Label analysisGrade BListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Instinct

Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Salmon

Calculate portions with this foodChoosing for your dog
Editor ingredient insight

Instinct LID Salmon leads with salmon meal, salmon, peas, and tapioca. It is worth considering for dogs that do better on salmon than poultry, not for pea/tapioca avoidance or weight-control needs.

Meal-basedPlant booster present
Illustration of salmon beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Salmon

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 28%Fat 18%Other 54%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type

Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.

Protein positionTypical

This food sits around the typical crude protein range among extruded foods.

Fat positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.

Calorie densityHigher

This food is on the higher side for calorie density among extruded foods. The same serving can provide more energy, so check portion guidance.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.2%
Phosphorus1%
Crude fiber3%
Omega-31.3%
Omega-62.4%

Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.

02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE

Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade

The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.

Listed ingredients

Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.

Salmon ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Salmon
B4.5/6Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · Salmon MealUpper
Named Meal
Ingredient #2 · SalmonTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #3 · PeasLower
Whole Plant Protein
Ingredient #1Upper

Salmon Meal

Salmon Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Top

Salmon

Salmon is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #3Lower

Peas

Peas is a whole plant-protein ingredient. It is not a processed protein concentrate, but when it appears near the top it can still weaken the animal-protein-led structure. It reads as an lower-tier plant protein booster.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Salmon Meal — Support positive ingredientsSalmon — Primary positive ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsTapioca — Neutral ingredientsCanola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid) — Neutral ingredientsMontmorillonite Clay — Neutral ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsCoconut Oil — Neutral ingredientsVitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin) — Support positive ingredientsMinerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide) — Support positive ingredientsFreeze Dried Cod — Support positive ingredientsRosemary Extract — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Whole plant protein source in the top 3

Animal protein · Salmon Meal (#1), Salmon (#2), Freeze Dried Cod (#14)

Plant protein · Peas (#3)

The crude protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.

This is not the same as processed protein boosting, but it is not purely meat-led.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Omega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Salmon Meal, Salmon supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Tapioca supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.

Peas contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber among the leading ingredients. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone. Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid) add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.

Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including salmon, cod. If a protein must be excluded, any of these sources can change the decision; the first ingredient alone does not make this a single-protein diet.

What works well in this food

  • Crude protein does not drop into a clearly low band.
  • Price per kilogram stays low enough that this can still make sense on a value basis.
  • Nutrient disclosure is broad enough to compare real numbers directly.

Check before feeding

  • Phosphorus is 1% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
  • Fresh meat carries a moisture variable. When whole plant protein sources are also high in the list, part of the crude-protein number may come from those plant ingredients.
  • Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is typical, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. This combination provides more energy per gram. Compare it when smaller portions need to supply calories, and adjust grams first for a dog prone to weight gain. Higher calories do not establish a higher animal-protein share.

Consider it first when

  • Budget matters
  • Baseline nutrition still comes first
  • Ingredient quality comes after value

Choose another food first when

  • Fresh-meat-first quality matters more
  • Ingredient quality matters more than budget

High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart salmon alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Instinct background

Founded in 2002 in the United States.

Disclosure confidence C1

Current data and recipe-level variation are visible, but validation breadth still needs a closer look.

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed public recall history.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

This is a credible shortlist food, but the personalized step is where the final order should be decided.