The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food is a great dog food produced by the company Mars, Petcare Incorporated founded by a French veterinarian in 1968.
The French vet created this brand after curing a few dogs of various health problems by feeding them from a cereal-based recipe that he made in his garage.
After being sold to different companies, the brand, Royal Canin, eventually landed in the arms of Mars, Incorporated. This company has owned Royal Canin since 2001, and is still in charge of the production of any products under this brand name till date.
One thing that has remained with Royal Canin amidst the various change in management is the purpose for which the original founder created the company. Royal Canin dog foods are still being recommended by vets today for their healthy nature.
In fact, the Royal Canin recipe has been approved by the AAFCO. It believes that the recipe provides a balanced and complete nutrition necessary for the maintenance and growth of adult dogs. From this, you can tell that the dog food we’re talking about today is definitely going to be worth your while.
If at any point of this article you feel like this dog food is not for your dog, still stick around, we have a few alternatives later in this article that you might want to check out.
Table of Contents
Who Is The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food For?
This dry dog food is made for dogs that have digestion issues, especially issues with digesting fat. It’s an easily digestible and palatable diet. So, if you know that your dog has always had trouble with fatty foods, then this is one fatty food you to try.
Apart from problems with fat digestion, this food also helps dogs with other digestive issues such as vomiting, lack of appetite, or diarrhea.
Furthermore, this one is a bit technical, but if your vet has told you that there is an unhealthy imbalance of bacteria in your dog’s gut, then this is also something that might help your dog. It has easily digestible proteins that help maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria inside your dog.
As we look into the review proper, please look out for ingredients that your dog might be allergic to.
Also, please note that this is not for puppies. Click here to get it on Amazon!
Ingredients Of Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food – Review
1. Brewers’ Rice
Brewers’ rice is a byproduct from that the milling of rice. It refers to the little milled fragments of rice kernels that are usually separated from the bigger kernels of milled rice. It is a processed rice product that is missing many essential nutrients which you get in the whole grain, or white rice.
As such, brewers’ rice is usually of far lesser quality than whole grain rice. So why did they use it then? Well, for the most part, brewers’ rice is inexpensive. Also, although it might not contain as much nutritional value as whole grain rice or brown rice, it does not cause any harm.
In fact, just so you know, brewers’ rice and white rice have the same nutritional value. The only reason brewer’s rice is used exclusively for dog food is that it’s not “aesthetically pleasing”. So, it’s usually used as a filler for affordable dog foods, like the product we’re talking about today.
2. Chicken By-Product Meal
The second major ingredient used in this recipe is chicken by-product meal. Chicken by-product meal generally refers to the grinding of clean parts of the chicken carcass that have gone through a process called “rendering”.
According to AAFCO, a by-product is referred to as a “non-rendered part of an animal, other than its meat, which is derived from the slaughtering of mammals. So, putting the chicken into this definition, we can see that it contains certain parts of the chicken that humans would not consume.
These parts include- blood, intestine, bone, liver, lung, and so on.
When it comes to chicken by-products, there is usually a huge controversy. While some people do not mind it, some others think that these are merely “cheap ingredients” and so they think of it as the waste that comes out of a slaughterhouse.
On the other hand, the thoughts of manufacturers differ greatly. Manufacturers, as well as, dog food experts and veterinarians, know that the criticism of by-products is unjust.
However, one thing they do point out though is that having the name of the by-product (such as chicken by-product) in its title is a lot better than buying generic by-products (such as poultry by-product).
The reason is that with a named by-product, you are well aware of the nutrients your dog is going to be consuming. You’ll also be able to tell whether it’s good for him, or whether he’s allergic or any stuff like that.
Click here to get it on Amazon!
3. Wheat
The third ingredient present in this recipe is “wheat”. Wheat is basically a filler in this recipe. It’s a low-quality filler that’s used because of how affordable it is. It provides plant-based protein for your dog.
Also, because of how inexpensive it is, it makes dog food a lot more affordable for low-income consumers.
One thing that is important to note, however, is that plant-based protein does not provide your dog with as much amino acid as meat-based protein. Although, meat-based protein is a lot more expensive than plant-based protein.
4. Barley
Barley is a great source of carbohydrate for your dog. It contains a lot of different minerals, as well as, dietary fiber. Also, because this is regular barley and not pearl barley, it contains the entire grain.
The reason why barley is a great choice for this particular recipe is the fact that it has a lot of fiber. Dietary fiber is great for digestion, which is one of the reasons this dog food is good for dogs with digestion issues.
5. Natural Flavors
Natural flavor is simply what it is, flavor. It contains no nutritional value. However, it does make the entire dish more enjoyable and palatable for your dog. So, don’t undermine its importance.
Imagine having all the nutrients in the world, only for your dog to spit out the food because they don’t like it. It wouldn’t matter how healthy the food is, that’s money lost.
Click here to get it on Amazon!
6. Dried Plain Beet Pulp
This is another by-product left behind when sugar is extracted from sugar beets. The reason why the word “plain” is added to this ingredient is to show that the beet pulp is not sweetened.
The main purpose for sweetening dried beet pulp is for palatability, but looking at the fact that this recipe already has natural flavors, the need for that reduces, which makes the main contribution of dried plain beet pulp dietary fiber.
Yet another source of dietary fiber in this recipe and you can see why it’s great for dogs that have a problem digesting fats. The recipe is fully equipped with both animal fats necessary for healthy growth, as well as the necessary amount of dietary fiber needed to digest those fats.
