Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet is a grain-free kibble line of four adult recipes. It is sold as a limited ingredient diet, and each recipe uses one animal protein: lamb, salmon or turkey (turkey appears in two). Every recipe opens with a meat meal and the matching meat, with tapioca, peas and canola oil close behind.
Protein runs from 24% in the Lamb recipe to 30.5% in the Small Breed Turkey recipe. Fat ranges from 18% to 21.5%, and estimated starch from 32% to 36.5%, all as fed. Compared with the catalog kibble average, the line averages 27.1% protein against 26.9%, 34.6% estimated starch against 37.4%, and 482 kcal per cup against 395.
Protein sits close to the catalog average, so the line stands out for its short protein list, not for extra meat. All four recipes contain peas, which matters to owners who avoid legumes. Each cup carries more calories than the typical kibble in the catalog. Both turkey recipes are marked discontinued, which leaves Lamb and Salmon as the current choices.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey | 30.5% | 18.5% | 32% | 469 | Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Turkey, Tapioca |
| Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon | 28% | 18% | 35% | 493 | Salmon Meal, Salmon, Peas |
| Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey | 26% | 18% | 36.5% | 469 | Turkey Meal, Peas, Turkey |
| Grain-Free Recipe with Real Lamb | 24% | 21.5% | 35% | 495 | Lamb Meal, Lamb, Tapioca |
| Line average | 27.1% | 19% | 34.6% | 482 |
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.
30.5% protein · 18.5% fat · 32% starch · 469 kcal/cup · Adult
Made for small breed adults, this recipe has the most protein in the line at 30.5% and the least estimated starch at 32%. The label names its turkey meal as a source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, and it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey28% protein · 18% fat · 35% starch · 493 kcal/cup · Adult
This is the only fish recipe in the line, built on salmon meal and salmon, with peas listed ahead of tapioca. At 28% protein, 18% fat and 493 kcal per cup, and with no discontinued mark, it suits owners who want a fish-based kibble from this line.
Full review of Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon26% protein · 18% fat · 36.5% starch · 469 kcal/cup · Adult
Peas come second in this recipe, after turkey meal and ahead of turkey, and it has the most estimated starch in the line at 36.5%. With 26% protein and 469 kcal per cup, it suits owners already feeding turkey, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey24% protein · 21.5% fat · 35% starch · 495 kcal/cup · Adult
This is the only lamb recipe in the line, with lamb meal and lamb listed ahead of tapioca and peas. It has the least protein in the line at 24% but the most fat at 21.5% and the most calories at 495 kcal per cup, which suits owners who want lamb with richer fat content.
Full review of Grain-Free Recipe with Real LambYes. All four recipes (Lamb, Salmon, Turkey and Small Breed Turkey) are grain free and contain no potato. Every one of them contains peas.
The Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey has the most protein at 30.5% as fed, and the Lamb recipe has the least at 24%. The Small Breed recipe is marked discontinued. Of the two current recipes, Salmon has more protein at 28%.
Each recipe uses one animal protein. The Lamb recipe uses lamb, the Salmon recipe uses salmon, and the Turkey and Small Breed Turkey recipes both use turkey.
Protein is close to the average kibble we review (30.2% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 35% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
100% 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
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey Dry Dog Food
33.9% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon Dry Dog Food
35% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Turkey Dry Dog Food
469 kcal per cup
Instinct® Raw Chicken Formula for dogs
Pet food
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
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