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Instinct Original Adult Grain-Free Real Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Instinct

Original Adult Grain-Free Real Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $4.20/lb

Instinct Original Adult Grain-Free Real Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 48/100 (C) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Primary concern: contains high legume stacking. multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10...

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. salmon 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

Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..

CIP

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: 42% ⓘ
Protein
37.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
20%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

37 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    salmon

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

  2. 2
    white fish meal
  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
    fish meal

    Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile.

  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
    herring meal

    Concentrated herring with the water removed. Carries protein and omega-3s in one ingredient.

  7. 7
    chickpeas

    Also called garbanzo beans. Affordable plant protein source, part of the legume stack the FDA examined in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

  8. 8
    pea protein

    Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.

  9. 9
    natural flavor

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

  10. 10
    tapioca

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

  11. 11
    dried tomato pomace

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

  12. 12
    carrots

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

  13. 13
    apples

    Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.

  14. 14
    cranberries

    Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.

  15. 15
    montmorillonite clay

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

  16. 16
    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.

  17. 17
    vitamin e supplement

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

  18. 18
    niacin supplement

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

  19. 19
    vitamin a supplement

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

  20. 20
    thiamine mononitrate

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

  21. 21
    d-calcium pantothenate

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

  22. 22
    riboflavin supplement

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

  23. 23
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

  24. 24
    vitamin b12 supplement

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

  25. 25
    folic acid

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

Showing first 25 of 37. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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