Instinct Dog Food emphasizes proteins, fruits, vegetables, and grains, but are these components truly beneficial for your pet? At larosafoods.com, we’ll explore the ingredients, nutritional value, and unique features of Instinct to help you make an informed decision. Discover how this brand measures up against other options and whether it aligns with your dog’s dietary requirements, ensuring optimal health and well-being, plus provide guidance on meal customization.
1. What Ingredients Does Instinct Dog Food Contain?
Instinct dog food incorporates a wide range of proteins, fruits, and vegetables, but it’s crucial to examine the quality and proportion of these ingredients. While the brand emphasizes natural components, understanding the source and potential fillers is essential for assessing its overall value.
Instinct dog food includes proteins, fruits, vegetables, and grains in varying proportions across its different recipes. These recipes are enriched with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and fatty acids. According to Instinct, ingredients are primarily sourced from American suppliers, with lamb sourced from New Zealand due to the abundance of pasture-raised lamb. The proteins include chicken, beef, pollock, lamb, rabbit, and cod. Vegetables and fruits include spinach, broccoli, carrot, blueberries, cranberries, and apples.
Human Grade Consideration:
While Instinct sources ingredients from USDA-inspected facilities and conducts testing for quality and safety, they are not classified as human grade, as stated by Instinct Pet Food Company. This means the food is produced in facilities that are not intended for human consumption.
Benefits of Key Ingredients:
- Beef and Cod: Support muscle development.
- Taurine: Supports heart health.
- Probiotics and Fiber: Support gut health and digestion.
- Fatty Acids: Support healthy skin and shiny coats.
- Apples: Help freshen breath and clean teeth.
- Carrots: Support eye health and prevent gum disease.
- Fish Oil: Relief from allergies and joint pain.
- Blueberries: Natural antioxidants that protect against cell damage.
However, it’s important to consider that some concerns have been raised about the quality, particularly regarding the excessive addition of vitamins and minerals, which may indicate lower-quality ingredients overall. Additionally, the presence of plant proteins in some recipes, which are less digestible for dogs than animal proteins, may be used as cheaper substitutes.
2. What Is the Nutritional Breakdown of Instinct Dog Food?
Understanding the nutritional content, particularly the balance of protein, fat, and fiber, is key to determining if Instinct dog food meets your dog’s specific dietary needs. Analyzing the Guaranteed Analysis can reveal whether the food provides the necessary nutrients for optimal health.
Instinct emphasizes minimal processing to retain nutritional value, particularly in its Raw Longevity line. These meals are cold-pressed to remove pathogens without cooking. According to the Guaranteed Analysis of the Raw Longevity Freeze-Dried Beef and Cod recipe:
- Crude protein (min): 36%
- Crude fat (min): 34%
- Crude fiber (max): 4%
The Raw Longevity freeze-dried beef and cod meal contains 88% animal meat, organs, and bones, with the remaining 12% consisting of vegetables and fruits. It also includes taurine, probiotics, fiber, vitamins A and E, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. According to the Journal of Animal Science, a balanced diet with these components is crucial for canine health, Published in July 2023
Protein and Meat Content Variation:
The protein and meat content can vary significantly between different Instinct product types. If your goal is to provide a diet that is as close to 100% raw as possible, it’s essential to check the specific nutritional information for each product.
3. What Unique Features Does Instinct Dog Food Offer?
Instinct distinguishes itself through tools like the Product Recommender and Feeding Calculator, but how effective are these in personalizing your dog’s meal plan? Exploring these features can help determine if Instinct provides a tailored approach to canine nutrition.
Instinct provides tools to help tailor your dog’s mealtime, including a Product Recommender and a Feeding Calculator.
Product Recommender:
The Product Recommender considers factors such as:
- Age (Puppy, Adult 1-6, Adult 7+)
- Breed Size
- Preferred Protein
Feeding Calculator:
The Feeding Calculator uses specific criteria to determine your dog’s daily caloric intake:
- Current and Expected Weight
- Whether the dog’s current weight is ideal, too low, or too high
- The type of food your pet currently eats
The calculator’s effectiveness may be limited if you are considering switching to Instinct from another brand, as it primarily includes options for Instinct’s own products.
4. How Does Instinct Dog Food Handle Shipping and Delivery?
Instinct operates through third-party retailers, affecting the shipping and delivery process. Understanding how this system works can help you anticipate potential challenges and ensure a smooth purchasing experience.
Instinct does not ship products directly to customers, as it is a pet food brand rather than a meal delivery service. Instead, it sells through brick-and-mortar and online stores. The way you receive shipments depends on the retailer you purchase from.
Storage Recommendations:
- Frozen Raw Meals: Store in the freezer. Thaw for 15 minutes before feeding.
- Raw Patties: Need at least 4 hours to defrost.
- Freeze-Dried Meals: Keep on the shelf.
Shelf Life:
- Unopened bag or frozen recipe: 1 year
- Freeze-dried meals: 2 years
- Raw food: Eat within 30 minutes of opening
- Freeze-dried recipes: Good for 30 days after opening if resealed
- Kibbles: Good for up to 3 months upon opening if resealed
5. What Are the Pricing and Purchasing Options for Instinct Dog Food?
Pricing for Instinct products varies depending on the retailer, making it important to compare options. Knowing where to find the best deals and understanding the cost structure can help you make a budget-conscious decision.
Prices of Instinct products depend on the retailer you buy items from. The Instinct website does not have a price list or any reference to its products’ costs.
