Label analysisGrade CKibble (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 4,400 kcal/kg, I would recommend it for active dogs that do better on fish than chicken, not for weight-control or legume-sensitive dogs.

Logic-based verdict

This food can stay in comparison, but ingredient quality still needs a more conservative read.

Manufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Protein source

Ingredient 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 ingredients

Nutrient guide

Cranberry

Urinary support ingredient

Probiotics

Gut support ingredient

Omega-3

Skin and joint support ingredient

Omega-6

Skin and coat support ingredient

Vitamin E

Antioxidant and skin support ingredient

View full ingredients
Solid build

Ingredient grade

B

Grade B

Top ingredient profile

Salmon
White Fish Meal
Peas
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein37.5%
Crude protein37.5%
Crude fat21%
Other 42%

Calcium

1.5%

Phosphorus

1%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Higher
query_statsFat position
Higher
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Higher

There is enough public data to keep this food in comparison, but the top ingredient structure does not support a stronger positive claim yet.

Nutritional strengths

  • 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.

What still needs work

  • 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.

Alternative foods

Smart salmon / whitefish alternatives

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

46 alternativesKibble (Extruded) · protein type/family cohort

Other recipes from the same brand

Other recipes from the same brand with a different purpose or feeding target.

Instinct

Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Adult

Adult · All sizes

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Instinct

Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Beef

Adult · All sizes

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Instinct

Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Salmon

Adult · All sizes

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Instinct

Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken

Adult · All sizes

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

3.5/5

Grade C

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 2002 in the United States. This brand has a confirmed public recall history.

Ingredient analysis

The top ingredients give this recipe a strong first protein read, so the ingredient section starts from a favorable position.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

B4.5/6
Ingredient Grade
Good
1Salmon
Fresh Meat · Top
2White Fish Meal
Named Meal · Upper
3Peas
Whole Plant Protein · Lower

Ingredient Analysis Comments

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

Full collected ingredient list

21 ingredients
SalmonWhite Fish Meal (Pacific Whiting, Pacific Sole, Pacific Rockfish)PeasMenhaden Fish MealCanola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid)Herring MealChickpeasPea ProteinNatural FlavorTapiocaDried Tomato PomaceCarrotsApplesCranberriesMontmorillonite ClayVitamins (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)Choline ChlorideMinerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide)Freeze Dried CodDried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation ProductRosemary Extract
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Alternative protein
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why processed plant proteins are reviewed cautiously

Ingredient lists are ordered by input weight, not protein contribution. Fresh meat 100g and Soybean Meal 50g can both contribute about 20g of protein, and Pea Protein can deliver a similar amount at around 30g. So these ingredients can materially lift crude protein even outside the top three. The review treats processed plant-protein boosters cautiously because they can weaken the animal-protein-centered profile most guardians expect from a high-protein food.

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

C1 tier

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

Final word

There is enough here to keep the food in comparison, but not enough to stop comparing yet.

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