Instinct Dog Food Reviews (Ratings, Recalls & Ingredients!) | Herepup
Herepup > Dog Food Brands Review (2020) > Instinct Dog Food Reviews (Ratings, Recalls & Ingredients!)

Instinct Dog Food Reviews (Ratings, Recalls & Ingredients!)

Instinct is a brand of Nature’s Variety, a St. Louis, Missouri pet food company. Nature’s Variety’s founders created the company to provide other pet lovers with the best nutrition for their cats and dogs as a result of a natural raw food diet.

Nature’s Variety prides itself on its focus toward a better, balanced diet for pets, in addition to making food satisfying. Consequently, the company created the Instinct brand with raw and natural ingredients for a variety of healthy choices. Instinct has since become a leader of raw pet foods and strives to continuously create natural, healthy products.

Instinct carries a large number of options to please almost any dog, from canned food to kibble to raw meat patties. In addition, Instinct aims to preserve the best ingredients for dogs by keeping them whole and heat-free. Furthermore, it is committed to grain-free products to yield better digestive functions.

Overall Rating:

Dry Food

Image
Product
Instinct Original Kibble Beef & Lamb Meal
Instinct Original Kibble Beef & Lamb Meal
    Instinct Original Kibble Duck & Turkey Meal
    Instinct Original Kibble Duck & Turkey Meal
      Instinct Original Kibble Rabbit Meal
      Instinct Original Kibble Rabbit Meal
        Instinct Original Kibble Chicken Meal
        Instinct Original Kibble Chicken Meal
          Instinct Original Kibble Salmon Meal
          Instinct Original Kibble Salmon Meal

            Canned Food

            Image
            Product
            ultimate protein for active dogs
            Instinct Original Canned Food Beef
              Instinct Original Canned Food Chicken
              Instinct Original Canned Food Chicken
                limited ingredients food for allergies
                Instinct Original Canned Food Lamb
                  Instinct Original Canned Food Rabbit
                  Instinct Original Canned Food Rabbit
                    Instinct Original Canned Food Venison
                    Instinct Original Canned Food Venison
                      Instinct Dog Food Reviews

                      Instinct Raw Boost Dog Food reviews and reviews of the brand in general completely rave over the brand and the ingredients it uses. I can see why.

                      For my dog, I choose only the best ingredients. I want dog food that’s natural, filler-free, and preservative-free. And, it’s always a bonus if the food provides added vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables because this provides my pup with the best, balanced diet possible.

                      Fortunately, Instinct has all of the above. I’m rating this 5/5 Treats because I can’t find anything negative about its ingredients or nutrients. I definitely agree with reviewers about Nature’s Variety Instinct dog food products because they're some of the best you'll find.

                      Pros

                      First, let’s take a look at the Instinct mission. The brand is committed to making a raw food diet accessible to all pet owners and pets because they truly stand by its importance for dogs. Not only does Instinct show through its ingredients that it’s serious about this mission, but it also strives to educate pet owners on properly feeding your dog a raw food diet.

                      Check out its website and look at its products. First, you’ll see each product’s ingredient information proudly displayed, as it should be. But you’ll also find recommended servings and ways to transition your dog to a raw food diet in a healthy way. Instinct is totally serious about feeding your dog the rightfoods the right way!

                      And, the ingredients absolutely give your dog the balanced nutrition it needs. Because it contains no grains or gluten, these products aim to help your dog digest its food as easily as possible. Instinct foods even come packed with healthy probiotics to further aid in digestion.

                      Take a look at the Instinct Original Kibble Beef & Lamb Meal formula. You’ll notice all animal meat products as the first ingredients listed because Instinct ensures a high protein content from animal meat. This particular formula is packed with 72% animal ingredients and oils and 28% veggies and fruits!

                      I can’t say enough good things about Instinct, and neither can dog owners who leave Instinct Food for Dogs reviews! Dog owners insist that Instinct’s raw food varieties have helped their dogs overcome allergies and improve their overall health.

                      Cons

                      The only possible thing that concerns me about Instinct dog foods pertains to its raw food varieties. They don’t contain quite as much protein as recommended by the AAFCO. However, Instinct does state on its website that you can use these varieties in addition to a regular diet rather than the full diet.

                      Therefore, I would recommend that dog owners consider using the Instinct raw food varieties as a supplement to a dog’s regular kibble for some extra protein and added variety into his diet. Consequently, you can ensure your dog is getting all the nutrients he needs for maximum energy and health.

