Label analysisGrade DListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Solid Gold

Solid Gold Leaping Waters Salmon & Vegetable Grain-Free

Calculate portions with this foodChoosing for your dog
Editor ingredient insight

Solid Gold Leaping Waters Salmon starts with salmon, ocean fish meal, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, peas, and chicken fat.

It is worth considering for fish-tolerant adults, not for legume avoidance or strict chicken-component avoidance.

Fresh-meat leadPlant 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 26%Fat 15%Other 59%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 positionTypical

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

Calorie densityTypical

This food sits around the typical calorie range among extruded foods. Check the feeding guide and weight trend alongside this comparison.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
CalciumNot disclosed
PhosphorusNot disclosed
Crude fiber4%
Omega-3Not disclosed
Omega-6Not disclosed

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
C3/6Ingredient gradeMixed
Ingredient #1 · SalmonTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Ocean Fish MealMid
Family Meal
Ingredient #3 · ChickpeasLower
Whole Plant Protein
Ingredient #1Top

Salmon

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

Ingredient #2Mid

Ocean Fish Meal

Ocean Fish Meal is a family-level animal meal. Animal protein is present, but species transparency is one step lower. It reads as an mid-tier protein source.

Ingredient #3Lower

Chickpeas

Chickpeas 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 ingredientsOcean Fish Meal — Support positive ingredientsChickpeas — Caution ingredientsSweet Potatoes — Neutral ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsChicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols) — Neutral ingredientsTapioca — Neutral ingredientsLentils — Caution ingredientsGround Flaxseed — Neutral ingredientsAnimal Plasma — High-caution ingredientsSalmon Meal — Support positive ingredientsPea Fiber — Neutral ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsSpray Dried Animal Blood Cells — High-caution ingredientsDicalcium Phosphate — Neutral ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsL-Threonine — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsPumpkin — Neutral ingredientsBlueberries — Neutral ingredientsCranberries — Neutral ingredientsVitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source Of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid) — Support positive ingredientsDL-Methionine — Neutral ingredientsMinerals (Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate) — Support positive ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsSalmon Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols) — Support positive ingredientsDried Chicory Root — Support positive ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsRosemary Extract — Neutral ingredientsDried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product. — Support positive ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Unclear animal protein source

Animal protein · Salmon (#1), Ocean Fish Meal (#2), Animal Plasma (#10), Salmon Meal (#11), Spray Dried Animal Blood Cells (#14)

Plant protein · Chickpeas (#3), Peas (#5), Lentils (#8)

Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.

Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
CranberryUrinary support ingredientSalmon oilSkin and joint support ingredientChicoryGut support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientProbioticsGut support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

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

Chickpeas, Peas contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber among the leading ingredients. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone. Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols) 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, unspecified. 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 does not drop into a clearly low band.

Check before feeding

  • 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.
  • Plant proteins can lift crude protein on the label, but the real animal-protein share still needs a closer check.
  • 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 typical, fat is typical, and calorie density is typical. Calorie density alone does not separate this into an active-dog or weight-management food. Consider protein exclusions and fat, then set portions for the dog’s weight and activity.

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

Plant-protein concentration 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

Solid Gold background

Founded in 1974 in the United States.

Disclosure confidence D

Only basic guaranteed analysis is visible, so deeper nutrition comparison stays hard to trust.

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed recall history, including the 2012 Diamond-manufactured recall.

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.

Treat this review as an early screen. If the food stays interesting, verify it again with your dog-specific context before acting.