Skip to main content
Sniff
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food, 12-lb bag
Natural Balance

Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food, 12-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry $4.00/lb

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food, 12-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 59/100 (C) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. salmon delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 2

  • menadione
    Synthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.
  • 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: 27% ⓘ
Protein
24%
min (as fed)
Fat
10%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

40 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
    salmon meal

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

  3. 3
    sweet potato

    Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.

  4. 4
    potato

    Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.

  5. 5
    dried yeast

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

  6. 6
    tapoica starch
  7. 7
    dried plain beet pulp

    Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

  8. 8
    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.

  9. 9
    flaxseed

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

  10. 10
    natural flavor

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

  11. 11
    dicalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.

  12. 12
    choline chloride

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

  13. 13
    vitamin e supplement

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

  14. 14
    ascorbic acid

    Vitamin C. Pulls double duty as a natural antioxidant preservative.

  15. 15
    niacin supplement

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

  16. 16
    vitamin a supplement

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

  17. 17
    menadione Flagged

    Same as menadione sodium bisulfite complex. Synthetic K3, banned in human supplements but the only AAFCO-approved K source, which is why even premium brands use it. See why →

  18. 18
    thiamine mononitrate

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

  19. 19
    d-calcium pantothenate

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

  20. 20
    riboflavin supplement

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

  21. 21
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

  22. 22
    vitamin b12 supplement

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

  23. 23
    folic acid

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

  24. 24
    biotin

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

  25. 25
    potassium chloride

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

Showing first 25 of 40. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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