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Tag: Victor

  • Next Level Dog Food Review

    Next Level Dog Food Review

    Next Level dog food hit the market hard in 2023 and seemed to gain traction around the same time as the massive and unprecedented Victor recall. Amid concerns over Victor’s recall due to salmonella contamination, numerous pet owners have sought a trustworthy alternative to replace their former choice.

    Next Level pet food is reportedly owned and manufactured by the people who originally started Victor Pet Food, which explains why those who have traditionally loved Victor’s brand are drawn to it.

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    All About Next Level Dog Food

    I look beyond marketing terms, popularity, and influencer content when evaluating pet food companies. Pet owners must evaluate where their pet’s food is manufactured, who formulated it, and how it may or may not be the safest and most nutritious choice. Read on to learn more about this emerging brand.

    Who Owns Next Level?

    Scott Glover and Antoine Albin are the brains behind the Next Level dog food brand, which operates under U.S. Pet Food LLC. Interestingly, they were previously behind the successful venture of Victor Pet Food until they sold the brand to Mid-America.

    With their non-compete agreement now expired, Glover and Albin wasted no time launching Next Level. This new brand has likely been in the works for years, leading to this moment.

    Who Formulates Next Level Pet Food?

    Many Next Level dog food formulas are similar to those Victor offers, right down to the ingredient lists. While there are minor differences, Next Level is seriously twinning with Victor.

    Next Level claims their foods, including their proprietary VX Advantage™, were formulated by working “closely with an expert nutrition team.“

    Allow me to translate this for you. Next Level does NOT have a qualified nutritionist on staff. They have an unclear relationship with consultants whose credentials, experience, and ongoing affiliation with Next Level are unknown.

    Because so many of the formulas mirror what we see from Victor, their former brand, it’s possible that they tweaked existing recipes and had a consultant sign off on them.

    Further, there is no sign that these new recipes have been tested or proven long-term or in basic AFFCO feeding trials.

    What is VX Advantage™?

    VX Advantage™ is a “proprietary vitamins, nutrients, and prebiotics blend.” The company leverages this for marketing purposes. However, the truth is that all companies use a propriety blend of vitamins, minerals, and supplements for joint and gut support.

    There is nothing special or unusual about this, and no clinical data to support that their particular mix, which they’ve given a fancy name, is superior.

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    Where is Next Level Pet Food Made?

    Next Level makes its food in an owned facility in Texas.

    This sets them a step ahead of the thousands of other pet food brands whose foods are manufactured and distributed by large contract facilities.

    When a pet food company owns its facilities, it puts it in full control of its quality and manufacturing practices. This is very positive for companies fully dedicated to creating safe, nutritious, and clean products.

    For companies willing to cut corners, it’s not. (See: Victor Salmonella Recall 2023) . Because Next Level is still very new to the market, we don’t know what their company culture is and how clean their plants are. It will take time for them to prove themselves.

    The factory has no certifications (as of this publication) for safety and food sanitation, and without a much-established history, we have no idea how good their testing protocols are. That doesn’t mean they have a dirty plant, but there is little proof yet that they have a clean one.

    Has Next Level Ever Had a Recall?

    As of the time of this writing in early 2024, Next Level pet food has never had a recall.

    However, it is a very new company and hasn’t had time to make a mistake.

    While they appear to be taking the correct steps, comparing them to brands feeding millions of dogs (for decades) is unfair.

    For perspective, people have often applauded Victor for never having had a recall. That seemed positive until we all learned they had been selling bacteria-contaminated food for nearly a year (if not longer)—their history of “no-recalls” ended in one of the most unprecedented recalls in pet food history.

    To put this more simply, pet owners would be smart to look at companies’ overall manufacturing and formulation practices before choosing them simply because they’d not yet had a recall.

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    Is Next Level Pet Food Like Victor Pet Food?

    Many pet owners claim Next Level pet food is similar to the “old” Victor formulas before Victor was purchased and reformulated.

    The brands are very similar, and while some dogs who do well on Victor may do okay on Next Level, there are slight differences in the formulas, ingredients, and mineral levels.

    Next Level does appear to be a step and repeat of Victor, with eerily similar marketing, ingredients, and formulas.

    It’s unclear why the people behind the Next Level brand feel that the market desperately needs a repeat of Victor dog food.

    In some ways, their motivation to attempt a repeat of Victor before they sold it feels vindictive and frustrating. It is as if something failed the first time they tried, so they are going at it again with an eerily similar product.

    As a pet owner, I’m not convinced I care to be in the middle of that.

