Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food Review: Pros, Cons, & Recalls

Written by Austin S.
Published: March 27, 2022
© Orawan Pattarawimonchai/Shutterstock.com

Advertisement


This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species.

Diabetes in dogs can need drastic dietary adjustments in your pet. Other issues, such as fiber reactive illnesses, can also create digestive problems. These disorders can be harmful to your dog if you don’t place it on good nutrition quickly. That’s why Royal Canin formulated the Glycobalance dry dog formula.

Royal Canin Glycobalance dry dog food helps control fiber responsive disorders and diabetes in adult dogs. It contains moderate fat content to help your dog maintain healthy body weight. Royal Canin Glycobalance is rich in protein which aids retention of muscle mass. It also contains antioxidants that help keep your dog healthy and boosts vitality. This product has low starch levels.

Royal Canin Glycobalance is veterinary-exclusive dog food. This means you’ll need your dog’s vet to write a prescription for you.

Summary

Royal Canin is a dog food company that targets specific needs in dogs. This means there’s a product for each dog breed, size, and general need. Royal Canin Glycobance is one of the best dog foods for diabetes. It is a balanced diet for adult dogs with a moderate fat content and high soluble and insoluble dietary fiber levels. 

This is an excellent product for diabetic dogs, but you’ll need a prescription from a recognized vet if or not your dog is diabetic. This review will cover everything you should know about this product, the pros, cons, ingredients, price, and recalls. This will help you know if it’s a perfect match for your dog and your budget before contacting your vet for a prescription.

Our Top Pick
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Glycobalance Dry Dog Food
  • Supports healthy post-prandial blood glucose levels
  • Great for maintaining a healthy weight in dogs
  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Reduced starch levels
Check Chewy Check Amazon

Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food Benefits and Features

  • Supports healthy post-prandial blood glucose levels.
  • Helps retain muscle mass in dogs.
  • Maintains energy and vitality in dogs.
  • Great for maintaining a healthy weight in dogs.
  • Specially formulated to provide good nutrition in diabetic dogs.

Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food: Pros & Cons

Pros!Cons!
Moderate fat content.The transition from old food to this dog food could be extended, depending on breed and dog need.
Rich in protein.Not the best for dogs with grain sensitivities.
Reduced starch levels.The manufacturer has a recall history.
Rich in antioxidants.
Made in the USA. Ingredients are also sourced in the country.

Where is Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food Made?

Royal Canin Glycobalance dog food is manufactured in the USA. The company is owned by Mars PetCare Company and has manufacturing plants in Missouri. Royal Canin USA sources ingredients from the local farms in the state and South Dakota.

Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food Ingredients

This dog food variant contains vitamins and minerals to support your dog’s overall health. It has 35% crude protein that aids the development of lean muscles and muscle mass in your dog. Antioxidants are also included in this dog food to help your dog’s health and energy. Here is a breakdown of Royal Canin Glycobalance’s ingredients:

  • Chicken by-product meal: Chicken by-product meal is the main ingredient in Royal Canin Glycobalance. This ingredient is from the leftovers of a slaughtered chicken after removing the choice cuts.  Chicken by-product meal is a meal concentrate that contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
  • Barley: Barley is a carbohydrate that is rich in fiber and facilitates easy digestion in dogs.  It is also one of the cereal grains with the lowest glycemic index. This makes it important in the production of diets for obese and diabetic dogs. It’s satisfying and keeps hunger away.
  • Corn Gluten Meal: Although many consider corn gluten meal to be a filler, it’s a great source of amino acids and protein for your dog.
  • Powdered Cellulose: Besides being a great source of insoluble fiber, this ingredient has no nutritional value for dogs. Insoluble fiber helps dogs to lose or maintain their body weight. It does this by increasing your dog’s food volume without adding too many calories.
  • Wheat Gluten: Wheat gluten is a high-quality protein source that is low in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol. It has an amino acid profile that complements meat protein profiles, allowing for nutritional precision. This explains why it is present in most veterinary-exclusive diets such as Royal Canin Glycobalance.

Other Essential Ingredients

  •  Dried Plain Beet Pulp: Beet pulp is an excellent source of fiber that improves your dog’s ability to absorb nutrients and promotes intestinal health.
  • Tapioca: A controversial ingredient. It is a low-grade filler in dog food because it lacks nutritional value besides starch.
  • Chicken Fat: This is a high-quality ingredient derived from rendering chicken. It’s high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that’s essential for life.
  • Fish oil: It is rich in the highly-rated EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil promotes a silky coat, improves your canine companion’s heart health, and strengthens its immune system.

Others include; Taurine, Trace Minerals such as Calcium Iodate, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite, etc.

Which Types of Dog is Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food Best Suited for?

Royal Canin Glycobalance dog food is great for all dog breeds suffering from diabetes. Reviews show that some specific dog breeds include Chihuahuas, Bichon Frises, and Labrador Retrievers.

Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food Recalls

This particular formula, Royal Canin Glycobalance, has no recall history. However, the brand Royal Canin has recalled some of its products in the past.

