V-Integra FAQs: Which Product Is Right for Your Dog or Cat?

V-Integra is not one single supplement for every dog and cat.

The range (developed by Dr Rebecca Ricci, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist) includes different formulations for different species, life stages and nutritional needs. That matters because a growing puppy does not have the same nutritional requirements as an adult dog, and a dog requiring a phosphorus-restricted diet needs something very different again.

Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about each V-Integra product.

Before we start: one important point

V-Integra is designed to be used alongside a properly formulated homemade diet.

It should not simply be added to a mixture of meat, vegetables and other ingredients in the hope that it will automatically make the diet complete and balanced.

The amount used, as well as the rest of the ingredients in the recipe, needs to be considered together.

Questions that apply to all V-Integra products

Can I add V-Integra to ingredients I already feed?

We don't recommend adding V-Integra without first checking that the recipe you are following is complete and balanced.

V-Integra should be treated as one component of a formulated diet rather than something used to “balance” an otherwise uncalculated homemade meal.

Does V-Integra provide everything my homemade diet needs?

V-Integra provides vitamins and minerals, but it does not remove the need to formulate the rest of the diet correctly.

Protein sources, fat, essential fatty acids, energy, ingredients and feeding quantities all still need to be considered.

That is why V-Integra should be used as part of a properly formulated recipe rather than as a standalone addition to homemade food.

Can V-Integra be used with raw food?

Yes. It can be used in properly formulated boneless raw diets, including raw meat-based diets.

Can I use V-Integra with kibble or wet food?

If your dog is eating 100% complete commercial food, you should not add V-Integra to their meals.

If you feed a mixed diet containing both complete commercial food and homemade food, the homemade portion should be properly formulated and the amount of V-Integra calculated accordingly.

Is V-Integra suitable for dogs or cats with food allergies?

V-Integra products are free from animal and plant-derived proteins.

This means they can be suitable for use within professionally formulated homemade diets for dogs and cats with food allergies or protein sensitivities.

However, the complete diet still needs to be appropriate for the individual animal, including all of the other ingredients used in the recipe.

If your dog or cat has a diagnosed food allergy or another medical condition, we recommend discussing the complete diet with your veterinarian and working with a residency-trained veterinary nutritionist, ideally one who is board-certified in veterinary nutrition.

Should I use the scoop or weigh V-Integra?

For the best accuracy, weigh the amount specified in the recipe you are following.

The scoop can be useful, but grams are more precise.

When should I add V-Integra?

Add it to the food immediately before feeding and mix it through thoroughly.

Can I heat or freeze V-Integra?

No. Add V-Integra only once the food is ready to serve.

Some vitamins are sensitive to heat and storage conditions, so reheating or freezing the meal after adding the supplement may reduce the stability of certain nutrients.

Do I need to give it every day?

If your complete homemade recipe has been formulated to include V-Integra, it should be given every day according to that recipe.

Should I introduce V-Integra gradually?

Yes. If your dog is using V-Integra for the first time, we recommend introducing it gradually over approximately three weeks.

Start with around ⅓ of the full daily amount for the first week, increase to around ⅔ during the second week, and then move to the full amount specified in the recipe during week three.

This gradual introduction can be particularly helpful for dogs that are sensitive to changes in taste or smell.

If your dog is reluctant to eat the food, increase the amount more slowly rather than forcing the transition.

I can see small clumps or yellow granules in the powder. Is that normal?

Yes. This is normal and does not mean that the product has deteriorated.

Small clumps can form because of changes in humidity or temperature and do not affect the quality or safety of V-Integra.

The yellow granules are microencapsulated vitamins. Microencapsulation helps protect sensitive nutrients and maintain their stability over time.

Where is V-Integra manufactured?

V-Integra is manufactured in Italy by Vetekipp Srl, a company based in Padua and a spin-off of the University of Padua.

The V-Integra range is developed and formulated by veterinary nutritionists and produced in Italy.

V-Integra products sold by DAFY in the UK are imported and distributed by Dog Advice For You Ltd.

V-Integra Adult Dog

Who is V-Integra Adult Dog for?

V-Integra Adult Dog is designed for healthy adult dogs eating a properly formulated homemade diet.

It can be used with raw or cooked boneless diets when the recipe has been formulated to include it.

Can I use V-Integra Adult Dog for my puppy?

No. Puppies have different nutritional requirements during growth, particularly for nutrients involved in skeletal development such as calcium and phosphorus.

V-Integra Puppy has been specifically formulated for growing dogs and should be used as part of a recipe formulated for growth.

Can I use V-Integra Adult Dog for a senior dog?

V-Integra Senior Dog is specifically formulated for dogs aged 7 years and over.

It has a different nutritional profile from V-Integra Adult Dog, including a greater focus on antioxidants such as vitamins E and C.

If your dog is currently eating a recipe formulated using V-Integra Adult Dog, we would not recommend simply swapping to V-Integra Senior Dog gram-for-gram. The recipe should be checked to ensure it remains nutritionally balanced with the new formulation.

V-Integra Puppy

Who is V-Integra Puppy for?

V-Integra Puppy is designed for growing puppies eating a properly formulated homemade diet.

Its formulation differs from the adult product because puppies have specific nutritional requirements during growth.

Can I use Adult Dog instead?