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    Does Next Level Pet Food Cause DCM?

    Researchers continue to prove that there is a link between unbalanced nutrition and N-DCM, a deadly form of heart disease that is often reversed with diet change.

    The problem is that the exact mechanism behind this phenomenon concerning certain pet food formulations is unknown. It largely correlates with foods with peas or legumes in the first five ingredients and with companies that do not have a qualified nutritionist on staff.

    Unfortunately, Next Level checks both of those questionable boxes.

    If you are at all concerned about nutritional DCM (read more about that HERE), I recommend choosing a WSAVA-compliant food and joining these two groups on Facebook:

    Canine Nutrition & Dog Food Discussion

    Diet-Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Dogs

    Here is an example of a grain-free food from Next Level (Salmon River) that has a concerning ingredients profile when it comes to nutritional DCM:

    INGREDIENTS: Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas, Canola Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Sweet Potato, Pea Protein, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Salmon, Yeast Culture, Blood Meal, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Natural Flavors, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Salt.

    What Ingredients are Used in Next Level Pet Food

    Next Level utilizes some traditional ingredients such as chicken meal and brown rice.

    Peas are utilized heavily in many of their formulas, a potential risk factor for nDCM heart disease. If whole peas or several forms of peas are seen in the top 5-10 ingredients, that can be a red flag.

    Brown rice is used in many Next Level formulas; it’s worth noting that brown rice is likely to contain higher arsenic levels than white rice or brewer rice. We have to trust that the company is handling this ingredient appropriately and regularly testing for the presence of arsenic in the food.

    Like Victor, Next Level uses blood meal to boost protein content. Blood meal is a controversial and non-traditional ingredient in dog food; it’s most commonly used in pig food and fertilizer.

    Next Level uses grain sorghum instead of corn. It’s a very similar product to corn, with a similar nutritional profile, but not nearly as much research behind it. Some companies will use sorghum to avoid the negative marketing associated with corn.

    next level dog food review

    “Science is in the Bag” Next Level Tagline

    Next Level uses “Science is in the Bag” as a common phrase in their marketing, including as a tagline on each bag itself.

    I have many thoughts, but unfortunately, “science” is the new buzzword in pet food marketing.

    Any company that uses even the tiniest bit of published clinical research to choose an ingredient can claim to be relying on “science” in their formulations.

    This is exactly what Next Level is doing.

    When a company tells me that its brand is backed by science, I want to see at least some of the following:

    • Qualified nutritionists on staff (Ph.D. and/or A.C.V.N. Veterinary Nutritionists
    • Verifiable, legitimate Feeding trials
    • Published clinical peer-reviewed research, both in-house and 3rd party, especially related to novel ingredients and formulations sold by the company
    • A dedication to the advancement of animal health and veterinary science
    • Affiliation with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association

    Next Level doesn’t do any of those things on the list I’ve seen yet.

    Their claims of being “Science-Based” are a disingenuous and egregious use of “Science” for marketing purposes. That is misleading and unfair to consumers.

    NextLevel Render Composition 5 PassionLine RGB 25

    Is Next Level Good Dog Food?

    I don’t think it’s bad dog food.

    Like thousands of other brands, I think it will keep dogs alive. Many dogs will do fine, or even great, on it.

    Next Level does cut corners in the nutritionist, research, and feeding trials department, which gives me pause, especially because they are a new company with no established history.

    The pets eating Next Level food right now are the guinea pigs.

    It will take time for a brand like this to gain my trust, especially in a market with thousands of others to choose from. More established companies have decades of research and science behind their food, which makes it hard to justify giving my hard-earned money to a startup.

    Unfortunately, at the moment, we only have a handful of anecdotal reports from pet owners that they are happy with this food. That’s not enough for me to endorse it as a brand.

    As a giant-breed dog owner, I am excited to see they’ve developed a product line for giant-breed dogs of all ages. Royal Canin is the only other company to have done this.

    I would love to see a company dedicated to giant breed dogs, but they need legitimate science in their back pocket when doing this.

    I hope Next Level steps up its game and brings some feeding trials, food-safety certifications, and on-staff, qualified nutritionists to the bar. Until then, I’ll keep them on my radar but won’t be adding them to any recommended brand lists.

  • Victor Dog Food Recall 2023

    Victor Dog Food Recall 2023

    Victor dog food is a popular option for Great Danes. This week, pet owners across the nation have been shaken by the alarming news of an unprecedented recall involving ALL Victor dog food. The Victor Dog Food recall (2023) affects all formulas with an expiration date before 10/31/24.