In February 2006, Royal Canin recalled several veterinary-exclusive canned pet meals due to high Vitamin D3. According to reviews and reports, many dogs and cats were ill. However, the company said a vitamin premix from a third-party supplier was to blame.

In April and May 2007, Royal Canin recalled specific dry dog and cat foods recipes. This was due to suspected melamine contamination.

The company has no recall history since then.

Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food: Where to Buy

Are you thinking about buying the Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food for your dog? Don’t forget; this is a veterinary-exclusive diet, so you’ll need a prescription from a vet. For example, Chewy will collect your pet and vet information to authorize your order before shipping. Royal Canin Glycobalance is available on:

Our Top Pick
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Glycobalance Dry Dog Food
  • Supports healthy post-prandial blood glucose levels
  • Great for maintaining a healthy weight in dogs
  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Reduced starch levels
Check Chewy Check Amazon

Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food Specs

If you like this product and think it’ll be an excellent fit for your fluffy friend, here are some things to look forward to:

Design

Royal Canin Glycobalance doesn’t have the most attractive bag design, but it’s relatively nice. It comes in a predominantly white bag with ‘Glycobalance’ written on a green backdrop below a black and white-furred dog.

Thankfully, bag designs don’t matter to the quality of food. And this product offers significantly better nutritional value than the bag’s bland look.

Safety

The Royal Canin company assures that it follows AAFCO standards and other dog food safety protocols. Royal Canin Glycobalance has no recall history. If your dog has grain sensitivities, you might want to skip this particular product. Otherwise, it is safe for diabetic adult dogs. It is also great for weight management and digestive health.

Durability

Royal Canin’s dog formulas have outstanding durability. Dry diets remain palatable one month after opening the bag. After two months, it will remain edible if you store it in a cool, dry, and airtight container. However, your dog should consume the wet food within two days after opening it. Don’t forget to refrigerate.

Price

The Royal Canin has a reputation for being an expensive dog food brand. Their Glycobalance formula is no different. The Royal Canin Glycobalance dog food comes in two sizes; a 7.7-lb bag and a 17.6-lb bag. There will be around 4 cups per pound of kibble. The 7.7-lb bag will have nearly 30.8 cups, while the 17.6-lb bag will have 70.4 cups.

The canned Veterinary Diet Glycobalance dog food costs about $95.76. The dry dog food 7.7-lb bag costs about $41.99, while the 17.6-lb bag costs $79.99. This is expensive, especially when compared to a similar product like American Journey Dry Food. The latter comes in three sizes; 4-lb, 12-lb, and 24-lb bags, which cost about $16.99, $31.99, and $46.99, respectively.

Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food vs. American Journey Dry Dog Food

There are a handful of other products similar to Royal Canin Glycobalance and great for your dog. One of these diets is American Journey Dry Dog Food. But before choosing, here are their similarities and differences:

Similarities:

  • Both products are great for diabetic dogs.
  • Made in the USA.
  • Rich in protein.

Differences:

  • Royal Canin Glycobalance requires prescription while American Journey Dry Dog food doesn’t.
  • American Journey is exclusively made for and marketed by Chewy.
  • American Journey is grain-free while Royal Canin Glycobalance isn’t.

Bottom Line

Royal Canin Glycobalance is a scientifically formulated dry dog food with high levels of soluble and insoluble fibers. This helps to keep blood glucose levels in check in diabetic dogs. It is a great product that’ll help provide and support a healthy weight and optimal muscle mass in your dog. And at the same time, it boosts your dog’s vitality. If your dog is suffering from diabetes or struggles with weight problems, you should contact a vet or licensed professional for a prescription.

About the Author

Growing up in rural New England on a small scale farm gave me a lifelong passion for animals. I love learning about new wild animal species, habitats, animal evolutions, dogs, cats, and more. I've always been surrounded by pets and believe the best dog and best cat products are important to keeping our animals happy and healthy. It's my mission to help you learn more about wild animals, and how to care for your pets better with carefully reviewed products.

Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog Food Review: Pros, Cons, & Recalls FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Is it Safe to Mix the Canned Glycobance Formula with the Dry formula?

The canned Glycobalance Formula can complement the dry Glycobalance Formula. To account for the calories supplied by the wet meal, do ensure you reduce the portion of dry food.

Can a Non-Diabetic Dog Eat Royal Canin Glycobance Dog Food?

Yes, Royal Canin Glycobalance dog food is suitable for healthy dogs. It is high-nutrition dog food. However, vets specifically recommend this product for dogs suffering from diabetes. So, it’s best to avoid this particular product line unless prescribed by a vet or licensed professional. You can significantly improve your dog’s quality of life by consulting your veterinarian.

How Does Royal Canin Glycobalance Dog food work?

The Royal Canin Glycobalance prevents your dog’s blood sugar levels from rising too high (diabetes). The amount of starch in the food has been lowered. This helps the slow release of insulin. Additionally, this diet enables the dog to keep a healthy body weight. The Royal Canin Glycobalance has moderate fat, and it helps your diabetic dog maintain muscle mass without gaining weight.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.