Vertex and the like powders aren't a waste of money IMO. They are a supplement like creatine or any other type of supplement you, or anyone else, chooses to use. While I don't use them any longer, I have, and I have with success with nothing BUT those powders.

You can't just jack up the fat content in a keep to at least 50% just because that's what you think you should do. It doesn't work that way. Fat content should, and will be, based around the dog's intensity of work. A ho hum working dog won't do well on 50% fat simply because the dog will BE fat. Those are facts. You can't jack up caloric intake without burning it off.

As for electrolytes, there is a lot of information surrounding why dogs need or don't need it as they don't sweat the same as we do.