Instinct Be Natural Kibble DOG FOOD Review

With an average score of 3.5/10, Instinct Be Natural Kibble Is considered a high risk dog food. There are 5 recipes that average 25% protein and 39% average carbohydrate as calculated. This is a raw coated kibble which means the kibble is “tumbled with freeze-dried raw for nutrition and taste.”  However, these freeze dried proteins are in very small amounts at the bottom of the ingredient list. 

This line loses ingredient quality points for its high carbohydrate content. The label states that these foods do not contain grain, potato, corn, wheat or soy, but they do include oatmeal, barley, millet and rice, which are starches that contribute to the carbohydrate level. Dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrate, but starch is required for extrusion in dry foods like these. Excessive carbohydrate is an indicator of lower food quality as it can be used to reduce manufacturing cost. Large amounts of starch can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance. 

This line also loses significant ingredient quality points for added vitamins and minerals. Ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources so their inclusion is usually due to poor quality or overly processed raw ingredients. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from vitamin premixes.

These recipes use canola oil, which is a highly processed and inflammatory oil. Canola is also a well-known GMO crop. Seed oils are an inexpensive alternative to higher quality animal fats and oils.  

The ingredient safety score is lower because, like all kibbles, Instinct Be Natural is ultra-processed. The individual ingredients in dry dog foods are heated several times during processing, which can cause a significant loss of enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Ultra processed foods are often supplemented as we see here. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species. As mentioned earlier, this line does contain added freeze dried proteins, which are minimally processed and should retain more nutrients, but any benefits would be reflected in the stated nutritional values. 

Rounding out the ingredient safety scores, Instinct loses points for high pesticide or herbicide foods in the top five ingredients and for including alfalfa, a known GMO ingredient. There are limited safety studies on genetically modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off. 

This line also loses points for added natural flavor. This ingredient is often animal digest or MSG, both low quality ingredients with limited safety studies. The inclusion of rice is an ingredient safety concern because rice naturally absorbs arsenic and the water it’s grown in can be contaminated with arsenic. Arsenic is linked to chronic health issues.

It’s also worth noting that the line contains sodium selenite as a source of selenium. Dogs need selenium, and it’s usually added in very small amounts. However some research suggests that sodium selenite may be associated with potential toxicity, so selenium yeast is the preferred form of this mineral.  

Some recipes include “glam” ingredients like apples, blueberries and cranberries, as well as the freeze dried animal proteins mentioned earlier. These ingredients are added to make the food sound healthier. But they’re listed below the salt, which means they’re present in tiny amounts that won’t benefit your dog. 

Probiotics have been added to these foods but the CFU isn’t guaranteed.

The salmon is wild caught, but the company doesn’t state whether non-salmon fish ingredients are farmed or wild-caught, so they’re likely farmed. Farmed fish is less nutritious, with a less favorable fatty acid balance. 

The label does not provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio, which is a concern since AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1.