Instinct FreshDried Raw Meals Wild-Caught Pollock Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Instinct FreshDried Raw Meals Wild-Caught Pollock Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food

This is the fish option in Instinct's FreshDried Raw Meals line, built on wild-caught pollock that Instinct describes as certified sustainable. It's freeze-dried, so it keeps in the pantry until opened, and you can serve it as a complete meal or crumble it over kibble.

What's actually in it

Pollock leads the list, then beef and four beef organs: liver, kidney, spleen and heart. That makes this a fish and beef recipe rather than a pure fish one. Pumpkin seeds, carrots, apples, butternut squash, blueberries and spinach round it out, and Instinct states it's made without grain, corn, wheat, soy or legumes.

Salmon oil and ground flaxseed add omega fatty acids, which Instinct includes to support skin and coat; Instinct lists omega 3 and omega 6 minimums on the analysis. Chicory root is a source of fiber. Mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract keep it fresh. It runs richer than most of the line, with 39% protein and 33% fat minimums.

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

It suits a healthy adult dog who enjoys fish and does fine with beef, and families who want raw nutrition without freezer space.

Instinct's AAFCO statement is for adult maintenance, so it isn't meant as a puppy's main diet. It isn't for a dog avoiding beef, and the higher fat makes it a less natural fit for a dog who needs a leaner diet. If you're unsure, our Personal Pet Consultant is happy to help ... call 732-938-4470.

Full ingredient list

Pollock, Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Spleen, Beef Heart, Pumpkin Seeds, Carrots, Apples, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseed, Montmorillonite Clay, Salmon Oil, Lactic Acid, Ground Miscanthus Grass, Chicory Root, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide), Mixed Tocopherols (for freshness), Blueberries, Spinach, Rosemary Extract.

Ingredient list as published by Instinct. Recipes can change, so the package in hand always governs.

Guaranteed analysis

• Crude Protein (min) ... 39.0%
• Crude Fat (min) ... 33.0%
• Crude Fiber (max) ... 5.0%
• Moisture (max) ... 6.0%
• *Omega 3 Fatty Acids ... 1.20%
• *Omega 6 Fatty Acids ... 2.50%

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.

AAFCO statement

Instinct® FreshDried™ Raw Meals Wild-Caught Pollock Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

Calorie content

4,814 kcal/kg ... 236 kcal per cup (Instinct's label: "Calorie content (calculated): ME = 4,814 kcal/kg; 236 kcal/cup"). A cup means a standard 8-fluid-ounce dry measuring cup, filled level. It measures volume, not 8 ounces by weight, so scoop it rather than weigh it. Freeze-dried raw is light and calorie dense, so a cup of it carries far more energy than a cup of frozen raw.

Feeding guidelines

Instinct's published daily amounts, by your dog's weight. Instinct's label says: "Feed dry or rehydrate: To rehydrate, add 2 tablespoons of warm water per 1 cup of food."

Amounts are cups per day in a standard 8 oz dry measuring cup; Instinct notes feeding amounts may vary by age, weight and activity level. Its chart stops at "51 +", so for a bigger dog start at the top figure and adjust. If you use it as a topper over kibble, cut the kibble back to keep the day's calories in line. Check your dog's body condition after two or three weeks... ribs easy to feel under a thin layer, a waist visible from above... and adjust. Always keep fresh water out.

Switching over

Change foods gradually over about a week. Start with roughly a quarter FreshDried mixed into the old food, move to half, then three quarters, then all FreshDried. Going slowly gives your dog's stomach time to adjust, and that matters even more when the move is from kibble to raw.

Sizes

14 oz and 24 oz pouches, which hold roughly 8 and 14 level cups. For a 20 lb adult eating 2¼ cups a day (the top of Instinct's 16 to 25 lb range), that's about 4 and 6 days. Cup counts are worked out from Instinct's published calorie figures and are close estimates.

Storage and safe handling

Freeze-dried raw is shelf stable until opened. Instinct's FAQ says "Once opened, the food is fresh for up to 30 days as long as it's resealed between feedings." Press the air out, seal the pouch, and keep it somewhere cool and dry.

It's still raw meat, so wash your hands, the scoop and the bowl with hot, soapy water after each meal. If you rehydrate it, Instinct says "If you choose to rehydrate the food, discard leftovers within two hours."

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