Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (34.3% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 32% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (90% across the site).
87% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 2,491 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon Dry Dog Food
41.7% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food
24% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken For Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
368 kcal per cup
Instinct is made by Nature's Variety, which does business as Instinct Pet Food and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The brand is known for raw pet food, including frozen raw meals, freeze-dried raw meals, raw toppers and kibble mixed with freeze-dried raw pieces, along with wet food for dogs and cats. 1, 2
The company says its frozen and freeze-dried raw recipes are made in company-owned facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska, while its kibble is made with manufacturing partners in the United States and its wet recipes are made by co-packers in Kansas and Thailand. In June 2024 the company opened the first phase of a LEED-certified Center of Excellence in Lincoln that makes frozen and freeze-dried food and brings raw production from several sites onto one campus. 3, 4
The company says the brand grew out of raw diets fed to tigers at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, and that it has sold raw food for dogs and cats since 2002. The Spanish food group Agrolimen formed a joint venture with Nature's Variety's shareholders in 2014 and bought the remaining interest in the company in May 2016. 5, 6, 7
The company says its Lincoln facilities hold SQF food safety and quality certification. In 2015 Nature's Variety voluntarily recalled some Instinct Raw Chicken Formula for dogs because of possible Salmonella contamination. 3, 8
Researched from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Instinct® Raw Chicken Formula for dogs
Pet food
Instinct partnered with Demand Chain AI to improve its demand forecasting, production scheduling and inventory planning as the company grows. Pet Age
Instinct finished the first phase of its Center of Excellence in Lincoln, Nebraska, which makes freeze-dried and frozen pet food and brings operations from several locations onto one campus. Full completion was expected in March 2025. Food Processing
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
Copied. Paste it anywhere your friends will see it.
Want the reason behind every answer? The 80-page e-book, $7.99
Now, is your dog's food any good?
Look it up: estimated starch, calories per cup and every ingredient, for 2,493 foods.
