Naked Essentials is built around named meat first: every one of its 10 recipes leads with chicken, turkey, lamb or beef. Five are kibbles and five are wet stews. Kibble protein runs from 30% to 32% as fed, fat from 14% to 15%, and estimated starch from 32% to 35.5%. The kibbles draw on chicken, turkey, egg, fish, lamb, bison, duck and beef, while the stews pair beef, chicken, turkey, lamb or venison with egg.
Against 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, the line's kibble average of 30.4% protein sits above the 26.9% catalog figure, and its 33.6% estimated starch sits below the 37.4% average. Kibble calories average 413 per cup against a catalog 395. The stews average 7.6% protein, a little under the 8.3% wet catalog average, with 82% moisture across all five.
Three kibbles and all five stews are grain free and contain peas or lentils plus potato. The two Ancient Grains kibbles use ground sorghum and oatmeal and list no peas, lentils or potato. Figures are tightly grouped, so choosing a recipe mostly comes down to protein source and grain preference.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy Grain-Free with Chicken + Lentils | 32% | 15% | 32% | 462 | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal |
| Ancient Grains Recipe with Beef + Lamb | 30% | 15% | 34% | 380 | Beef, Beef Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal |
| Grain-Free with Lamb + Bison | 30% | 15% | 32.5% | 431 | Lamb, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Grain-Free with Chicken + Duck | 30% | 14% | 35.5% | 412 | Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal |
| Ancient Grains Recipe with Chicken + Turkey | 30% | 15% | 34% | 380 | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Line average | 30.4% | 14.8% | 33.6% | 413 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
32% protein · 15% fat · 32% starch · 462 kcal/cup · Puppy
The line's puppy kibble leads with chicken, chicken meal and menhaden fish meal, then peas and lentils. It has the most protein at 32%, the least estimated starch at 32% and the most calories at 462 kcal per cup, suiting growing puppies.
Full review of Puppy Grain-Free with Chicken + Lentils30% protein · 15% fat · 34% starch · 380 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
The only kibble here with beef, led by beef, beef meal and menhaden fish meal, then ground sorghum and oatmeal, with lamb and egg also listed. It shares 30% protein, 34% estimated starch and 380 kcal per cup with its chicken sibling, suiting owners who want red meat and grains without peas.
Full review of Ancient Grains Recipe with Beef + Lamb30% protein · 15% fat · 32.5% starch · 431 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Lamb leads this grain-free kibble, the only one here with bison, alongside chicken meal, turkey meal, garbanzo beans and ground peas. At 30% protein, 32.5% estimated starch, 12% moisture and 431 kcal per cup, it suits owners who prefer red meat listed first.
Full review of Grain-Free with Lamb + Bison30% protein · 14% fat · 35.5% starch · 412 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
The only kibble in the line with duck, built on chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal with dried chickpeas and dried peas. It has the most estimated starch at 35.5% and the lowest fat at 14%, with 412 kcal per cup, suiting poultry-loving dogs.
Full review of Grain-Free with Chicken + Duck30% protein · 15% fat · 34% starch · 380 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
A grain-inclusive kibble led by chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal, with ground sorghum and oatmeal and no peas, lentils or potato. Unlike its Beef + Lamb sibling it lists no fish or red meat, offering 30% protein and 380 kcal per cup for owners wanting poultry with grains.
Full review of Ancient Grains Recipe with Chicken + Turkey| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lambarama Stew | 8% | 5% | 82% | 987 | Lamb, Lamb Broth, Vegetable Broth |
| Cluckin’ Good Stew | 7.5% | 3% | 82% | 852 | Chicken, Chicken Broth, Vegetable Broth |
| Moo Venison Stew Dog Cans | 7.5% | 3% | 82% | 829 | Beef, Beef Broth, Vegetable Broth |
| Gobble It Up Stew | 7.5% | 3% | 82% | 837 | Turkey, Turkey Broth, Vegetable Broth |
| Beef Booyah Stew | 7.5% | 2.5% | 82% | 824 | Beef, Beef Broth, Vegetable Broth |
| Line average | 7.6% | 3.3% | 82% | 866 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
8% protein · 5% fat · 358 kcal/serving
Lamb leads this stew, backed by beef liver and egg, and it carries the line's most fat at 5% and most calories at 987 kcal per kg. Its 8% protein is the highest among the stews, suiting owners who want the most energy per serving, 358 kcal.
Full review of Lambarama Stew7.5% protein · 3% fat · 852 kcal/kg
The only stew in the line built on chicken, with chicken, chicken broth and chicken liver among its first ingredients plus egg. At 7.5% protein, 3% fat and 852 kcal per kg, it suits owners wanting a chicken-based wet food.
Full review of Cluckin’ Good Stew7.5% protein · 3% fat · 829 kcal/kg
This beef-led stew is the only wet recipe here that adds venison, alongside beef broth, beef liver and egg. It lists 7.5% protein, 3% fat and 829 kcal per kg, suiting owners who want beef with a second red meat.
Full review of Moo Venison Stew Dog Cans7.5% protein · 3% fat · 837 kcal/kg
The only turkey stew in the line, with turkey, turkey broth and turkey liver leading the list plus egg. It shows 7.5% protein, 3% fat and 837 kcal per kg, a fit for owners who prefer turkey to chicken.
Full review of Gobble It Up Stew7.5% protein · 2.5% fat · 824 kcal/kg
A straight beef stew with beef, beef broth and beef liver plus egg, and no venison. It has the line's least fat at 2.5% and fewest calories at 824 kcal per kg, suiting owners who want the leanest wet option here.
Full review of Beef Booyah StewEight of the 10 recipes are grain free: all five wet stews and three kibbles. The Ancient Grains Recipe with Chicken + Turkey and Ancient Grains Recipe with Beef + Lamb include ground sorghum and oatmeal.
Among kibbles, Puppy Grain-Free with Chicken + Lentils has the most at 32%. Among the wet stews, Lambarama Stew is highest at 8%.
Eight recipes do: all five stews and the three grain-free kibbles list peas or lentils, along with potato. The two Ancient Grains kibbles contain no peas, lentils or potato.
Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (33.9% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 34% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
80% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 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
I and Love and You Naked Essentials Puppy Grain-Free with Chicken + Lentils Dry Dog Food
35.6% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
I and Love and You Naked Essentials Grain-Free with Lamb + Bison Dry Dog Food
33% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
I and Love and You Naked Essentials Ancient Grains Recipe with Chicken + Turkey Dry Dog Food
380 kcal per cup
beef gullet dog chews
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.
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