Ingredient #1Top
Beef
Beef is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
Label analysisGrade BListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Instinct
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Beef
Editor ingredient insight
Instinct Original Grain Free Beef starts with beef but adds whitefish meal, herring meal, chicken fat, peas, tapioca, and chicken meal.
It is worth considering for active mixed-protein tolerant dogs, not for chicken/fish/pea avoidance or weight control.
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 35%Fat 20.5%Other 44.5%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 positionHigher
This food is on the higher side for crude protein 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
Calcium1.5%
Phosphorus1%
Crude fiber3%
Omega-30.5%
Omega-62.9%
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.
Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · BeefTop
Fresh MeatIngredient #2 · White Fish MealUpper
Named MealIngredient #3 · Herring MealUpper
Named MealIngredient #2Upper
White Fish Meal
White Fish 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 #3Upper
Herring Meal
Herring 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.
Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Beef — Primary positive ingredientsWhite Fish Meal — Support positive ingredientsHerring Meal — Support positive ingredientsChicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid) — Neutral ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsTapioca — Neutral ingredientsChicken Meal — Support positive ingredientsMenhaden Fish Meal — Support positive ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsDried Tomato Pomace — Neutral ingredientsVitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin) — Support positive ingredientsChickpeas — Caution ingredientsMontmorillonite Clay — Neutral ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsApples — Neutral ingredientsCranberries — Neutral ingredientsMinerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide) — Support positive ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsFreeze Dried Beef — Support positive ingredientsFreeze Dried Beef Liver — Support positive ingredientsPumpkinseeds — Neutral ingredientsFreeze Dried Beef Heart — Support positive ingredientsFreeze Dried Beef Kidney — Support positive ingredientsFreeze Dried Beef Spleen — Support positive ingredientsDried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product — Support positive ingredientsRosemary Extract — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide
Whole plant protein source observed early
Animal protein · Beef (#1), White Fish Meal (#2), Herring Meal (#3), Chicken Meal (#7), Menhaden Fish Meal (#8), Freeze Dried Beef (#22), Freeze Dried Beef Liver (#23), Freeze Dried Beef Heart (#25), Freeze Dried Beef Kidney (#26), Freeze Dried Beef Spleen (#27)
Plant protein · Peas (#5), Chickpeas (#12)
The protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.
This is not treated like processed protein boosting, but it is worth checking.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
CranberryUrinary support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientProbioticsGut support ingredientOmega-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
Beef, White Fish Meal supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Tapioca supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.
Peas, Chickpeas contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber further down the ingredient list. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone. Chicken Fat (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 beef, unspecified, herring, chicken, menhaden. Some protein sources are not fully identified, which limits choices that require excluding a specific protein.
What works well in this food
- The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
- Crude protein is on the higher side.
- 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.
- Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
- Top ingredients include an FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile, so this part deserves a more cautious read.
When this food fits your dog
Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. Compare this combination when both protein and concentrated energy matter. It can help plan smaller portions, but dogs prone to weight gain should not switch gram-for-gram from a less calorie-dense food.
Consider it first when
- Your dog already eats the listed animal and plant ingredients comfortably
- You want animal ingredients first without excluding plant ingredients
Choose another food first when
- You need to exclude a listed ingredient
- You need a verified animal-protein proportion, which ingredient order alone cannot provide
High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.
04. COMPARE FOODS
Smart beef / whitefish 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