    The massive nature of the current Victor recall underscores the critical importance of scrutinizing the quality and safety of pet food products, as well as the manufacturing practices of the companies we give our money (and trust to).

    As details emerge about the specific reasons behind the Victor recall and the potential risks posed to dogs, we will update this post. In the meanwhile, if you feed Victor foods to your Dane, you must immediately stop. Read on for more information.

    Victor Dog Food Recall

    Victor Dog Food Recall 2023 Details

    Here is what we know about the current Victor food recall:

    • ALL formulas are affected. If you have Victor in your home that was purchased before November 2023, it’s recalled.
    • The food may be contaminated with salmonella, which is a bacteria that can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps in humans and animals. In some cases, it can lead to death.
    • 7 human cases of salmonella poisoning have been attributed to Victor Foods, going back as far as January 2023. 6 of those cases are infants.
    • There are likely many more cases that have not yet been documented
    • The problem was initially discovered by a random 3rd party test of Victor Hi-Pro Plus that was purchased at a store

    There is also a timeline associated with this pet food recall which gives us some valuable (and scary) insight.

    1. Victor brand has “No Recalls”
      Victor prides itself on having had ‘no recalls’. Enthusiasts of the brand promote this as a badge of honor, not realizing that the company had been selling contaminated food for at least 10 months.
    2. Victor Hi-Pro Plus Recall September 3rd, 2023
      The South Carolina Department of Agriculture tests a sample from a random bag of Hi-Pro Plus purchased at a pet store. It tests positive for Salmonella, prompting the first recall which included 644 cases sold in 5-pound bags with lot code 1000016385 and a Best By Date of 4/30/2024 (See more here)
    3. Victor Beef & Rice Recall October 30th, 2023
      3rd party sampling was done again, and 3 lots of Beef & Rice were found to be contaminated with Salmonella. Victor Beef & Rice formulas in 5, 15, and 40 lbs bags with an expiration 06/12/2024 were recalled. (See more here).
    4. Victor Expands the Recall to Everything November 9th, 2023
      Days after the Beef & Rice Recall, Victor expanded the recall to include all foods with expiration dates before 10/31/2024. This includes all Victor foods manufactured at the Mid-America pet food plant in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, and formulas from Wayne Feeds, Eagle Mountain, and Members Mark (which are also manufactured by the facility. (See more here). If the bag says Victor, it’s been recalled.
    5. The FDA Releases an Advisory about the Victor Recall November 9th, 2023
      The FDA created a page in collaboration with the CDC with information about the Mid America Victor Pet Food recall that includes more detailed information about documented illnesses, procedures, recommendations, and the timeline of reported illnesses. (See more here).
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    Can a Dog Eat Victor Recalled Food?

    The FDA, the CDC, and the authors of this blog recommend that Victor Dog Food be destroyed so that no humans or animals can touch or eat it.

    Even if your dog seems to have no ill effects, a pet with salmonella in their gut can shed the bacteria in their feces. Additionally, food bowls, your pets eating area, and their saliva may be contaminated and contribute to the spread.

    In other words, if your dog is eating salmonella contaminated food and then gives you kisses, you could become sick.

    While many people can get over salmonella poisoning at home with a few uncomfortable trips to the toilet, many others end up in the hospital. The CDC considers a salmonella outbreak to be a serious event.

    If you have an immunocompromised person, infant, or elderly person in your home it is especially important that you take precautions with food that may be contaminated with salmonella.

    We recommend a cold-turkey switch to a brand that meets WSAVA guidelines (more on this below).

    If My Dog is Not Sick, Can They Keep Eating Victor?

    No.

    Many dogs do not show symptoms of Salmonella poisoning (though some do), even if they are actively carrying and shedding the bacteria from their stools and saliva.

    Even if your pet seems to be “just fine” eating the Victor dog food in your pantry, it is recommended that you immediately switch.

    There is also an ethical dilemma at play if you continue to feed Victor food despite the current recall. We must hold Victor accountable for their poor quality control. By seeking a refund for the potentially contaminated food that you purchased, Victor bears the financial burden of the mistake (as they should).

    Additionally, if your pet is shedding salmonella while out and about they could make others sick. This could result from them visiting with kids, going to the nursing home as a therapy dog, pooping in public areas (even if you scoop it up), and other normal activities.

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    What are the Signs of Salmonella Poisoning

    Both dogs and humans can become sick from Salmonella. Now that the Victor recall has been posted, MANY people are realizing that they or their pet had been made ill with food poisoning at some point in 2023, but never considered that it could have been because of their pet’s food.

