food can bring him back to optimum health.

Still speaking about health, if your dog has an unhealthy balance of good bacteria inside his stomach, then he needs this dog food. This one is a bit technical, so, you might need the opinion of your vet to determine whether or not your dog has this issue. If your vet has determined that, then this dog food is definitely for your dog.

Finally, if your dog is overweight, or only needs a small portion of fats in his food, then this is for him. It is a low-fat diet.

Alright! In the next section of this article, we will be taking an in-depth look at the major ingredients present in this food.

If your dog should not be eating any of these ingredients, you can check out our alternatives section.

(By the way, if you would like to know how to clean up diarrhea from the carpet, then you would find this article very helpful.)

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What Are The Ingredients Of Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food?

Here are the ingredients contained in the Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food:

Water sufficient for processing.

Pork by-products.

Rice flour.

Corn grits.

Corn meal.

Powdered cellulose.

Dried plain beet pulp.

Calcium carbonate.

Guar gum.

Natural flavor.

Gelatin by-products.

Carrageenan.

Water Sufficient For Processing

This ingredient is not one that needs any explanation. It’s as simple as it looks, it’s water in the right amount, to make the processing of the food possible.

Pork By-Products

By-products are regarded by the AAFCO as the “non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals and poultry”.

So basically, a by-product contains all the parts of the pork that humans don’t usually consume. That includes things like the liver, the lung, blood, intestine, and so on.

By-products are a quite controversial dog food ingredient. Some people believe that by-products are simply the waste products gotten out of slaughterhouses.

On the other hand, manufacturers, as well as dog food experts and veterinarians, believe that by-products are healthy enough for your dog.

Also, they’re good because they are much more affordable than the meat themselves. So, if you have the money, you can go for raw meat. If you don’t have the money, by-products are not, in any way, harmful to your dog.

In fact, they carry the basic nutrients that you would get in the listed animal’s meat.

And that’s another point to note. If you’re going to get by-products, it’s best you get by-products whose sources are named. For example, “pork by-product” like is in this dog food recipe.

Don’t get something generic like “animal by-product” or “poultry by-product”. Those ones are usually of far lesser quality, and because you don’t know exactly what’s in them, you cannot ascertain how nutritious they are to your dog, if they are, at all.

Rice Flour

For a meal to be a balanced diet, there has to be a carbohydrate in it. Rice flour is an excellent source of gluten-free carbohydrate.

Furthermore, we believe that the germ and the bran are also included in this flour. If that is the case, then the rice flour will provide a high amount of fiber.

Because this is a gastrointestinal recipe, it’s good that it has a high amount of fiber. Fiber will help with digestion.

However, as we said, we believe, we are not certain. This is because the type of rice, whether brown or white, is not stated.

Corn Grits

Corn is a grain that provides a healthy amount of vitamins and minerals. Also, it is a plant-based source of protein. However, it is also a very controversial dog food ingredient.

People who push for corn in dog food claim that it is easily digestible, and it’s also a great plant-based protein source. They also claim that it’s rich in vitamins, energy, needed fatty acids, and minerals.

Well, that’s quite a huge claim, which is why the opponents of corn think that those statements are either, “exaggerated” or “completely false”. We’ll discuss the points one after the other in details.

So, the first claim is “digestibility”. Well, corn is only easily digestible if it’s processed into flour or meal, after which it must be cooked.

The next claim is high protein contribution. Well, this is true, but only under the umbrella of plant-based protein.

So, for plant-based proteins, yes, corn is an excellent source. However, you cannot substitute corn for meat because plant-based protein is never equal to the quality of animal-based protein. Animal-based protein is always of far greater quality.

As for minerals and vitamins, this is a fact. corn is indeed an excellent provider of a lot of minerals and vitamins.

However, there are still a few exceptional ingredients that are better than corn in terms of providing minerals and vitamins.

So, in conclusion, corn should never be the primary ingredient in dog food. However, using it in food like the one we’re talking about today, is good.

The animal-based protein (in this case, pork by-products) provides the necessary protein, while this acts as an additive.

Corn Meal

Cornmeal is basically ground corn. So, this is yet another corn-based ingredient. Everything we said about corn earlier also applies here.

Before we proceed, the ingredients we’ve listed here are listed in descending order of their pre-cooked weight. So, from here on, the remaining ingredients present in this recipe are not very important because they are very small.

However, altogether, these can still have an impact on the quality of the finished product. So, let’s look at those remaining ingredients.

