Instinct Raw Frozen DOG FOOD Review

With an average score of 8.4/10, Instinct Raw Frozen is considered a low risk dog food. There are 5 recipes that average 41% protein and 16% average carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. 

These are raw frozen recipes that are minimally processed with minimal loss of nutrients. They have a low level of carbohydrates obtained from fruits and vegetables rather than grains and starches. There are only a few added vitamins and minerals, but ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources. 

Even though these recipes have low carbohydrates, they still have more than we like to see in a frozen raw dog food so ingredient quality points are lost. Dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrate, and large amounts of starch can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance. 

Regarding ingredient safety, Instinct loses points for apples which are known to carry high pesticide or herbicide residues. These are in the top five ingredients in one recipe. The company does state that its raw food ingredients are GMO-free. 

Some recipes include “glam” ingredients like blueberries and spinach, which is also a concern. These ingredients are added to make consumers think the food has healthy additions rich in antioxidants or minerals. But they’re listed below the salt, which means they’re present in tiny amounts and won’t benefit your dog. 

The company uses unsubstantiated marketing terms such as cage-free or grass-fed. Without third-party certification, these are purely marketing terms that have no legal meaning under pet food regulatory standards.

There’s cod in some recipes but no indication whether it’s farmed or wild-caught. 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.