    The symptoms of salmonella poisoning in dogs and humans are very similar:

    • Nausea (May result in pets turning their nose up at Victor Food)
    • Diarrhea
    • Blood in Stool
    • Vomiting
    • Lethargy or Low Energy
    • Fever
    • Abdominal Cramps

    Salmonella infection can also lead to heart problems, eye problems, arthritis, muscle pain, and urinary tract symptoms.

    If you or your pet have had these symptoms, and your pet was eating Victor food (or one of the other brands included in the current expanded recall), you are encouraged to report it to your veterinarian, your doctor, and the FDA.

    You can file a safety report to the FDA by visiting this page.

    How to Kill Salmonella Bacteria

    Salmonella is not destroyed by freezing temperatures.

    Killing or eliminating Salmonella involves thorough cooking of contaminated food items. Cooking your pets kibble to destroy any potential salmonella contamination is not recommended, however, as this may alter the nutritional balance of the food.

    Practicing good hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling Victor kibble or coming into contact with potentially contaminated surfaces is essential. After you dispose of your Victor food, thoroughly wash and sanitize the feeding area, scoops, and bowls.

    If you use a pet food storage container, it must also be thoroughly sanitized.

    Unfortunately, dish soap doesn’t kill bacteria; so depending on how thoroughly you wash something, it may still require sanitization. If your dishwasher has such a cycle, we recommend using it!

    These Food Safe Purell Sanitizing Wipes are “food safe” and would help clean around the feeding areas (floors, counters, etc.)

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    Recalled Victor Food Alternatives

    If you have been affected by the Mid America Victor food recall and need alternative foods, we recommend sticking to brands that meet WSAVA guidelines and thus, have exceptional quality control practices.

    For more information on WSAVA guidelines and how to choose a quality pet food based on them, read here.

    Pet food manufacturers that meet WSAVA recommendations have transparency in pet food labeling, exceptional quality control, and highly qualified nutritionists involved with the formulation of the food.

    Here is our list of pet foods that meet WSAVA recommendations, are ideal for large & giant breed dogs, and provide a veterinary-approved alternative to Victor pet foods. If you are shopping for a small or senior dog, choose a comparable formula from the same company:

    Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.

    If you are looking to stay away from the “Big 5” for some reason (though, we urge you to reconsider), other brands that are close contenders include grain-inclusive Farmina, Annamaet, and Instinct Kibbles.

    How to Switch from Victor to Another Brand

    It is important that you immediately stop feeding Victor altogether. We recognize that this can be upsetting for pet owners that feel their pet has done well on Victor food. However, there are many alternatives out there and switching quickly is important!

    Once you have chosen a food, thoroughly sanitize your pets eating area and then offer a SMALL meal of the new food.

    Instead of offering two meals, offer 3-4. Split the food up over the course of the day.

    Additionally, for the first few days, reduce the overall amount that you offer! Many pets want to gorge on new food because it’s novel and interesting; do NOT allow this unless you want a yard full of poop!

    Check the feeding recommendations on the bag, too. Chances are, you can feed LESS food if you choose a brand like Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin, or Hill’s! Overfeeding is a COMMON cause of loose stools and the nutritional values will likely be different on a new food that you choose.

    We do not recommend adding toppers or supplements, nor do we recommend switching to chicken & rice homemade diets as they are nutritionally deficient. These practices will only prolong the process.

    We recommend shopping at Petsmart or Chewy, and choosing autoship to save money and time. If your pup has digestive upset for more than a few days, see your veterinarian!

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    Victor Pet Food Quality Control & Recalls

    It’s crucial to understand that recalls aren’t inherently negative. Some companies promptly issue small recalls as a testament to their commitment to prioritizing pet health over marketing and profits.

    However, the magnitude and context of the recall involving Victor pet foods serve as a clear example of a problematic recall, prompting a reassessment of our perception of the brand.

    Many people have rewarded Victor for having had “no recalls” in the past.

    We can now clearly see that this was misguided, as the current recall shows a problematic issue with quality control.

    The reality is that a company boasting “no recalls” may simply be overlooking (or worse, ignoring) potential issues.

    Pet food manufacturers should prioritize routine and thorough equipment sanitization, along with batch testing, to virtually eliminate the risk of pathogens like aflatoxins, salmonella, and E. coli in their products.

    The salmonella contamination in Mid America Pet food was caught twice by 3rd party testing, not the company itself. This is a glaring indication that a crucial step was missed.