Powdered Cellulose

This ingredient is made from tiny pieces of plant fibers and wood pulp. Basically, this ingredient provides the entire meal with more fiber. Apart from its fiber, this ingredient lacks nutritional value.

But that’s not bad, especially looking at the fact that this recipe is meant to aid digestion. Getting as much fiber in it as possible is great. And this is just another way of doing that.

Dried Plain Beet Pulp

This is yet another by-product. However, unlike the by-products we are familiar with, this is plant by-product.

It is the by-product that is left after sugar is extracted from sugar beets. The word “plain” is there to emphasize the fact that this has not been sweetened.

Most times, sweetening dried beet pulp helps with palatability. So, you might have to add some natural flavors into this to make it sweet enough for your dog.

Most of these affordable ingredients are highly contested, this included.

Some people claim that its great for intestinal health (which is why it’s in a gastrointestinal diet), while others think that it’s simply a cheap filler.

We think it’s the former. That something is inexpensive, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cheap.

Calcium Carbonate

This is a mineral supplement that occurs naturally. Most of the time, it’s used as a calcium supplement in diets. However, sometimes, it’s used as a color retainer or a natural food preservative.

It’s a lot better than preserving your food with chemicals that might be harmful to your dog.

Guar Gum

Guar gum is also known as guaran. It’s gotten from guar beans that have been de-husked, milled, and screened.

This ingredient is used in most wet dog food recipes because it acts as a thickening agent. Also, it provides a good portion of dietary fiber.

Natural Flavor

This, like the name implies, is simply flavor. It makes the food more palatable and enjoyable for your pooch.

Gelatin By-Products

After much research, we believe that the term “gelatin by-products” is simply “gelatin”. We feel that the reason it was put in there was to emphasize the fact that gelatin is gotten from animal by-products.

The protein found in gelatin is incomplete. It lacks a lot of essential amino acids.

Carrageenan

Carrageenan is extracted from edible seaweeds. It’s mainly used because of its emulsifying and thickening properties.

Those are the main ingredients in the Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food. The rest of the ingredients are pretty basic and would not affect the overall quality of the food.

What Are The Pros Of The Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food?

Here are some of the benefits of getting the Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food for your dog.

The Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food is great for small dogs who find it difficult to chew kibble.

It’s also great for dogs with a sweet tooth as it’s easier to get different flavors into the food when it’s wet.

It helps dogs who have issues with digesting fats, or other issues regarding digestion.

It comes with a lot of digestible proteins, both plant-based and animal-based, which make this recipe great for body-building.

It contains a great blend of antioxidants which make this dog food great for your dogs’ immune system.

This recipe is quite affordable.

None of the by-products is generic, which means that they are of good quality.

What Are The Cons Of The Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food?

Here are a few challenges with the Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food

This recipe comes with more plant-based protein than animal-based protein. Animal-based protein is of far greater quality than plant-based protein when it comes to canine nutrition.

Most of the main products used are by-products. Although they are not unhealthy, by-products are of lesser quality than the actual meat products.

You might have to add a lot of sweeteners and flavors to this food to get your dog to actually eat it because it’s not very sweet.

Check out these other helpful articles below:

RC Pet Product Adjustable Dog Collar — detailed review.

What Are The Alternatives To The Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food?

The following are alternatives to consider if the Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food does not work for you and your dog:

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food: dry dog food option.

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Energy Canned Dog Food: for dogs who could use some more energy.

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie Dry Dog Food: for underweight dogs.

Dry Dog Food Option: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food

The product we featured today is wet food. While that’s good for some dogs, others might prefer kibble.

Also, if you have to leave the food out for your dog throughout the day, maybe while you’re away or something, you definitely want a dry dog food instead.

The ingredients in this meal are quite different, though. Its primary ingredients are Brewers’ rice and chicken by-product. So, if that’s something that you would like, then go on and check out this dog food.

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For Dogs Who Need More Energy: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Energy Canned Dog Food

This particular dog food recipe is great for your dog if he needs a high-energy diet. It’s also a gastrointestinal diet, which means that it’ll help your dog if he has any problems with digestion.

However, on top of that, it’ll also provide him with enough energy to go out, run, play, and do all the fun things you guys do together.

Another reason why we like this recipe is that, unlike the featured product, this is a more animal-based protein recipe.

The main ingredients of this canned dog food are pork-by products, chicken, and salmon. It also comes with other ingredients like Brewers’ rice that help provide fiber. However, the main ingredients are the animal products we mentioned.

