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Instinct Dog Food Review

Company HQ

Lincoln, Nebraska

Parent company

M.I. Industries

Sourcing and Manufacturing

United States

Type of food

Dry Dog Food, Dry Puppy Food, Wet Dog Food, Dry Senior Dog Food, Wet Frozen Dog Food, Freeze-Dried Dog Food, Wet Puppy Food, Freeze-Dried Puppy Food, Freeze-Dried Senior Dog Food

Ratings

71%

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 56%

? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 73%

? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 100%

? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 64%

? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 77%

? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 54%

Where to Buy

91 recipes available View

108 recipes available View

68 recipes available View

13 recipes available View

83 recipes available View

75 recipes available View

58 recipes available View

Pros

High protein content
To our knowledge, Instinct has never had a product recall
Foods are nutritionally complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards
Affordable
Instinct makes a diverse range of foods for various ages, sizes, and lifestyles
All recipes are free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives

Cons

Some recipes contain plant-based protein

Brand Overview

Instinct is a Nature’s Variety brand that focuses on providing pets with simple, real, raw meals. The raw ingredients in Nature’s Variety are freeze-dried for convenience. The company offers food for dogs and cats alike, including grain-free and limited ingredient diets.

How Much Does Instinct Dog Food Cost

We’ve compared Instinct dog food price to the other 197 dog food brands in our database.

Instinct Dry Dog Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per lb	$6.46	$3.69	+75%
Price per 100 kcal	$0.34	$0.38	-12%
Price per day	$0.20	$0.23	-13%

Instinct Dry Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Dry Puppy Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per lb	$4.98	$3.84	+30%
Price per 100 kcal	$0.26	$0.23	+12%
Price per day	$0.16	$0.14	+14%

Instinct Dry Puppy Food is priced above the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Wet Dog Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per oz	$0.42	$0.41	+2%
Price per 100 kcal	$1.41	$1.55	-9%
Price per day	$0.85	$0.93	-9%

Instinct Wet Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Dry Senior Dog Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per lb	$6.08	$3.81	+60%
Price per 100 kcal	$0.32	$0.32	+1%
Price per day	$0.19	$0.19	0%

Instinct Dry Senior Dog Food is priced within the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Wet Frozen Dog Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per lb	$7.38	$10.61	-30%
Price per 100 kcal	$0.98	$1.87	-48%
Price per day	$0.59	$1.12	-47%

Instinct Wet Frozen Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Freeze-Dried Dog Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per oz	$2.88	$2.64	+9%
Price per 100 kcal	$1.54	$1.89	-18%
Price per day	$0.92	$1.13	-19%

Instinct Freeze-Dried Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Wet Puppy Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per oz	$0.31	$0.31	0%
Price per 100 kcal	$0.94	$1.00	-6%
Price per day	$0.56	$0.60	-7%

Instinct Wet Puppy Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Freeze-Dried Puppy Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per lb	$5.16	$8.58	-40%
Price per 100 kcal	$1.06	$1.40	-24%
Price per day	$0.63	$0.84	-25%

Instinct Freeze-Dried Puppy Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Freeze-Dried Senior Dog Food Price Comparison

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
Price per oz	$2.42	$2.42	0%
Price per 100 kcal	$1.87	$1.41	+32%
Price per day	$1.12	$0.85	+32%

Instinct Freeze-Dried Senior Dog Food is priced above the average market price for dog food.

Instinct Nutrient Profile Comparison

We’ve compared Instinct dog food recipes nutrient profile to the other 197 dog food brands in our database.

Dry Dog Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	35.79%	30.01%	+19%
DM Fat	20.61%	15.84%	+30%
DM Fiber	4.51%	5.49%	-18%
DM Carb	39.09%	47.75%	-18%

Dry Puppy Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	33.98%	32.35%	+5%
DM Fat	21.32%	17.94%	+19%
DM Fiber	4.59%	4.66%	-2%
DM Carb	40.10%	44.25%	-9%

Wet Dog Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	45.46%	42.89%	+6%
DM Fat	23.65%	22.28%	+6%
DM Fiber	9.44%	7.40%	+28%
DM Carb	21.46%	26.34%	-19%

Dry Senior Dog Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	39.56%	28.44%	+39%
DM Fat	17.58%	13.38%	+31%
DM Fiber	4.40%	5.48%	-20%
DM Carb	38.46%	51.94%	-26%

Wet Frozen Dog Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	40.56%	41.85%	-3%
DM Fat	28.78%	23.99%	+20%
DM Fiber	10.23%	5.73%	+79%
DM Carb	20.43%	27.52%	-26%

Freeze-Dried Dog Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	34.48%	44.23%	-22%
DM Fat	24.96%	26.20%	-5%
DM Fiber	8.33%	4.67%	+78%
DM Carb	32.23%	24.63%	+31%

Wet Puppy Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	45.45%	42.84%	+6%
DM Fat	27.27%	27.27%	0%
DM Fiber	13.64%	7.01%	+95%
DM Carb	13.64%	22.55%	-40%

Freeze-Dried Puppy Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	34.38%	39.91%	-14%
DM Fat	25.71%	26.97%	-5%
DM Fiber	5.41%	5.52%	-2%
DM Carb	34.51%	27.60%	+25%

Freeze-Dried Senior Dog Food

	Brand Avg	Market Avg	% From the Avg
DM Protein	40.43%	34.66%	+17%
DM Fat	30.85%	22.09%	+40%
DM Fiber	5.32%	5.44%	-2%
DM Carb	23.40%	37.81%	-38%

All of Instinct dog food recipes meets AAFCO's minimum requirements.

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Instinct Dog Food Review since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Since 2011 Instinct has never been recalled.

Explore All Reviews of Instinct Dog Food Recipes

Overall Score

81%