    Salmonella poisoning cases associated with this outbreak date back into January, 9 months prior to the first recall. This is an indication that contaminated food has been on store shelves for the better part of a year. For many pet owners, this has explained a lot of problematic symptoms they had seen in their pets for the last several months.

    A quick search through many Facebook dog groups indicates that many pets have actually been sick. It took a massive recall for people to figure out why.

    How has Mid America Pet Foods Responded to the Recall?

    Unfortunately, Mid America (the makers of Victor foods, as well as the manufacturing plant for Eagle Pack, Wayne Feeds, and Member’s Mark which were also recalled) has had a questionable response to the recall.

    Numerous pet owners mention enduring lengthy waits on hold, spending hours waiting to connect with a representative only to be told that “Victor cares”.

    Other individuals have surfaced, expressing concerns about Victor pet food causing illness in their pets before the recall. After reaching out to Victor about this, these owners consistently cite that the company failed to acknowledge any responsibility for the reported issues.

    Worse, Victor representatives are telling some people that the salmonella recall was done out of “an abundance of caution” and that the Beef & Rice formula is truly the only affected one.

    Given that the problem was found twice by a 3rd party test, and that salmonella is easily spread when food is exposed to contaminated manufacturing equipment, I’m not inclined to buy into their desperate plea to brush this off as “no big deal”.

    The designation of a recall as “voluntary” does not necessarily imply that it was initiated solely at the company’s discretion.

    Rather, it indicates that the company took the proactive step of reaching out to suppliers and informing consumers. This designation does not rule out the possibility that the FDA exerted pressure, or that the company could have faced regulatory action if it had not taken this initiative.

    In cases where companies are under serious scrutiny from the FDA and CDC (as is the case with Mid America Food at the moment), opting for a “voluntary recall” notice can be viewed as a strategic marketing move to stay ahead of potential regulatory actions.

    Does Victor Dog Food Meet WSAVA Guidelines?

    The solid majority of veterinarians, who see 100’s of pets each week and share advice passed down to them from board certified veterinary nutritionists will recommend foods that meet WSAVA guidelines. These foods include brands such as Purina, Iam’s, Eukanuba, Hill’s, and Royal Canin.

    Victor foods do not, and have never come even close to meeting WSAVA manufacturing and formulation recommendations. Here is a simple list of reasons why they do not adhere to basic ethics:

    • Victor foods does NOT have a qualified nutritionist on staff. Their ‘head chef’ has a science degree and an online certificate in companion animals from a farm animal organization.
    • Victor foods do not perform feeding trials or contribute to research with peer-reviewed science
    • Victor foods does not easily provide nutritional values on request: when we inquired about their calcium levels, we were told they would only speak on the phone (not in writing). They only publish their calcium levels on select bags and they do not share a guaranteed analysis of calcium, leaving owners to dig for this very important information.
    • Victor does not have good sanitation protocols and does not perform regular bacteriology screenings on their foods (an observation implied by the evidence, which indicates that they have been selling salmonella contaminated food since at least January, 2023.

    There is a reason that veterinarians always recommend that pet owners look past pet food marketing and instead, into the companies dedication to animal health, formulation, and quality control.

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    Victor Pet Foods for Puppies

    We do not recommend Victor pet foods for puppies, as the calcium levels are too high to be safe for growing large and giant breed dogs.

    You can read more about calcium levels in puppy food here.

    So if you’ve been feeding Victor food, now is a good time to choose a safer and more well formulated option!

    Read more about why we never recommended Victor foods here.

    Author’s Note: We will update this post as more information about the Victor Pet Food Recall becomes Clear

  • Is Victor Dog Food Good for Great Danes?

    Is Victor Dog Food Good for Great Danes?

    You may have seen that the Great Dane community often recommends Victor Dog Food. Is Victor Dog food good for Great Danes? Why is Victor so popular among Dane owners? Can Great Dane puppies eat Victor food?

    We’re bringing you the science, stats, and facts today on choosing Victor dog food and yeah, what I have to say about this may be controversial.

    If you are looking for the best food to feed your Dane, this post is for you. I’ve done the research for you!

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    Is Victor Dog Food Good for Great Danes?

    I’m going to come out and say this, but please make sure to continue reading into the post because I’m backing my stance up with actual science. Here it is:

    Most Victor Formulas are incorrect for Great Danes.

    Many popular Victor dog foods have the WRONG balance of calcium to phosphorus, and contain excessively high levels of calcium to begin with.

