Instinct Raw Longevity 20% Freeze-Dried DOG FOOD Review

With an average score of 5.3, Instinct Raw Longevity Adult 20% Freeze Dried Raw Meal Blend  is considered a moderate risk dog food. There are 5 recipes that average 37% protein and 22% average carbohydrate as calculated. 

This line includes freeze-dried ingredients that are minimally processed which is preferred but they’re only 20% of these food ingredients. There doesn’t seem to be a separate nutrient breakdown for this component so any extra benefit is included in the stated nutritional values. 

This line loses ingredient quality points for its high carbohydrate level. The label states that these foods do not contain grain, potato, corn, wheat or soy, but they do include peas, tapioca and chickpeas, which are starches that contribute to the carbohydrate level. 

Although the carbohydrate level is lower than what is seen in many competitive brands, dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates. Starch is required for extrusion in dry foods like these. Excessive carbohydrate is an indicator of 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, and more than 2 amino acids in one recipe. 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.  

It’s worth noting that Instinct adds and guarantees a decent amount of probiotics in these foods. 

The ingredient safety score is lower because this is essentially a kibble that 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. 

Rounding out the ingredient safety scores, Instinct loses points for high pesticide or herbicide foods in the top five ingredients. 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. 

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 squash, lung, kidney and liver (the last ones are the freeze-dried protein ingredients) which is also a concern. These ingredients are added to make consumers think the food has healthy additions, but they’re listed below the salt, which means they’re present in tiny amounts that won’t benefit your dog. 

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

There’s no indication whether fish ingredients are 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.