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Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Real Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Instinct

Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Real Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $4.25/lb

Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Adult Grain-Free Real Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 57/100 (C) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. salmon meal delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 31% ⓘ
Protein
28%
min (as fed)
Fat
18%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

31 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    salmon meal

    Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient.

  2. 2
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

  3. 3
    peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

  4. 4
    tapioca

    Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.

  5. 5
    canola oil

    Plant oil. Some omega-3 from the parent plant, though dogs absorb it less efficiently than fish-derived omega-3. Fine in moderation.

  6. 6
    montmorillonite clay

    Natural clay used as a binder and anti-caking agent. Functional, not nutritional.

  7. 7
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  8. 8
    potassium chloride

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

  9. 9
    salt

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

  10. 10
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  11. 11
    coconut oil

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

  12. 12
    l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate

    A stable form of vitamin C used in pet food. Provides antioxidant support and survives processing better than plain ascorbic acid.

  13. 13
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  14. 14
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

  15. 15
    thiamine mononitrate

    B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.

  16. 16
    d-calcium pantothenate

    B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  17. 17
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  18. 18
    riboflavin supplement

    B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.

  19. 19
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

    B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.

  20. 20
    vitamin b12 supplement

    Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.

  21. 21
    folic acid

    B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.

  22. 22
    vitamin d3 supplement

    The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

  23. 23
    biotin

    B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  24. 24
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

  25. 25
    iron proteinate

    Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

Showing first 25 of 31. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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