Inception is built around simple, grain-inclusive recipes with a single animal protein each: chicken, pork or fish. The line has three kibbles and three wet cans. All six contain grain. The kibbles list oats, barley and milo after the meat meal, and the cans use oats or barley. None contains peas, lentils or potato.
The kibbles sit close together. Protein runs 19.5% to 21.5% as fed, fat 14% to 14.5%, and estimated starch 41% to 43%. The kibble protein average of 20.3% is below the catalog kibble average of 26.9%, and the 42.2% starch average is above the catalog's 37.4%. Calories average 392 kcal per cup, close to the catalog's 395. The cans hold 6% to 8% protein at 78% moisture, averaging 6.8% against a wet catalog average of 8.3%.
The trade-off is that this is a moderate-protein, grain-forward line, not a meat-heavy one. Owners who want grain without legumes get a short, clear choice of three proteins in both formats. Those looking for higher protein will find the catalog averages for both kibble and wet food above this line.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Formula | 21.5% | 14% | 41% | 394 | Chicken Meal, Oats, Barley |
| Fish Formula | 20% | 14% | 43% | 391 | Fish Meal, Oats, Barley |
| Pork Formula | 19.5% | 14.5% | 42.5% | 390 | Pork Meal, Oats, Barley |
| Line average | 20.3% | 14.2% | 42.2% | 392 |
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.
21.5% protein · 14% fat · 41% starch · 394 kcal/cup
Chicken meal leads this kibble, and it is the only Inception dry recipe with chicken fat rather than canola oil. It has the most protein (21.5%) and least estimated starch (41%) of the kibbles, suiting owners who want the line's highest-protein dry option.
Full review of Chicken Formula20% protein · 14% fat · 43% starch · 391 kcal/cup
Fish meal is the first ingredient, making this the line's dry choice for owners who want fish over land meats. It has the most estimated starch of the kibbles at 43%, with 20% protein, 7% fiber (the lowest of the three) and 391 kcal per cup.
Full review of Fish Formula19.5% protein · 14.5% fat · 42.5% starch · 390 kcal/cup
Pork meal heads this kibble, making it the only dry Inception recipe for dogs eating pork, and its 14.5% fat is the highest of the kibbles. It also has the least protein at 19.5% and the fewest calories, 390 kcal per cup, with 42.5% estimated starch.
Full review of Pork Formula| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Recipe Food Can | 8% | 3.5% | 78% | 940 | Chicken, Chicken Broth, Oats |
| Pork Recipe Food Can | 6.5% | 5.5% | 78% | 1,133 | Pork, pork broth, barley |
| Fish Recipe Food Can | 6% | 4% | 78% | 944 | Ocean Whitefish, Fish Broth, Barley |
| Line average | 6.8% | 4.3% | 78% | 1,006 |
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 · 3.5% fat · 940 kcal/kg
The chicken can has the most protein of the wet recipes at 8%, along with the least fat (3.5%) and the fewest calories at 940 kcal per kg. It is the only can with oats and agar-agar, suiting owners who want a leaner chicken-based wet food.
Full review of Chicken Recipe Food Can6.5% protein · 5.5% fat · 417 kcal/cup
The pork can has the most fat in the line at 5.5% and the most calories, 1133 kcal per kg or 417 per cup. Pork, pork broth and barley lead the list, suiting dogs that need more energy from wet food or owners rotating away from chicken.
Full review of Pork Recipe Food Can6% protein · 4% fat · 347 kcal/cup
Ocean whitefish leads this can, followed by fish broth, barley and sunflower oil. At 6% protein it is the lowest-protein wet recipe in the line, with 4% fat and 347 kcal per cup, for owners who want a fish-based can with grain.
Full review of Fish Recipe Food CanNo. All six Inception recipes contain grain: the kibbles list oats, barley and milo, the Chicken Recipe Food Can uses oats, and the Fish and Pork cans use barley. None contains peas, lentils or potato.
Among the kibbles, the Chicken Formula has the most protein at 21.5%. Among the cans, the Chicken Recipe Food Can leads at 8%.
The Pork Formula is the lowest-calorie kibble at 390 kcal per cup. In wet food, the Chicken Recipe Food Can has the fewest calories at 940 kcal per kg.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (22.6% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 42% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
0% 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.
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