    As a matter of fact, here is a list of things that can be caused by incorrectly balanced food and excessive calcium, especially when fed to Great Dane puppies under the age of 2:

    • HOD & Panosteitis
    • Retained cartilaginous cores
    • Disturbed endochondral ossification
    • Delayed skeletal maturation & growth of bone length
    • Abnormal bone remodeling
    • Skeletal disorders such as incorrect hip or elbow development
    • Conformational faults including flat feet (affects dogs of all ages)
    • Heart Disease (affects dogs of all ages)
    • Poor breeding outcomes (including small litter sizes)

    Calcium and skeletal disorders in Great Danes go hand in hand, especially for puppies who are exposed to a high amount of calcium in their diet.

    Are you feeding a Victor dog food that is not correctly balanced for your Great Dane?

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    Calcium, Phosphorus, & Great Dane Puppies

    To understand why many Victor dog food that are commonly recommended in the Dane community are incorrect to feed, we have to first understand what appropriate calcium and phosphorus levels are.

    Great Dane Puppies should be fed a diet with the following ratios:

    • Calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1.2 – 1 or 1:1
    • Calcium guaranteed analysis below 1.3%, and ideally around 1.1%
    • Balanced vitamin D levels
    • Calcium amount below 4.5g per 1000kCAL, and ideally below 3.5g per 1000kCal

    Why does this matter?

    Because study after study shows that excessive intake of calcium, and calcium that isn’t balanced correctly with phosphorus (and vitamin D), leads to skeletal problems and bone growth disorders.

    Too low of calcium is also bad, however, that’s a problem seen primarily in raw and home cooked diets, not in commercially prepared diets that meet AAFCO guidelines.

    Dane Puppies will utilize nearly all of the calcium fed to them, and it is believed that adult giant breed dogs in general are less able to deal with excessive minerals (including calcium) as well. Basically put, if a Great Danes’ food has too much or too little calcium, it can be disastrous for their bone health.

    To further complicate things, nutrients such as vitamin D play a role in the bioavailability of the calcium and phosphorus provided in the diet, and zinc may as well.

    You can read more about calcium & orthopedic growth disorders in large & giant breed dogs HERE.

    Many people believe that knuckling is the only growth disorder that Great Dane puppies face. Knuckling is the most obvious, but not the most dangerous.

    Knuckling results from other nutritional factors, not necessarily just calcium, as knuckling is related to laxity in the tendons and excess weight on underdeveloped joints.

    Just because a puppy doesn’t knuckle and seems to ‘grow fine’ on a particular food, doesn’t mean that food is the best choice.

    Many growth disorders related to nutrition or even genetics are not apparent until the dog is slightly older, in pain, becomes lame, or presents with poor bone health and structural problems.

    Correct structure and build of the Great Dane is part genetics, part nutrition, and part environmental factors.

    Screen Shot 2023 01 18 at 10.34.43 AM
    From the Great Dane Club of America.

    Victor Foods for Great Danes

    While we don’t love any Victor formula (we will cover this more below), there are a few popular foods that, based on calcium content and the CA/PH ratio alone we would not feed.

    This data below is based on the GENERAL analysis, not the Guaranteed Analysis (which Victor gives us very little data on, unfortunately).

    The actual calcium levels may be even higher or lower than listed in the general analysis. It seems that Victor doesn’t do a lot of testing on the actual nutrient levels in their foods, which is also problematic.

    When I inquired with Victor via email to clarify their general analysis information, they directed me to their 800 number instead. The fact that I have to run around in circles to obtain relevant nutrition information in writing is a red flag.

    NameCalciumCA/PH RatioAAFCO Large Breed?
    Victor Professional (Purple Bag)1.76%1.3 to 1Yes
    Victor Multi-Pro (Yellow Bag) 1.71%1.4 to 1Yes
    Victor High Energy (Red Bag)1.69%1.2 to 1Yes
    Victor Hi-Pro Plus (Teal Bag)2.39%1.5 to 1 No
    Victor Beef & Rice1.77%1.4 to 1Yes
    Victor Chicken Meal & Rice1.371.3 to 1Yes
    Victor Grain Free (ANY type)VariesVariesVaries

    Some of the foods listed above DO have the AAFCO statement indicating that they meet the nutritional levels for large breed growth. Essentially this means that their calcium content is less than 1.8% on a dry matter basis.

    In our opinion, 1.8% is MUCH to high for a Great Dane, we like to see 1.2% or less.

    All formulas on that list above, regardless of their AAFCO statement, have unbalanced calcium to phosphorus ratios for Great Danes, with one exception (the Victor Hi-Energy red bag), and even that still has a high calcium content (1.67%).