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For Underweight Dogs: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie Dry Dog Food

The featured product in this article is a low-fat recipe. However, we know that there are some dogs that need a little extra fat in their diet.

Whether they are underweight or have bad skin. Whatever reason it is, sometimes, it’s not bad to have some extra fat. That extra fat is what you get with this diet.

The beautiful thing about this is that, because it’s a gastrointestinal diet, the fats present in the diet will be very easy for your pooch to digest.

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Quick Comparison Table

	Featured	Dry Alternative	High Energy	Moderate Calorie Level
Product	Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food Click here to get it on Amazon!	Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food Click here to get it on Amazon!	Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Energy Canned Dog Food Click here to get it on Amazon!	Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie Dry Dog Food Click here to get it on Amazon!
Ingredients	Water Sufficient for Processing, Pork By-Products, Rice Flour, Corn Grits, Corn Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Calcium Carbonate, Guar Gum, Natural Flavors, Gelatin By-Products, Carrageenan	Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Wheat, Barley, Natural Flavors, Dried Plain Beet Pulp	Water Sufficient for Processing, Pork By-Products, Chicken, Salmon, Brewers Rice, Powdered Cellulose	Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn, Brown Rice, Natural Flavors, Chicken Fat, Dried Plain Beet Pulp
Kibble/Canned	Canned	Kibble	Canned	Kibble
Best For	Alternative to the featured product for small dogs, dogs who prefer wet food to dry food.	Any kind of dog who has any kind of digestion problems. Most especially, dogs who have problems digesting fat.	Great for dogs who need high energy but have problems digesting fats.	Great for dogs with digestion issues who are also underweight or need the extra fat.

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What Are Customers Saying About The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food

Most people who bought the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food were really glad they did as they saw tremendous changes in the digestion of their pups.

One complaint a lot of people had, though, was that it didn’t taste good. How did they know? Well, their pooches simply refused to eat it. But we are not surprised, it’s the same way it’s so difficult to get your kids to eat healthy food. So, you might have to get a lot of sweeteners and flavors to make your pooch eat this meal.

Should I Get The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food?

Nothing much to say here other than, “Royal Canin has done it again”. Royal Canin is a well-respected brand and you can see again that they know their onions. The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food is a great dog food and it does what it says on the pack. It cures your dog of digestion problems. Please note, though, that you need the permission of your vet to get this dog food as it is a prescription diet.

Remember, don’t self-prescribe, your vet knows best.

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food — FAQs

Is The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food Good For Dogs?

The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food is an excellent low fat diet for your overweight dog. It’s not very sweet to the taste which is why some dogs might not fancy eating this.

Nonetheless, the ingredients in this recipe are top-notch and it has produced tremendous results in the dogs that have been placed on this diet.

Royal Canin has a flawless track record which is why many pet parents have confidence in the brand. On the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food, the brand definitely did a great job.

Is A Prescription Needed To Buy The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Low Fat Canned Dog Food?

The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Low Fat Canned Dog Food is a veterinary diet. This means that you need a prescription from your vet to be able to buy this product. You can’t get this product over the counter.

How Many Calories Are In One Cup Of The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Low Fat Canned Dog Food?

The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Low Fat Canned Dog Food is a low fat diet which means it would, naturally, be low in calories. One can of this product contains 345 calories and weighs 13.6 ounces.

How Much Fat Is In One Serving Of The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Low Fat Canned Dog Food?

The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Low Fat Canned Dog Food has a minimum crude fat content of 1% and a maximum crude fat content of 2.5%. One can of this product weighs 13.6 ounces.

Is Low Fat Dog Food Good For Dogs?

A low fat diet is recommended for dogs with weight issues like obesity, pancreatitis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). They help in the management of such diseases in dogs.

However, you need to be wary of protein levels as dogs need their protein even if they have to be on a low fat diet. Be sure to consult with your vet to find a way to supplement your pet’s diet with some protein.

Bear in mind that low fat diets are typically prescription diets hence, they are usually more expensive.

Also, healthy dogs do not need a low fat diet. Dogs need a healthy amount of fat in their diet to provide energy as well as to supply omega-6 fatty acids which help to keep their skin and coat healthy.

Is Sweet Potato Good For Dogs With Pancreatitis?

Although rice is usually the carbohydrate source of choice when it comes to feeding dogs with pancreatitis, sweet potato can also be used. Sweet potatoes are okay for dogs with pancreatitis. However, to keep fiber intake low, it’s best to serve the potatoes skinless.