Bison & Rice Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag

1. 1

   bison meal
2. 2

   rice

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

   grain
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 →

   legume
4. 4

   brown rice

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

   grain
5. 5

   beef meal

   Beef cooked down to a dry concentrate. More protein per pound than fresh beef.

   protein animal
6. 6

   pea starch

   Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.

7. 7

   chicken fat

   Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.

   fat
8. 8

   pea protein

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

   protein plant
9. 9

   rice

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

   grain
10. 10

    dried beet pulp

    Soluble fiber from sugar-beet processing. Sometimes treated as a filler, but it's actually one of the better fiber sources in kibble.

    fiber
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

    dl-methionine

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

    supplement
13. 13

    salt

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

    mineral
14. 14

    potassium chloride

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

    mineral
15. 15

    choline chloride

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

    supplement
16. 16

    vitamin e supplement

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

    vitamin
17. 17

    niacin supplement

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

    vitamin
18. 18

    calcium pantothenate

    Same as d-calcium pantothenate. Vitamin B5 in standardized form.

    vitamin
19. 19

    vitamin a supplement

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

    vitamin
20. 20

    riboflavin supplement

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

    vitamin
21. 21

    thiamine mononitrate

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

    vitamin
22. 22

    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

    vitamin
23. 23

    biotin

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

    vitamin
24. 24

    vitamin b12 supplement

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

    vitamin
25. 25

    vitamin d3 supplement

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

    vitamin

Showing first 25 of 26. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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