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Suitable for all breeds of dogs
Click here for more info.
In general, unless your dog has health issues, you probably won't have to worry about these figures. Click here for more information
Mixing bowl composition
This is the ingredients list as printed on the packaging or manufacturer's website.
Think of the 'mixing bowl' composition like a recipe - all the ingredients you would need to put in a 'mixing bowl' in order to make the food.
Ingredients have to be listed in descending order of their weight so the higher it appears, the more there is.
Highlighted ingredients
Ingredients that we believe to be controversial or inferior are highlighted in yellow with particularly low grade, highly contentious or excessively vague ingredients in red.
As fed composition
While the 'mixing bowl' composition is useful for knowing what went into the food, it doesn't always reflect what your dog is actually eating. This is because the processes that turn the ingredients into the finished pet food can significantly alter the relative weights of the ingredients.
For this reason we've calculated the approximate 'as fed' percentages for the main ingredient categories in the finished product.
Please note that these figures are very approximate. They are estimates based on the information provided by the manufacturer in the ingredients list so the clearer the terminology and the more percentages they provide, the more accurate our estimates will be. Wherever information is lacking, we always assume the worst.
Ingredient categories
◉ Meat ingredients: includes all meat and fish ingredients except isolated fats/oils.
◉Added oils and fats: includes all isolated oil and fat ingredients.
◉ Carb-rich ingredients: includes all ingredients derived from grains, pseudo-grains, potatoes and other starchy root vegetables, sweet potato and legumes (except whole peas which are categorised under fruit and veg) except for isolated protein and extracted oils. Also includes fibre supplements.
◉ Fruit and veg: includes all whole vegetables and fruits.
◉ Other: all other ingredients. Mostly made up by nutritional supplements and additives.
For more information on any ingredient, please take a look at our Dog Food Ingredient Glossary
The dry matter level of a nutrient is the percentage there would be in the food if all of the water was removed.
With water taken out of the equation, these figures allow the nutrient levels of foods of different types (like wet and dry) to be compared on an even playing field.
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88 out of 100 - Excellent
Our unique product ratings are calculated based on a number of characteristics including the quality and quantity of the stated ingredients, certain nutritional and technological additives and the processing methods used to create the food. They are designed to indicate how beneficial we think a food is likely to be for the majority of dogs when fed on a daily basis for an extended period. Click here for more information
Country of origin: United Kingdom
A technological additive is any substance added to a pet food "for a technological purpose and which favourably affects the characteristics of feed".
The most common categories of technological additives include preservatives and antioxidants, gelling agents and thickeners and probiotics.
While the primary effects of technoloical additives are certainly 'favourable' (increased shelf life in the case of preservatives & antioxidants, better food texture and consistency in the case of gelling agents and thickeners etc.) some have been linked to health problems in pets and should be treated with caution.
Unfortunately, many technological additives do not have to be declared by the manufacturer so just because they do not appear on the label does not necessarily mean they are not in the food. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer directly exactly what technological additives their foods contain.
Hollie Taylor• 5 months ago
Hi, does anyone know what the purine levels are like in this? I have a dally pup incoming in 2 weeks! Many thanks
Alana K Hollie Taylor• 5 months ago
Hi, I’m not sure about this one specifically but I would go for one that states ‘low purine’, such as Benyfit Natural Sensitive, Paleo Ridge Plus Special Diet, and Pro Dog Raw do a couple, personally I would mix and match to get as many proteins as possible, congrats on the puppy!
Louisa Higby• one year ago
Hello,
As dogs need grain for a healthy heart (unless they have a rare grain allergy)… what do people add to make up for this? Also, do you give your dogs extra supplements for their joints etc? Also, after all the recent research showing that a raw diet is bad for your dog in the long term… what makes this raw food good for your dog long term? I’m looking to change my girls food and wanting to choose something with the best benefits from some good advice… thanks very much.. Lou
vegan Is me Louisa Higby• one year ago
For a Healthy heart dogs need animal parts like heart or any working hard mussel in any prey animal raw food is not cooked like kibble it’s got all the natural vitamins and minerals some raw meats are multivitamin Is well so you don’t have to feed the same thing over and over again
Maureen McCarthy• 3 years ago
Hi have a year old rescue staffie who is on a dry food diet. We have been hearing a lot about the benefits of a raw food diet and someone mentioned Natural Instinct as being a great make. How would we go about moving him over from dry to NI? The person we spoke to said just change over but we are worried not introducing the new diet in the right way. Could you advise please?
