This line is built around a single main animal protein in most recipes, paired with brown rice or with sweet potato, potato and cassava. Across 27 kibbles, protein runs from 20% to 32% and estimated starch from 33.5% to 50%, as fed. Chicken appears in 8 kibbles, fish in 7, lamb in 5 and duck in 4, with beef, bison, turkey, venison and egg in fewer. Fourteen kibbles are grain free and 8 contain peas or lentils. One wet recipe, a grain-free salmon and sweet potato can, rounds out the line.
Against 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, the line averages 25% protein versus 26.9%, 42.8% estimated starch versus 37.4%, and 361 kcal per cup versus 395. The wet recipe has 5% protein against a wet catalog average of 8.3%.
The trade-off is a split line. The grain-free Beef, Lamb, Pollock and Turkey kibbles reach 32% protein with the least starch, but they lean on pea protein, peas and chickpeas, and all are marked discontinued. Most remaining recipes skip legumes yet carry more starch, and the Sweet Potato & Bison and Sweet Potato & Venison kibbles list sweet potatoes first with 20% protein.
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 · 14% fat · 33.5% starch · 338 kcal/cup · Adult
The grain-free lamb kibble swaps rice for pea protein, chickpeas and peas, reaching 32% protein and 33.5% estimated starch at 338 kcal per cup. It is marked discontinued and suited adult dogs eating lamb whose owners wanted more protein and did not mind legumes.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Lamb32% protein · 14% fat · 33.5% starch · 369 kcal/cup · Adult
The Small Breed Bites version of the grain-free beef recipe shares its full-size mate's label figures, including 32% protein, 14% fat and 369 kcal per cup, in a bite sold for small dogs. It is marked discontinued and suited small adults eating beef with no grain.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef Small Breed Bites32% protein · 14% fat · 33.5% starch · 367 kcal/cup · Adult
The only kibble in the line led by pollock, it pairs whitefish meal with garbanzo beans, peas and pea protein for 32% protein and 14% fat. It is marked discontinued and suited adult dogs eating fish whose owners wanted a high protein, grain-free option.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Pollock32% protein · 14% fat · 33.5% starch · 336 kcal/cup · Adult
The only kibble here with turkey, it lists turkey and turkey meal ahead of chickpeas, peas and pea starch, with the fewest calories per cup (336) of the 32% protein kibbles. It is marked discontinued and suited adult dogs eating poultry with no grain.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Turkey32% protein · 14% fat · 33.5% starch · 369 kcal/cup · Adult
The standard-size grain-free beef kibble hits the line high of 32% protein and low of 33.5% estimated starch, with beef first and pea protein, peas, chickpeas and beef meal behind it. Marked discontinued, it suited adult dogs eating beef whose owners did not mind legumes.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef27% protein · 11% fat · 41% starch · 333 kcal/cup · Adult
On The Move pairs chicken and chicken meal with menhaden fish meal and is the only kibble here with barley among its first ingredients. It has 27% protein, 11% fat and 41% estimated starch, is marked discontinued, and suited adults eating a chicken and fish grain recipe.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of On The Move26% protein · 7.5% fat · 40% starch · 315 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold as a low calorie food, Fat Dogs has the least fat (7.5%) and fewest calories (315 kcal per cup) of any kibble in the line, plus 10.5% fiber. It mixes chicken meal, salmon meal and egg with chickpeas, dried peas and oat groats for owners tracking calories.
Full review of Fat Dogs Low Calorie25% protein · 12% fat · 43% starch · 395 kcal/cup · Puppy
The only puppy recipe built on duck, it has more protein (25%) and fat (12%) than the adult duck and potato kibbles, at 395 kcal per cup. It suits puppies whose owners want a grain-free, pea-free formula without chicken.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Dry Puppy24% protein · 10% fat · 46% starch · 400 kcal/cup · Adult
Tied for the most calories per cup in the line at 400, this small breed bite pairs chicken and chicken meal with sweet potatoes, cassava flour and potatoes. It suits small adult dogs that need a calorie-dense, grain-free chicken kibble without peas.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites24% protein · 10% fat · 46% starch · 375 kcal/cup · Adult
Duck and duck meal lead this small breed bite, with potatoes listed ahead of sweet potatoes, unlike the salmon and chicken bites that put sweet potatoes third. It has 24% protein and 375 kcal per cup and suits small adult dogs eating duck with no grain or peas.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Small Breed Bites24% protein · 10% fat · 45.5% starch · 400 kcal/cup · Adult
The lamb Small Breed Bites have more protein (24%) and less fat (10%) than the standard lamb and brown rice kibble, and tie for the most calories per cup in the line at 400. They suit small adult dogs eating lamb with grain.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites24% protein · 12.5% fat · 43% starch · 365 kcal/cup · Puppy
The only lamb recipe sold for puppies, it has 24% protein and 12.5% fat, the most fat among the lamb and rice kibbles, at 365 kcal per cup. It suits puppies eating lamb and grain, though unlike the adult lamb and rice recipes it is flagged as containing potato.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Dry Puppy Food24% protein · 10% fat · 45.5% starch · 365 kcal/cup · Adult
Salmon and menhaden fish meal lead this small breed bite, followed by sweet potatoes, cassava flour and potatoes, with no grain, peas or lentils. At 24% protein and 365 kcal per cup, it suits small adult dogs eating fish.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites24% protein · 10% fat · 46% starch · 387 kcal/cup · Adult
The full-size grain-free chicken and sweet potato kibble has 24% protein and 387 kcal per cup, a little below its Small Breed Bites mate. It suits adult dogs of any size eating chicken whose owners want neither grain nor peas.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato24% protein · 10% fat · 46% starch · 375 kcal/cup · Adult
The full-size grain-free duck kibble shares its figures with the duck Small Breed Bites, 24% protein, 10% fat and 375 kcal per cup, with duck, duck meal and potatoes first. It is sold for adult dogs of all sizes and fits owners avoiding both grain and legumes.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato24% protein · 10% fat · 45.5% starch · 365 kcal/cup · Puppy
