Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Salmon Meal Formula Dry Dog Food

Dry food for dogs · by Instinct

See the full breakdown in Beagly

What to watch for

• Peas Moderate risk
  Peas add plant protein, starch and fiber. The FDA has been investigating reports of heart disease (DCM) in dogs eating diets high in peas, lentils and other legumes, often grain-free. No cause has been proven, but it is worth knowing when legumes sit near the top of the list.
• Chickpeas Moderate risk
  Chickpeas add plant protein, starch and fiber. The FDA has been investigating reports of heart disease (DCM) in dogs eating diets high in peas, lentils and other legumes, often grain-free. No cause has been proven, but it is worth knowing when legumes sit near the top of the list.
• Natural flavor Low risk
  Flavoring from natural sources. Normally safe, but the term can hide which animal or plant it came from, which matters for allergies.
• Salt Low risk
  Salt supplies sodium and chloride, which dogs need. Pet foods use small amounts; high salt is mainly a concern for dogs with heart or kidney disease.
• Copper sulfate Low risk
  A source of copper, an essential trace mineral. Some breeds accumulate copper in the liver, and vets have raised concern that some dog foods supply more than dogs need.

What it does well

• High protein 38.9%
  30% or more on a dry-matter basis.
• Named meat first
  First ingredient is salmon meal.

Ingredients

Salmon Meal, Salmon, Tapioca, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Menhaden Fish Meal, White Fish Meal (Pacific Whiting, Pacific Sole, Pacific Rockfish), Herring Meal, Peas, Tomato Pomace, Chickpeas, Natural Flavor, Montmorillonite Clay, Potassium Chloride, Carrots, Apples, Cranberries, Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Freeze Dried Cod, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract.

Guaranteed analysis

What the label cannot tell you

• Ingredient order is by weight before cooking; fresh meat counts water.
• Mineral levels are not printed on this label.
• We could not find the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for this product. Scan the bag to confirm it is complete and balanced.

Sizes and barcodes

• Nature's Variety Instinct Grain-Free Salmon Meal Formula Dry Dog Food, 4.4 lb - 4.4 lbs UPC 769949603603

Higher-scoring dry food for dogs

• Acana Wholesome Grains Dry Food for Dogs - Sea to Stream 94/100 · Excellent
• Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi 94/100 · Excellent
• Wellness CORE+ High Protein With-Grain Adult Dry Dog Food - Turkey & Chicken 93/100 · Excellent
• Wellness CORE+ High Protein With-Grain Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food - Turkey 93/100 · Excellent
• Farmina N&D Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Adult Medium & Maxi 92/100 · Excellent

More from Instinct

• Instinct Freshly Crafted Meals Adult Wet Dog Food - Beef 87/100 · Excellent
• Instinct Freshly Crafted Meals Adult Wet Dog Food - Chicken 87/100 · Excellent
• Instinct Freshly Crafted Meals Adult Wet Dog Food - Pork 87/100 · Excellent
• Instinct RawBoost Whole Grain Kibble + Freeze-Dried Raw Puppy Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice 87/100 · Excellent
• Instinct FreshDried Meal Blends Adult Freeze-Dried Dog Food - Beef & Wild Berry 86/100 · Excellent

Informational, not veterinary advice. The score is our opinion of a food, built from the facts on its label with our published method. No brand pays to rank higher. Recipes change: check the bag you have, or scan it in the app.

Score version 2026.11.6 · Page updated 2026-11-03