                      Instinct Raw Dog Food Reviews of Ingredients

                      Instinct raw dog food reviews show that Instinct Originals Kibble Beef & Lamb Meal is one of the most popular varieties of the Instinct brand. So, I am providing the Guaranteed Analysis for this variety:

                      • Crude Protein (min) 35%
                      • Crude Fat (min) 19%
                      • Crude Fiber (max) 4%
                      • Moisture (max) 10%
                      • Vitamin E (min): 100 IU/kg
                      • Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (min): 85 mg/kg
                      • Omega 6 Fatty Acids (min): 2%
                      • Omega 3 Fatty Acids (min): 0.5%

                      And for another popular variety, Instinct Raw Frozen Beef Bites:

                      • Crude Protein (min): 15%
                      • Crude Fat (min): 8%
                      • Crude Fiber (max): 2%
                      • Moisture (max): 66%
                      • Omega 6 Fatty Acids (min): 0.72%
                      • Omega 3 Fatty Acids (min): 0.31%

                      Obviously, Instinct Originals Kibble Beef & Lamb Meal is much higher in protein per serving. As a result, it has an edge over the Instinct Raw Frozen Beef Bites. However, according to Instinct, you can choose to mix in its Raw Frozen meals with your dog’s regular diet rather than using it as a full diet.

                      If you are especially concerned about the amount of protein your dog is getting, this is a good option because the Raw Frozen varieties are a bit lower than the AAFCO recommends. Still, it’s close enough to make the Raw Frozen varieties an excellent addition to your dog’s regular kibble diet.

                      Instinct Dog Food Reviews

                      And the ingredients? Wow. Instinct dog foods don’t lie. The balanced diet for each of its products – and Instinct has many! – are impressive. Instinct’s main mission is to provide grain-free, balanced ingredients within its dog food. Therefore, it absolutely adheres to its vision with every product.

                      Instinct Dog Food Recall History

                      There is no history of an Instinct dog food recall within the past two years, according to the FDA. In addition, Instinct Raw Boost dog food reviews do not mention any concern for recalls.

                      Final Thoughts

                      In conclusion, the Instinct brand by Nature’s Variety is one I would absolutely recommend. Of course, I suggest you do your research on raw food diets for dogs and adhere to Instinct’s guidelines for proper feeding suggestions to make the most of a raw food diet and ensure sure it’s right for your dog.

                      Also, with a strong mission that it commits to every day, Instinct provides healthy and balanced nutrition to dogs through raw animal ingredients dogs love and need to thrive.

                      Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Mixers
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Chicken (including Ground Chicken Bone), Chicken Liver, Pumpkinseeds, Chicken Heart, Dried Pumpkin
                      Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Tapioca
                      Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Lamb Meal, Lamb, Tapioca, Peas, Canola Oil
                      Instinct Be Natural Real Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley
                      Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Boost Mixers Grain-Free
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Chicken (including Ground Chicken Bone), Chicken Liver, Pumpkinseeds, Chicken Heart, Cod
                      Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Beef & Freeze-Dried Raw Pieces
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Beef, Chicken Meal, White Fish Meal (Pacific Whiting, Pacific Sole, Pacific Rockfish), Peas, Chicken Fat
                      Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Mixers Grain-Free
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Chicken (including Ground Chicken Bone, source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Chicken Liver, Pumpkinseeds, Chicken Heart, Ground Flaxseed
                      Instinct Raw Boost Mixers Chicken Recipe Grain-Free
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Chicken (including Ground Chicken Bone), Chicken Liver, Pumpkinseeds, Chicken Heart, Carrots
                      Instinct Frozen Raw Bites Grain-Free Real Beef Recipe
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Spleen, Apples
                      Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Mixers Grain-Free
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Chicken (including Ground Chicken Bone), Chicken Liver, Pumpkinseeds, Chicken Heart, Beets
                      Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Turkey Meal, Peas, Turkey, Tapioca, Canola Oil
                      Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Chicken, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Chickpeas, Tapioca, Chicken Fat
                      Instinct Frozen Raw Patties Grain-Free Real Beef Recipe
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Spleen, Apples
                      Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Salmon Meal, Salmon, Peas, Tapioca, Canola Oil
                      Instinct Frozen Raw Medallions
                      • Brand Name - Instinct
                      • Lifestage - Adult
                      • Breed Size - All Sizes
                      • Main Ingredients - Lamb, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Liver

                      SAVE TO YOUR MEMOS!

                      Images credits: Amazon.com , Chewy.com, Photo Stocks.

                      Author

                      Dr. Laura Harris is our resident dog health expert. She started to fact-check dog health-related information for HerePup during her internship and contributes since then. Her expertise is in dog nutrition, senior dog care, especially critical care medicine and internal medicine.

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