Instinct FreshDried Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Instinct FreshDried Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food

FreshDried Raw Meals in Cage-Free Chicken are raw chicken with the water taken out, so you get raw feeding without the freezer. Scoop it like kibble, or add a little water if your dog likes a softer meal. It's a good fit for travel, busy mornings and homes without freezer room.

What's actually in it

Chicken, chicken liver and chicken heart lead the list, and Instinct says the chicken is raised without antibiotics or added hormones. Choline chloride and DL-methionine are added nutrients.

Pumpkin seeds, carrots, apples, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, blueberries and spinach make up the produce side, with ground flaxseed and salmon oil, which Instinct includes for omega fatty acids. Montmorillonite clay, ground miscanthus grass and lactic acid appear across Instinct's raw line, and mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract keep the food fresh. Instinct describes the recipe as 85% meat and organs and 15% non-GMO vegetables, fruits and other ingredients, cold-pressured for safety and then freeze-dried. Instinct says its frozen and freeze-dried raw recipes are made in its company-owned facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

It suits a dog that does well on chicken, families who want raw in a shelf-stable bag, and owners who like to use it either as a full meal or as a rich topper over kibble.

It isn't the right choice for a dog avoiding chicken or fish, or a dog that needs a lower-fat diet. If you're unsure, our Personal Pet Consultant is happy to help ... call 732-938-4470.

Full ingredient list

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Heart, Pumpkin Seeds, Carrots, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash, Montmorillonite Clay, Ground Flaxseed, Lactic Acid, Ground Miscanthus Grass, Salmon Oil, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Potassium Chloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate), DL-Methionine, Mixed Tocopherols (for freshness), Blueberries, Spinach, Rosemary Extract.

Ingredient list as published by Instinct (Nature's Variety). Recipes can change, so the bag in hand always governs.

Guaranteed analysis

• Crude Protein (min) ... 35.0%
• Crude Fat (min) ... 33.0%
• Crude Fiber (max) ... 5.0%
• Moisture (max) ... 6.0%

AAFCO statement

Instinct FreshDried Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

In plain terms, it is a complete and balanced food for adult dogs. It is not labeled for growth, so a puppy needs a food that is.

Calorie content

4,698 kcal/kg ... 235 kcal per cup (Instinct's label: calorie content, calculated). 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 much richer than kibble cup for cup, so measure.

Feeding guidelines

Instinct's daily feeding guidelines, from the label: "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: "Feeding amounts may vary by age, weight and activity level."

These are starting points, not prescriptions. Instinct notes that ideal feeding amounts depend on age, weight and activity level. 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.

Safe handling

Freeze-dried raw is still raw, so wash your hands and your dog's bowl with hot, soapy water after serving. Instinct says to store and serve it as you would any dry food. If you rehydrate it, Instinct says to discard leftovers within two hours.

Switching over

Instinct suggests moving to raw over about a week, or up to two weeks for a sensitive dog. Start with roughly a quarter FreshDried Raw Meals Cage-Free Chicken Recipe and three quarters of the old food for a couple of days, then step up to half, then three quarters, then all. Going slowly gives your dog's stomach time to adjust.

Sizes

14 oz and 25 oz bags. The 14 oz bag holds roughly 8 cups and the 25 oz bag roughly 14. A 20 lb adult dog at up to 2¼ cups a day gets about 3½ days and 6 days respectively. Counts are worked out from Instinct's printed calorie figures and are close estimates.

Storage

Unopened, Instinct gives its freeze-dried food a shelf life of two years. Once opened, Instinct says it stays fresh for up to 30 days as long as it's resealed between feedings. Keep it somewhere cool and dry, and press the air out before you zip it shut.

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