The full-size grain-free salmon kibble matches the salmon Small Breed Bites on 24% protein and 45.5% estimated starch but is listed for puppies rather than adults. It suits owners wanting a fish-based, pea-free and grain-free option for a young dog of any size.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato24% protein · 12% fat · 44% starch · 370 kcal/cup · Puppy
This chicken puppy kibble has 24% protein and 370 kcal per cup, more protein and calories than the adult chicken and brown rice kibbles. It is marked discontinued and suited puppies on a grain-inclusive chicken diet.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy24% protein · 12% fat · 43.5% starch · 385 kcal/cup · Puppy
Sold for puppies, this salmon and brown rice kibble has the most calories per kilogram in the line at 3,740, and 385 kcal per cup. It suits puppies eating fish whose owners want grain and no peas or lentils.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Brown Rice Puppy24% protein · 12% fat · 43.5% starch · 360 kcal/cup · Adult
The adult salmon and brown rice kibble shares the puppy version's 24% protein and 43.5% estimated starch but has 360 kcal per cup instead of 385. It suits adult dogs eating fish with grain, with salmon and menhaden fish meal leading the list.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Brown Rice23% protein · 12% fat · 44.5% starch · 322 kcal/cup · Adult
The standard chicken and brown rice kibble lists chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, brewers rice and rice bran, with 23% protein and 12% fat. At 322 kcal per cup it is among the lower calorie recipes and suits adult dogs on a grain-inclusive chicken diet.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Brown Rice23% protein · 12% fat · 44.5% starch · 322 kcal/cup · Adult
This Small Breed Bites version matches the standard chicken and brown rice kibble on every figure, including 23% protein and 322 kcal per cup, in a smaller piece. It is marked discontinued and suited small adults eating chicken with rice.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites23% protein · 12% fat · 44.5% starch · 320 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for large breeds, this chicken and brown rice kibble has 320 kcal per cup, the lowest of the chicken and rice recipes, with 23% protein and 44.5% estimated starch. It is marked discontinued and suited large adult dogs eating chicken and grain.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Brown Rice Large Breed Bites22% protein · 12% fat · 46% starch · 375 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for large breeds, this lamb and brown rice kibble shares the standard lamb version's 22% protein and 46% estimated starch, at 375 kcal per cup. It fits large adult dogs eating lamb whose owners want grain and no legumes.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Large Breed Bites22% protein · 12% fat · 46% starch · 370 kcal/cup · Adult
The standard lamb and brown rice kibble lists lamb ahead of brown rice and lamb meal, with 22% protein, 12% fat and 46% estimated starch at 370 kcal per cup. It suits adult dogs of any size eating lamb with grain and no peas or lentils.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice21% protein · 14% fat · 44.5% starch · 340 kcal/cup · Adult
The only duck recipe with grain, it pairs duck and duck meal with brown rice, brewers rice and rice bran, and has 14% fat with 21% protein. It suits adult dogs eating duck whose owners would rather feed grain than potato.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Duck & Brown Rice20% protein · 10% fat · 50% starch · 375 kcal/cup · Adult
This kibble has the most estimated starch in the line at 50% and is the only one with bison, listed after sweet potatoes and followed by potato protein and pea protein. With 20% protein and marked discontinued, it suited owners seeking an uncommon red meat who accepted a starch-heavy recipe.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Bison20% protein · 10% fat · 49% starch · 342 kcal/cup · Adult
The only kibble here with venison, it lists sweet potatoes first, then venison, pea protein and potato protein, with 20% protein and 49% estimated starch. It suits adult dogs whose owners want an uncommon red meat and accept one of the line's starchiest recipes.
Full review of L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Venison| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Potato & Salmon Recipe Grain-Free | 5% | 4% | 78% | 1,080 | Salmon Broth, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes |
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.
5% protein · 4% fat · 399 kcal/can
The only wet recipe in the line, this grain-free can lists salmon broth, sweet potatoes and potatoes ahead of whitefish and salmon. It has 5% protein, 4% fat and 78% moisture at 399 kcal per can, suiting owners who want a fish-based wet food without peas or lentils.
Full review of Sweet Potato & Salmon Recipe Grain-FreePartly. Fourteen of the 27 kibbles are grain free, such as Grain-Free Duck & Potato and Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato, and the wet Sweet Potato & Salmon Recipe is grain free too. Recipes like Lamb & Brown Rice and Chicken & Brown Rice include brown rice and brewers rice.
The grain-free Beef, Beef Small Breed Bites, Lamb, Pollock and Turkey kibbles share the line high of 32% protein, as fed, but all five are marked discontinued. Of the recipes not marked discontinued, Fat Dogs Low Calorie is highest at 26%.
Eight of the 27 kibbles contain peas or lentils, including Fat Dogs Low Calorie, Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Venison and the 32% protein grain-free recipes. The rice and potato based recipes, such as Grain-Free Duck & Potato and Salmon & Brown Rice, and the wet recipe do not.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (27.8% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 43% of the food as fed.
93% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
54% 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
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Beef Small Breed Bites Dry Dog Food
35.6% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Pollock Dry Dog Food
34% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Natural Balance Fat Dogs Low Calorie Dry Dog Food
315 kcal per cup
Correction to date codes in May 4 2012 Natural Balance recall
Certain dry dog and cat foods made at Diamond Gaston, SC plant
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
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
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Now, is your dog's food any good?
Look it up: estimated starch, calories per cup and every ingredient, for 3,207 foods.