Jo• 6 years ago
Just recived our first delivery, i have a jack russell that i'm afraid to say is a little overweight so having ordered the special diet i'm hopeful this will help i'm just wondering if this diet will help with his anal glands as he has to get them seen to every six months or if anyone can recomend any supplements as he hates having them done
Simon Broddle Jo• 5 years ago
Hi, we have a pair of Jacks! One has anal gland issues now and again and they have been eating Natural Instinct since they were weened. They've never eaten processed carbs and they look amazing.
We mix the working dog food with the pure veg at about an 75:25 ratio and they have immense energy and coats that shine like you can't imagine.
Two other points if I may... 1. Their poo rarely has any odour at all. 2. The dog has little or no odour either and as such people with pet allergies find them fine to be around. Stick with it, you'll need to get used to freezing it etc but they ordering process is easy, although they often run out of veg, they are nice people and offer a lot of advice very quickly.
Sarah• 7 years ago
I have been feeding my pug on Natural Instinct for over 2 years now he is a pefect weight has a beautiful shiney coat is happy and alert. The vet even commented on how nice it was to see a pug that is not overweight . Natural Instinct has been ideal for him it has all he needs to keep him in pug perfect condition. Our new addition will be weaned onto Natural Instinct as soon as she arrives it really is the best.
Natasha• 8 years ago
As top performing working dogs we were looking for added support for our dogs, after feeding Natural Instinct for just 3 weeks the dogs were more alert, showed greater enthusiam and energy for their work. In the home they were content and their coats are in amazing condition - exactly what we were looking for. The dogs love it, feeding time is exciting and even our more picky dogs love every bit. Customer service from Natural Instinct is also brilliant with speedy delivery which is an added bonus to compliment this amazing food.
JosefnEmma Teckel• 8 years ago
We have been eating Natural Instinct dog food and treats for nearly a year, and love, love, love it. It is scrumptious, wholesome and nutritious and has made a huge difference to our lives.Emma has suffered with a chronic skin condition for at least 6 years, which was never resolved with medication. We tried various foods and topical treatments to no effect. Then we found Natural Instinct and are proud devotees of the Brand. The difference in Emma's skin is profound. She no longer itches and the pustules only rarely appear. Better still, expensive vetinary fees are a thing of the past. We can only put this down to eating Ntural Instinct raw food.Of course, we are not claiming that Natural Instinct will effect a cure for every dog. All we can say is that it works for us. Oh, and Josef loves it too! Highly recommended. Emma and Josef
Bev Nicholson• 8 years ago
The quality of Natural Instinct food is second to none. My dogs love it. Their favourite is Salmon, Chicken & Lamb coming a close second. Their skin is good, their teeth are in great shape and maintaining a healthy weight is a breeze. I have 6 rescue dogs who are thriving on this great food. The team who are always on hand to give good advice are polite, knowledgeable and very approachable. 6 very happy customers!
Guest• 8 years ago
I have been feeding my dogs Natural Instinct for nearly a year now and I can honestly say I wouldn't feed my spaniels anything else now and I would 100% recommend it.My 15 year old springer is doing so well and looking super for her age, everyone comments on her condition.My 4 year old Cocker is a working Assistance Dog, as well as having having good energy levels she is in tip top condition and her concentration and capacity for learning is spot on, all of which I put down to her diet.The food is easy and convenient to use/feed and delivery is always on time when they say. The selection of treats are also fab. ...... Oh and the dogs LOVE it too !!
Mark Grabham• 9 years ago
It is said that tinned food is one of the worst foods to feed your dog, main reasons being rubbish contents and high in moisture.
The moisture content of natural instinct is over 67% moisture so why does it get five stars. Must be a he'll of a good quality moisture.
All About Dog Food Mark Grabham• 9 years ago
Hi Mark and thanks for posting. Wet foods do indeed contain around two thirds water but since almost all fresh meats and most vegetables and fruits contain a similar proportion of water, it is often suggested that wet foods are closer to a dog's natural diet than dry foods. You are right though that it does mean feeding more which, on the whole, makes feeding wet foods more expensive than feeding dry.
Kieron Brooks• 9 years ago
Natural Instinct
My wife and I have have owned dogs for the past 40 years and tried various diets for them such as tinned and dried food. However, our latest pet Flo has been fed on raw food since birth and is now three, she is in very good condition. Her breath does not smell at al, her coat is always beautiful and her skin likewise. We had a few reservations about using raw fod at he start, but best thing we ever did in my eyes. However, a good size freezer is a prerequisite. Kieron & Wendy Brooks
June Stephens• 10 years ago
I have just put my 8month cockapoo on natural instinct and from being a very picky eater he is now begging for his food. I spoke with my vet this morning,who is also an animal nutritionist, she was not in favour of raw feeding because it often did not include the intestines which are necessary for good balanced nutrition. She also recommended that I mix it with a good quality dry food for cleaning the teeth. Does anyone out there know if natural instinct includes intestines.