    It’s important to note that a Hi-Energy formula is meant to provide extra nutrition (in this formulation, they use a lot of fat). Excess nutrition is ALSO linked to orthopedic growth disorders, so that food is another example of one that should not be fed to Great Danes under the age of 2.

    Read more about calcium and phosphorus, and how it affects growth, HERE.

    The two most popular foods also have high calcium levels as a whole, which exceed the recommended safe upper limit of 4.5g per 1000kCal.

    • Victor Professional at 4.7g per 1000kCal
    • Victor Beef & Rice at 5.4g per 1000kCal

    Both of those formulas are popular among Dane owners who feed them to puppies, and we’re not sure why. The analysis alone goes against every reasonable guideline on the topic.

    There is one food that I found among Victor foods that has a small label on it indicating that it’s for ‘big dogs’. That is the Elite Canine, green bag. It has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1.3 to 1 or 1.2 to 1 (depending on the analysis), approximately 3.4g per 1000kCal, and is an “all life stages” formula (essentially, this is puppy food).

    Do not go running to get that formula without finishing this blog post, though, as Elite may also be problematic!

    Victor 5lb ELITE CANINE NEW51 1

    Is Victor Dog Food Good?

    We don’t like to food bash around here.

    One of my biggest pet peeves in the dog focused social communities are statements such as:

    • The food is full of fillers and trash
    • Never feed ‘grocery story’ or ‘cheap food’
    • I would never feed my dog corn and slaughterhouse waste
    • Danes are expensive, you MUST feed a ‘premium’ food
    • That’s like feeding your dog McDonald’s!
    • Veterinarians have no training and receive kickbacks
    • There have been “no recalls” so it must be good
    • The FDA said the DCM grain free link was debunked!

    Truth time: all of those statements above are based on misinformation and classism. The misinformation that leads to these statements is often dangerous and frustrating, too. (I’ll be covering each in different blog posts).

    We have no tolerance for bashing foods that are correctly balanced and at a price point that dog owners can afford. A lot of marketing goes into ‘premium’ pet foods to make us feel like they are healthier or better for our pets, but it’s all marketing.

    Of course, you want to choose the best option for your budget, and that is where science and information comes into play. Many people choose Victor because it’s marketed as “Super Premium” and comes at a reasonable price point.


    You will notice that we don’t food bash, but we DO point out legitimate factors to consider when choosing nutrition for your pet. We look past marketing and past a lot of the needless, inflammatory, and misguided statements listed above.

    See the most recent recall on Victor food here

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    Should I Feed Victor Dog Food to a Great Dane?

    Here are some other legitimate factors to consider when choosing a food like Victor to feed your Great Dane.

    Victor Foods does not staff a qualified nutrition professional.

    At least one of these people should be on staff for the brand itself:

    To put this simply, the “head chef” at Victor Pet foods has an animal science degree buffered by a simple, inexpensive online certificate in companion animals, from an organization focused primarily on livestock. He does not have even basic nutrition credentials, let alone a veterinary background.

    While Victor does collaborate with consultants, they aren’t clear about the scope of that relationship or the qualifications of the consultants.

    It’s important to understand that most times, what this really means is that a recipe in written form was signed-off by a 3rd party, or tested in an off-site lab for verification of nutrient content.

    Just because a food meets AAFCO minimums, does not mean it was thoughtfully and professionally designed to provide optimum nutrition. For giant breed dogs, this is an important consideration as they have very particular nutritional requirements.

    One of the greatest faults of many dog food brands is that they don’t have formulas which were designed and tested specifically to properly support large and giant breed growth.

    Of course, some dog foods have the correct ratios, but were they designed for that purpose? Or do they just happen to meet the AAFCO minimum guidelines on paper?

    We prefer foods that were developed, by qualified nutritionists, specifically to support the slow, even growth and healthy bone development of large and giant breed puppies.

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    Calcium Levels & Great Dane Puppy Growth

    The science of calcium and the calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D link to bone growth issues and poor bone modeling becomes more and more clear as research is done.

    Here is a study that found puppies under 6 months of age were most susceptible to inconsistent calcium levels: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12118666/


    Here is another resource, a well-cited paper regarding nutrient levels and feeding large or giant breed puppies.

    When we look at food brands that have qualified nutrition staff, who do feeding trials, and who do a lot of research, we see MUCH different analysis from their large and giant breed formulas than we see from most, if not all Victor formulas.

