Raw Signature is Instinct's frozen raw line, sold as patties and bites and built on meat and organs, with ground bone listed in several recipes. Every recipe is grain free and none contains peas or lentils. Animal proteins across the line are beef, rabbit, pork, lamb, duck, turkey and chicken.
Protein runs from 12% to 15% as fed, fat from 8% to 9%, estimated starch from 0% to 2%, and moisture from 66% to 70%. Energy ranges from 1523 to 1797 kcal per kg. The line averages 13.5% protein and 1% estimated starch, close to the catalog averages of 13.4% and 0.9% for frozen food.
The trade-offs: the rabbit and duck recipes and the lamb patties reach 15% protein, while the chicken and beef recipes and the lamb bites sit at 12% and list potato. The rabbit, duck and lamb bites recipes draw on a second animal (pork, turkey or beef), so the named meat is not the only one. Three recipes are marked discontinued, including both duck options.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patties Real Rabbit Recipe Frozen | 15% | 9% | 2% | 410 | Rabbit (including Ground Rabbit Bone), Pork Liver, Pork Heart |
| Patties Real Lamb Recipe Frozen | 15% | 8% | 1% | 368 | Lamb, Lamb Liver, Ground Lamb Bone |
| Patties Real Duck Recipe Frozen | 15% | 9% | 1% | 410 | Duck (including Ground Duck Bone), Turkey Heart, Turkey Liver |
| Bites Real Rabbit Recipe Frozen | 15% | 9% | 2% | 197 | Rabbit (including Ground Rabbit Bone), Pork Liver, Pork Heart |
| Bites Real Duck Recipe Frozen | 15% | 9% | 1% | 198 | Duck (including Ground Duck Bone), Turkey Heart, Turkey Liver |
| Patties Real Chicken Recipe Frozen | 12% | 9% | 0% | 1,596 | Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart |
| Patties Real Beef Recipe Frozen | 12% | 8% | 1% | 1,523 | Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney |
| Bites Real Chicken Recipe Frozen | 12% | 9% | 0% | 1,596 | Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart |
| Bites Real Beef Recipe Frozen | 12% | 8% | 1% | 1,523 | Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney |
| Bites Real Lamb Recipe Frozen | 12% | 8% | 1% | 1,610 | Lamb, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney |
| Line average | 13.5% | 8.6% | 1% | 943 |
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.
15% protein · 9% fat · 2% starch · 410 kcal/patty · All Life Stages
The patty version of the rabbit recipe pairs rabbit and ground rabbit bone with pork liver, heart and fat, at 15% protein and 410 kcal per patty. Its 2% estimated starch ties for the highest in the line, and it suits owners who want rabbit in portioned patties.
Full review of Patties Real Rabbit Recipe Frozen15% protein · 8% fat · 1% starch · 368 kcal/patty · All Life Stages
This is the only recipe in the line whose animal protein is lamb alone, with lamb liver, bone, kidney and spleen following lamb at 15% protein and 368 kcal per patty. It suits owners looking for a single-animal lamb recipe, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Patties Real Lamb Recipe Frozen15% protein · 9% fat · 1% starch · 410 kcal/patty · All Life Stages
Duck with ground duck bone leads, followed by turkey heart, liver and bone, at 15% protein and 410 kcal per patty. It shares the line's highest energy figure of 1797 kcal per kg and suits owners wanting chicken-free poultry patties, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Patties Real Duck Recipe Frozen15% protein · 9% fat · 2% starch · 197 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Rabbit with ground rabbit bone leads, backed by pork liver, heart, bone and fat, in bite form at 197 kcal per cup. With 15% protein and 2% estimated starch, it suits owners who want the rabbit recipe in small pieces rather than patties.
Full review of Bites Real Rabbit Recipe Frozen15% protein · 9% fat · 1% starch · 198 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Duck and ground duck bone lead, with turkey heart, liver and bone behind, at 198 kcal per cup, 15% protein and 9% fat. It suits owners who want a chicken-free poultry recipe in bite form, though it is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Bites Real Duck Recipe Frozen12% protein · 9% fat · 0% starch · 1,596 kcal/kg · All Life Stages
The patty form of the chicken recipe lists chicken, chicken liver and heart, then carrots and apples, and potato appears on the label. At 0% estimated starch and 12% protein, it suits owners who want chicken patties at the lowest starch figure in the line.
Full review of Patties Real Chicken Recipe Frozen12% protein · 8% fat · 1% starch · 1,523 kcal/kg · All Life Stages
The patty form of the beef recipe lists beef, beef liver, kidney and spleen before carrots, and it includes potato. At 1523 kcal per kg it shares the lowest energy figure in the line, suiting owners who want beef patties with 12% protein and 8% fat.
Full review of Patties Real Beef Recipe Frozen12% protein · 9% fat · 0% starch · 1,596 kcal/kg · All Life Stages
The bite form of the chicken recipe is built on chicken, chicken liver and heart, then carrots and apples, with potato on the label and 0% estimated starch. At 70% moisture and 12% protein, it suits owners who want chicken in small frozen pieces.
Full review of Bites Real Chicken Recipe Frozen12% protein · 8% fat · 1% starch · 1,523 kcal/kg · All Life Stages
The bite form of the beef recipe puts beef, beef liver, kidney and spleen ahead of carrots, plus potato. Its 1523 kcal per kg and 8% fat suit owners who want beef in small pieces at the lower end of the line for energy.
Full review of Bites Real Beef Recipe Frozen12% protein · 8% fat · 1% starch · 1,610 kcal/kg · All Life Stages
Unlike the lamb patties, these bites follow lamb with beef liver, kidney and spleen, then carrots, and they contain potato. Protein is 12% against 15% in the lamb patties, so they suit owners who want lamb in bite form and are fine with beef in the mix.
Full review of Bites Real Lamb Recipe FrozenYes. All 10 Raw Signature recipes are grain free and none contain peas or lentils. Potato appears in the chicken and beef recipes, in both patties and bites, and in the Bites Real Lamb Recipe.
The rabbit and duck recipes, in both patties and bites, plus the Patties Real Lamb Recipe each show 15% protein as fed, the highest in the line. The chicken and beef recipes and the Bites Real Lamb Recipe show 12%.
No. The Patties Real Lamb Recipe lists lamb as its only animal protein and shows 15% protein, while the Bites Real Lamb Recipe adds beef liver, kidney and spleen, contains potato and shows 12% protein. The lamb patties are marked discontinued.
Protein runs lower than the average frozen food we review (42.6% vs 47.5% on a dry matter basis).
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.
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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