Metabolic Chicken Flavor Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12

1. 1

   water

   Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.

2. 2

   pork liver

   Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.

   protein animal
3. 3

   whole grain corn

   Whole corn with the kernel intact. Decent fiber and B vitamins, though it can crowd out meat in cheaper recipes.

   grain
4. 4

   chicken

   Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

   protein animal
5. 5

   powdered cellulose

   Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.

   fiber
6. 6

   rice

   Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.

   grain
7. 7

   pork by-products

   Generic pork organs and tissue without species-specific traceability. Named by-products are more transparent.

8. 8

   dried tomato pomace

   The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.

9. 9

   flaxseed

   Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

   fat
10. 10

    egg whites
11. 11

    coconut oil

    Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.

    fat
12. 12

    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

    mineral
13. 13

    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

    mineral
14. 14

    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

    supplement
15. 15

    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

    vegetable
16. 16

    lipoic acid
17. 17

    sodium tripolyphosphate

    Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.

    mineral
18. 18

    leucine
19. 19

    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

    mineral
20. 20

    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

    supplement
21. 21

    l-carnitine

    Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.

    supplement
22. 22

    zinc oxide

    Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.

23. 23

    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

    mineral
24. 24

    manganese sulfate

    Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.

    mineral
25. 25

    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

    mineral

Showing first 25 of 27. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.