    Science-backed companies have cutting-edge nutritional profiles and their formulas should be the baseline upon which other true large and giant breed puppy formulas are built.

    When I’m choosing food for a Great Dane puppy, I want food that most closely matches the brands who have qualified nutritionists, do feeding trials, and publish actual research on this topic. (Or better yet, feed the brands backed by actual science and research).

    Unfortunately, Victor foods does not meet any of these basic requirements and most (if not all) of their formulas end up missing the mark. Notice how the Victor formula is lower in protein, much higher in fat, and higher in calcium, too.

    A note about protein: many people choose food for their Great Dane based off the protein level. This is an outdated practice with many studies showing that the protein level is not a factor in the development of growth disorders.

    Too low of protein can actually be detrimental to proper growth, and may result in excessive intake of calcium.

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    Do Great Danes Do Well on Victor Food?

    Anecdotally, many people cite that their Great Dane does well on Victor foods. Fixing an issue with chronic loose stools seems to be a common positive comment that we see from Dane owners who switched to Victor.

    Many Victor dog food formulas contain inulin (a prebiotic) and probiotics, so this isn’t a surprise.

    Good stools happen on many other brands as well. While good gut health is super important, it’s not the only sign of good health, however.

    Many dogs with shiny coats and perfect stools die in their sleep from unchecked heart disease that presented with very few symptoms. When evaluating the health of the dog, we’re not just looking for good stools.

    Additionally, most Great Dane owners are unable to properly evaluate their dogs movement and structure. As a result may not see an issue with poor angulation, wonky movement, swollen knuckles, turned out limbs, or flat and splayed feet. These are all things where genetics, environment, and nutrition play a role.

    For perspective, check out this young Great Dane. In the first image, she’s being fed Victor foods. Notice her feet after being switched to a more appropriate food. She no longer has swollen ankles, and her feet are providing a much better, stronger platform to support her weight.

    This was a positive and notable change for multiple dogs in this same breeding program, not just the one in this photo. I know this dog personally and her feet improved in a matter of 2 weeks on the food switch.

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    Does Victor Dog Food Cause Breeding Issues?

    We prefer to rely on science rather than anecdotes, but we should note that MANY reproductive veterinarians advise clients to stay away from Victor foods and recommend using well-researched, specially designed formulas from Pro Plan and Royal Canin instead.

    Anecdotally, there is a huge volume of reports from breeders whose dogs were struggling on Victor. Low birth weights, stillbirth, and small litter sizes are just some of the suspicious volume of noted complaints.

    This problem could be related to certain ingredients, bioavailability, or the nutritional balance of protein, fat & carbs.

    We will never know, however, because Victor does NOT do any research and does not perform any feeding trials.

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    Does Victor Dog Food Cause DCM?

    Many studies have shown, on repeat, that there are two main factors contributing to dogs developing heart disease (DCM) from dog food.

    1. An abundance of peas, potatoes, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, or similar legumes used in the first 10 ingredients.
    2. Foods that do not have a board certified Veterinary Nutritionist (DACVN) or PhD in Animal Nutrition on staff to formulate the foods (incorrect formulation).

    It’s not about being ‘grain free’. There are confirmed cases of DCM on all kinds of foods, with or without grains.

    There is a lot of misinformation about grain-free dog foods and DCM.

    For a comprehensive look at DCM and dog food, check out this non-biased (contains no ads, sales pitches, affiliate links, or food shaming) timeline of events.

    Think the FDA debunked the grain-free DCM food link? Think again.

    We do not believe that all Victor dog foods will cause heart disease, but, we encourage all Dane owners to stay away from Grain Free foods of all types. Here is an ingredients list from Victor Grain-Free.

    Notice how peas and sweet potato make up a huge portion of this diet. Peas in particular have been shown to be problematic when used in large amounts. For more information on nutritional DCM, READ HERE.

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    Does Hello Danes Recommend Victor Dog Food?

    We do not.

    The lack of qualified formulation staff and unbalanced calcium levels should give dog owners pause about considering this food for their Great Dane.

    Of course, if it works for you and you love it, we’re not going to bash you for feeding it. We do however, want to make sure you are well-equipped with legitimate information.

    If you wish to use Victor foods, keep in mind that the green bag, Elite Canine, is the only grain-inclusive formula by Victor that is actually balanced correctly for giant breed dogs. It does list peas in the first 4 ingredients, however, which is a risk factor for nutritional DCM. We do not recommend this food.

    For our list of professionally formulated foods that fully meet guidelines and recommendations, go HERE.