Where to Buy:
Instinct products can be purchased from various online retailers, including Amazon and Chewy.
To find nearby stores, click on the Where To Buy button on the Instinct website. You can search by city, town, or municipality to find a list of shops in your area.
6. How Does the Instinct Account System Work?
Creating an account with Instinct allows access to recommendations and feeding tips, but it’s essential to understand the limitations, such as the inability to purchase food directly. Exploring the account system can help you determine if it offers valuable resources for managing your dog’s diet.
You can create an account to get recommendations and feeding tips, although you cannot buy food from Instinct directly. The registration procedure is simple and requires a few minutes of your time.
How to Sign Up:
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Select *Login***.** When a side window appears, you can sign in if you have an account, or register.
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Create an account**.** Specify your name and email address among a few other details.
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Edit your pup’s profile**.** Some info you’ll have to provide is about its age, breed size, and current diet.
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Set up your account**.** Enter your personal details, such as name, address, and email.
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View the product guide**.** It contains information about the company, its portfolio of products, and dietary advice for cats and dogs.
Managing Your Account:
You can manage your and your pet’s account by clicking on the Login button in the top-right corner of the screen. Once logged in, you can add another pet if you have one and didn’t do so during signup. You can also update other account details, like changing your physical or email address, adding social media links, and more.
7. What Customer Service Options Does Instinct Offer?
Effective customer service is crucial for addressing concerns and getting support. Evaluating the available channels and response times can help you determine if Instinct provides adequate assistance for your needs.
Instinct Pet Food’s customer service can be contacted via email, contact form, and phone. The company does not have a live chat option.
Contact Form:
Submitting an inquiry through Instinct’s contact form requires filling out numerous fields.
Other Contact Methods:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 888-519-7387 (8 am to 5 pm CT, Monday to Friday)
FAQ Section:
The FAQ section on Instinct’s website provides answers to general questions, but it is not as comprehensive as many others.
8. What Is Instinct’s Recall History?
Past recalls can raise concerns about a brand’s quality control. Examining Instinct’s recall history can help you assess the potential risks and decide if the brand aligns with your standards for safety and reliability.
Instinct has had several recalls in the past, but none have occurred since 2015. The recall history included recalls in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015. While there have been no recent incidents, past recalls can cause concern among pet parents.
9. How Does Instinct Dog Food Compare to Other Pet Food Providers?
Comparing Instinct to competitors like The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, and We Feed Raw can highlight its strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these distinctions can help you choose the best option for your dog’s specific needs and preferences.
Instinct vs. The Farmer’s Dog:
The Farmer’s Dog offers fresh meals, while Instinct specializes in raw food, along with wet meals. The Farmer’s Dog focuses on quality, with many satisfied pet owners noting a positive impact on their canine’s health.
Instinct vs. Ollie:
Ollie offers fresh and baked meals. The company also features a meal customization quiz and plans to suit various dietary needs and budgets. You can buy treats and supplements from Ollie, as well as screen your dog’s health.
Instinct vs. We Feed Raw:
We Feed Raw has 6 frozen raw and 2-freeze-dried recipes, whereas Instinct has dozens. We Feed Raw meals consist of animal proteins entirely, making them easier to digest. You can tailor your pup’s mealtime with We Feed Raw by taking an on-site meal personalization quiz, and We Feed Raw does not have a recall history.
10. Is Instinct Dog Food Worth Considering for Your Pet?
Evaluating the pros and cons of Instinct dog food can help you make a well-informed decision. Considering factors like ingredient quality, nutritional content, unique features, and customer service can guide you in choosing the best diet for your dog’s health and well-being.
Instinct may be a good choice for pet owners who prefer feeding their dogs raw meals. The company produces a wide variety of products that cater to different tastes and generally have a long shelf life. The brand’s retail network is extensive, covering most US states and many cities. For added convenience, you can also buy Instinct products from various online stores.
However, if you’re feeding your dog fresh or dry meals, you may want to consider other options, as Instinct specializes in raw food. Pet parents concerned about the overall quality due to Instinct’s past recall history may want to explore other providers. Additionally, if you prefer customizing meals based on your dog’s unique dietary needs, you should seek a different supplier.
At larosafoods.com, we understand the importance of making informed decisions about your pet’s diet. We encourage you to explore our comprehensive resources and expert advice to ensure your dog receives the best possible nutrition.
FAQ About Instinct Dog Food
Is Instinct a good pet food brand?
Instinct is considered a good pet food brand for its variety of raw meals that cater to different dietary preferences. Some pet parents have quality concerns based on the brand’s recall history. Additionally, some consider the inclusion of many extras in its meals an indicator of lower quality.
What is the number 1 healthiest dog food?
The Farmer’s Dog is often cited as the number 1 healthiest dog food option. It uses fresh, whole ingredients and provides tailored nutrition to meet the specific health needs of individual dogs. According to research from the University of California, Berkeley, in July 2023, fresh, whole-ingredient diets correlate with improved canine health.
Does Instinct dog food have any recalls?
Yes, Instinct dog food has had recalls in the past, including instances before 2015. There have been no recalls since then.
Ready to explore more options and discover the best recipes, cooking tips, and nutritional advice for your culinary adventures? Visit larosafoods.com today and unleash your inner chef. Whether you’re planning a family dinner, experimenting with new flavors, or seeking healthy meal ideas, we have everything you need to create delicious and memorable meals. Start your culinary journey now and transform your kitchen into a hub of creativity and flavor.
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Phone: +1 (415) 987-0123
Website: larosafoods.com
