Ingredient #1Top
Salmon
Salmon is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
Label analysisGrade CListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Instinct
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon
Editor ingredient insight
Instinct Salmon Grain-Free has a strong fish axis with salmon, white fish meal, menhaden fish meal, and herring meal, but peas, chickpeas, and pea protein are also part of the structure.
With 37.5% protein, 21% fat, and 4,570 kcal/kg, It is worth considering for active dogs that do better on fish than chicken, not for weight-control or legume-sensitive dogs.
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 37.5%Fat 21%Other 41.5%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 fiber4%
Omega-31.7%
Omega-62.6%
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 · SalmonTop
Fresh MeatIngredient #2 · White Fish MealUpper
Named MealIngredient #3 · PeasLower
Whole Plant ProteinIngredient #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 #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 — Primary positive ingredientsWhite Fish Meal (Pacific Whiting, Pacific Sole, Pacific Rockfish) — Support positive ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsMenhaden Fish Meal — Support positive ingredientsCanola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid) — Neutral ingredientsHerring Meal — Support positive ingredientsChickpeas — Caution ingredientsPea Protein — High-caution ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsTapioca — Neutral ingredientsDried Tomato Pomace — Neutral ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsApples — Neutral ingredientsCranberries — Neutral ingredientsMontmorillonite Clay — Neutral ingredientsVitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin) — Support positive ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsMinerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide) — Support positive ingredientsFreeze Dried Cod — 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 source plus processed protein support
Animal protein · Salmon (#1), White Fish Meal (Pacific Whiting, Pacific Sole, Pacific Rockfish) (#2), Menhaden Fish Meal (#4), Herring Meal (#6), Freeze Dried Cod (#19)
Plant protein · Peas (#3), Chickpeas (#7), Pea Protein (#8)
The top-3 whole plant source is a possibility signal, while the later processed plant protein is a clear protein-support signal.
Because both possible and clear plant-protein signals appear, the protein number is read conservatively.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
CranberryUrinary 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
Salmon, White Fish Meal (Pacific Whiting, Pacific Sole, Pacific Rockfish) supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Tapioca supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.
Pea Protein supplement plant protein further down the list, after the first three ingredients. The crude-protein figure includes both animal and plant contributions. 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, whiting, menhaden, herring, cod. 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.
- Fresh meat carries a moisture variable, and processed plant protein adds a clearer protein-support signal. The crude-protein number should not be read as purely meat protein.
- Whole plant ingredients and later processed plant protein both appear, so the crude-protein number should be read conservatively.
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
- Public-data-first comparison
- Baseline shortlist building
- Conservative first-pass screening
Choose another food first when
- You want a stronger ingredient-quality story first
- You need dog-specific fit instead of public-review screening
High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.
04. COMPARE FOODS
Smart salmon / 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