Thanks June Stephens
No I do not have an account.
isabelle leybourne June Stephens• 9 years ago
please do not mix dry with raw dry food digests at different rates and can become quite dangerous. only mix raw with dry food when you are doing the tranision from processed dry food to raw food ( which should take a maximum of 10 days) I'm a vet, i studied in Australia then moving back to England (where i'm originally from). now I work at noel Fitzpatrick (the super vet) referrals in surrey and he is a big advocate in raw feeding. dogs do not need the intestines it doesn't give them much nutrition. the main parts they need to make their raw diet complete is the meat, and offal (liver kidney etc) natural instinct has all of this. to clean your dog's teeth provide him with raw meaty bones such as chicken wings, ribs and chicken carcasses this is all safe as long as the meaty bones are not cooked. I don't really trust the vets here in the uk as they are trained by big food companies such as royal cannin, these company promote their food saying that their food is the best, when really its not a good brand of dog food at all. vets get a percentage of the profit of the food that they promote that's why you see recommended by vets on some dog food. so that why they promote it as they really just want the money. (not all vets though but at least 80% of vets are their just for the £)
MadSpaniel isabelle leybourne• one year ago
I thought chicken bones were bad as they splinter and make sharp shards?
Steven Thomson MadSpaniel• one year ago
they are only dangerous if they have been cooked
Dylan Cottriall June Stephens• 9 years ago
A nutritionist should know that you should not mix dry and wet foods. Natural instinct is a complete food and shouldn't have anything added to it.
DogsDinner• 10 years ago
Absolutely wonderful! Been using them since they started several years ago and will never look back. A truly perfect product that my dogs love, is great for their health, and you instantly see a marked improvement in temperament as well as coat, teeth etc. Really friendly and knowledgeable staff at HQ too. Certainly the way forward.
DogLover123• 10 years ago
We have used all the Natural Instinct natural range for all our dogs. I love that there are a variety of flavours. The quality of meat always astonishes me!! Always very fresh and tasty looking. Our dogs have thrived since moving over to raw. Keep telling other dog owners about the benefits and always recommend Natural Instinct. I usually order online, but on a few occasions I have called to order and the staff seem very knowledgable and helpful. I love the recommend a friend offer too! Very generous!
Christina SMith• 10 years ago
I used Natural instinct for a few years and found that within the last months the quality has really deteriorated. Thankfully I found Nutriment. They branched out from Natural Instinct and
offer the same quality that NI used to have. They have a better choice for older dogs as I have a 12yr old and 9 yr old need a low fat. Also, Nurtiment’s food has tons of superfoods added – a big bonus.
DogsDinner Christina SMith• 10 years ago
That's ridiculous. The quality is exactly the same, neither the recipes nor the majority of staff have changed. Nutriment "branched out"!? you mean - some of the staff left and made a cheap copy of Natural Instinct!
isabelle leybourne DogsDinner• 9 years ago
I don't like nutriment it has too much super foods which my dogs became allergic to and it made my dogs become sick.
Elaine• 10 years ago
I've used Natural Instinct for almost 4 years for my 2 dogs and have always found the quality good. I use a wide variety of the complete minces and also some of the pure foods and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. My dogs thrive on it and love it. Their customer service is excellent too.
Fluffy• 10 years ago
I have used Natural Instinct for about 4 years now and was always more than happy with the product and its quality however over the past few months I have noticed that this has changed. I've had to dispose of the odd kilo tub as once defrosted the meat was actually off, this had happened over a few months and I have never really thought about it until my last order I had to dispose of 4 kilos, one of my dogs had also started suffering with anal gland issues over the past few months which he's never had before, I have since complained and got a refund on the food I had to throw away and I will never use again.
Guest• 10 years ago
Very good food
Neil Croft• 11 years ago
Can't recommend this highly enough. Our hungarian puli's love it and their coats are really good. Very little waste passing through is a sign that it's all getting "used" and not full of fillers.
Carole Henderson• 11 years ago
I switched my labrador to natural instinct 2 years ago as he had very sensitive digestion and I'd tried numerous special dried foods to no avail. This is an excellent quality product - his skin and coat are now excellent. I often get asked what I feed him on by other dog owners. Their customer service is excellent too. Would happily recommend.