No. An adult formulation should not be substituted for a puppy formulation.

Growing dogs require particularly careful control of nutrients including calcium and phosphorus, and the whole recipe needs to be formulated for the puppy’s stage of growth.

How much V-Integra Puppy should I give?

The amount depends on the puppy’s expected adult body weight, stage of growth and the recipe being followed.

The feeding table on the product provides a general range, but the amount used in an individually formulated recipe may differ.

Always follow the amount specified in the recipe formulated for your puppy.

Does the amount stay the same while my puppy grows?

Not necessarily.

A puppy’s energy and nutrient requirements change during growth, so homemade recipes and feeding amounts may need to be reviewed with a nutrition professional as the puppy develops.

V-Integra Senior Dog

Who is V-Integra Senior Dog for?

V-Integra Senior Dog is designed for dogs aged 7 years and over eating a properly formulated homemade diet.

It contains vitamins and minerals and is formulated with vitamins E and C, which have antioxidant properties.

Does every dog need to move from Adult to Senior at 7 years old?

V-Integra Senior Dog is the formulation specifically designed for dogs aged 7 years and over.

However, if your dog is currently eating a recipe formulated using V-Integra Adult Dog, the supplement should not simply be swapped gram-for-gram. The recipe should be checked with your nutrition professional to ensure it remains nutritionally balanced with the Senior formulation.

V-Integra Renal

Who is V-Integra Renal for?

V-Integra Renal is designed for dogs and cats requiring a phosphorus-restricted homemade diet.

Unlike the standard adult formulations, it contains no phosphorus in its analytical constituents and is intended to be incorporated into an appropriately formulated diet where phosphorus restriction is required.

Does that mean I can use it if my dog has kidney disease?

Not automatically.

Kidney disease can vary considerably between patients, and the appropriate amounts of protein, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, energy and other nutrients depend on the individual animal.

V-Integra Renal should therefore be used as part of a diet formulated by a residency-trained veterinary nutritionist, ideally one who is board-certified in veterinary nutrition.

Can I simply swap Adult Dog for Renal in my existing recipe?

No.

Changing the supplement changes the nutrient profile of the diet.

A recipe formulated using V-Integra Adult Dog should not simply be changed to V-Integra Renal without reformulating the complete diet.

Can V-Integra Renal be used for cats too?

Yes. V-Integra Renal is designed for both dogs and cats requiring a phosphorus-restricted homemade diet.

V-Integra Renal Met

What is the difference between V-Integra Renal and Renal Met?

Both are intended for phosphorus-restricted homemade diets.

V-Integra Renal Met also contains added methionine, so the two products should not be treated as interchangeable.

How do I know which one my dog or cat needs?

This should be determined as part of the formulation of the complete diet.

For an animal with a medical condition, we recommend working with a residency-trained veterinary nutritionist, ideally one who is board-certified in veterinary nutrition.

Can V-Integra Renal Met be used for cats too?

Yes. V-Integra Renal Met is designed for both dogs and cats.

V-Integra Hepatic

Who is V-Integra Hepatic for?

V-Integra Hepatic is designed for dogs and cats requiring a copper-restricted homemade diet.

It is formulated with reduced copper and increased zinc compared with standard formulations.

Is it suitable for every dog or cat with liver disease?

No.

Different liver conditions have different nutritional considerations, and not every dog or cat with liver disease requires copper restriction.

A diagnosis of liver disease alone is therefore not enough to determine whether V-Integra Hepatic is appropriate.

Can I use it without a veterinary nutritionist?

For a dog or cat with a medical condition, we recommend working with a residency-trained veterinary nutritionist, ideally one who is board-certified in veterinary nutrition.

Can V-Integra Hepatic be used for cats too?

Yes. V-Integra Hepatic is designed for both dogs and cats.

V-Integra Adult Cat

Who is V-Integra Adult Cat for?

V-Integra Adult Cat is designed for healthy adult cats eating a properly formulated homemade diet.

Its formulation is specific to cats and includes nutrients such as taurine.

Can I use the dog version for my cat?

No.

Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements, so a canine V-Integra formulation should not be substituted for V-Integra Adult Cat.

V-Integra Kitten

Who is V-Integra Kitten for?

V-Integra Kitten is designed for growing kittens eating a properly formulated homemade diet.

It contains calcium, phosphorus and other vitamins and minerals appropriate for use within a formulated growth diet.

Can I use Adult Cat instead?

No.

Kittens have different nutritional requirements from adult cats, so V-Integra Adult Cat should not be used as a substitute during growth.

Does the recipe need to change as my kitten grows?

Potentially, yes.

Energy requirements and feeding amounts change significantly during growth, so the recipe and feeding quantities should be reviewed as the kitten develops.

Still unsure which V-Integra you need?

The right product depends on your dog or cat’s species, life stage, health and the recipe you are feeding.

For healthy adult dogs, DAFY recipes are formulated specifically to use V-Integra Adult Dog.

For puppies, kittens and dogs or cats with medical conditions, we recommend working with a residency-trained veterinary nutritionist, ideally one who is board-certified in veterinary nutrition.

This helps ensure that the diet is formulated by someone with advanced specialist training in clinical nutrition and, where relevant, can take your pet’s diagnosis, blood results, medications and other clinical needs into account.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to us on: info@dafynutrition.com.