One thing to note, though, is that this particular ingredient is controversial in pet food. The opponents of the argument say that beet pulp is simply an inexpensive filler. On the other hand, the defendants believe that beet pulp promotes intestinal health, as well as, regulates blood sugar.
The remaining ingredients contained in this recipient are in such small quantities that they are unlikely to affect how the general product is.
Pros Of The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food
i. The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food is inexpensive.
ii. It is a great diet that helps dogs who have digestion issues, especially issues with digesting fats.
iii. It contains easily digestible prebiotics and proteins. Both of them help maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria inside your dog’s guts.
iv. This dog food recipe contains the perfect blend of antioxidants that help your dog maintain a healthy immune system.
Click here to get it on Amazon!
Cons Of The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food
i. Like many inexpensive dog foods, this recipe has a lot of plant-based protein, as opposed to animal-based protein. Plant-based proteins lack the necessary amino acids which dogs require for healthy growth.
ii. This is dry dog food and the kibbles are quite big. So, it’s really difficult for small dogs to eat. Plus, it doesn’t come in smaller sizes for smaller dogs, sadly.
iii. It’s not sweet. Although this food is healthy, much like greens are to humans, it’s not sweet. So, to actually get your dog to eat it, you might need to throw in additional flavors.
Alternative Options To The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food
Canned Food Alternative — The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food
So, there are certain dogs that just don’t like kibble for some reason. If your dog is like that, not to worry, you can get this exact dog food recipe, only that it’s wet this time. It’s also good if you have a small dog.
Also, as we mentioned in the cons of the product we reviewed today, the kibbles in the dog food are quite chunky. That makes them difficult for small dogs to chew. So, if you don’t want to bother your pooch with any of that, just get them this canned food alternative.
It contains all the same ingredients. So you can read the article above, if you have not, to find out all about the ingredients used.
Click here to get it on Amazon!
For Underweight Dogs — The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie Dry Dog Food
This alternative is great for dogs with digestion issues but still need to keep their fat. Say he’s underweight or doesn’t have that shiny skin and fur that he truly deserves. It’s also a gastrointestinal recipe, which means that it contains all the necessary fiber to help digest the fat.
The major difference between this product and the one we reviewed earlier is that this has a higher amount of fat. This recipe has a caloric content of 3,452kcal/kg and caloric content of 314 kcal/cup. The former recipe, on the other hand, has a caloric content of 3,237 kcal/kg and 240 kcal/cup.
Click here to get it on Amazon!
High Energy Option — The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Energy Canned Dog Food
Just like all the other alternatives we’ve looked at today, this one is also a gastrointestinal food which means that it helps cure certain digestive problems, especially, digestion of fat. However, what makes this different is that, unlike the others, it also provides your dog with a burst of energy.
This dog food focuses on more meat ingredients as the main ingredients are: pork by-products, chicken, and salmon. It does have some elements of grain like brewers’ rice, but that is just to provide the necessary fiber needed for easy digestion.
Click here to get it on Amazon!
Quick Comparison Table
| Featured | Canned Alternative | Moderate Calorie Level | High Energy | |
| Product |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food
|
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Canned Dog Food
|
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie Dry Dog Food |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Energy Canned Dog Food |
| Ingredients | Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Wheat, Barley, Natural Flavors, Dried Plain Beet Pulp | Water Sufficient for Processing, Pork By-Products, Rice Flour, Corn Grits, Corn Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Plain Beet Pulp | Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn, Brown Rice, Natural Flavors, Chicken Fat, Dried Plain Beet Pulp | Water Sufficient for Processing, Pork By-Products, Chicken, Salmon, Brewers Rice, Powdered Cellulose |
| Kibble/Canned | Kibble | Canned | Kibble | Canned |
| Best For | Any kind of dog who has any kind of digestion problems. Most especially, dogs who have problems digesting fat. | Alternative to the featured product for small dogs; dogs who prefer wet food to dry dog food. | Great for dogs with digestion issues who are also underweight or need the extra fat. | Great for dogs who need high energy but have problems digesting fats. |
What Customers Are Saying About The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food
Generally, most people who bought this product really enjoyed it, well, their dogs did. Yeah, the product has a few downsides but it definitely does what it says on the pack. Many people commended the fact that after they fed their pooches this for a while, they began to notice changes in their dogs’ digestion.
Foods started staying in, no more vomiting or diarrhea, and their dogs didn’t have any issues with digesting fatty foods anymore.
Another thing people commended is the price tag. Although this is not the most affordable dog food out there, it’s definitely one that provides enough value for its price tag.
One downside, on the other hand, that a lot of people experienced with this food is getting their dogs to eat it. Just like our little kids are with healthy greens, dogs were not really excited about eating this healthy food.
So, most of the time, people had to mix this with other flavors and sweeteners, just to get their little pooch to eat it. If your dog has a sweet tooth, this is definitely something that you want to consider.
Click here to get it on Amazon!
Our Verdict
We think that the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Low Fat Dry Dog Food is an okay dog food made for dogs that have issues with digestion. If you can’t afford something better right now, this one would, definitely serve as you’ve seen most customers testify.
However, if you can afford it, we would suggest you get a much better dog food. It’s not like we’re saying that this particular diet is bad, however, it’s definitely not the best out there.
For instance, in a bid to save cost, certain lower-quality fillers were used. Though they may not be harmful to your dog in any way, they are still not a great idea.
Before we go, please remember that this is a veterinary diet. So, you won’t be able to order this, online or offline, without a vet’s prescription.
Click here to get it on Amazon!
