Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains Adult Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag

1. 1

   beef

   Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

   protein animal
2. 2

   brown rice

   Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.

   grain
3. 3

   oat meal

   Alternate spelling of oatmeal. Gentle whole grain, steady carb energy, soluble fiber.

4. 4

   pork and bone meal
5. 5

   barley

   Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.

   grain
6. 6

   natural flavor

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

   other
7. 7

   salmon meal

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

   protein animal
8. 8

   pork fat

   Real animal fat from a named species. Clean energy source.

9. 9

   potato protein

   Concentrated potato protein. Like pea protein, it inflates the protein number without matching meat-quality amino acids.

   protein plant
10. 10

    quinoa

    Pseudo-grain with a complete amino acid profile. Rare in dog food because it's expensive.

    grain
11. 11

    flaxseed

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

    fat
12. 12

    dried yeast

    Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.

13. 13

    miscanthus grass

    Perennial grass used as a fiber source. Replaces cellulose in some recipes. Functional but unremarkable.

    fiber
14. 14

    potassium chloride

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

    mineral
15. 15

    salt

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

    mineral
16. 16

    sunflower oil

    Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.

    fat
17. 17

    alfalfa meal

    Dried alfalfa. Real fiber and trace minerals. Functional plant ingredient.

    supplement
18. 18

    choline chloride

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

    supplement
19. 19

    apples

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

    fruit
20. 20

    carrots

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

    vegetable
21. 21

    iron amino acid complex

    Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

    mineral
22. 22

    zinc amino acid complex

    Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.

    mineral
23. 23

    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

    mineral
24. 24

    sodium selenite Flagged

    Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →

    mineral
25. 25

    manganese amino acid complex

    Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

    mineral

Showing first 25 of 38. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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