Rating: 
Nature’s Variety Instinct Dog Food (canned) gets the Advisor’s top rating of five stars.
Currently, the Nature’s Variety Instinct brand includes six canned dog foods… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Beef Formula
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Duck Formula
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Lamb Formula
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Rabbit Formula
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Chicken Formula
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Venison Formula
Nature’s Variety’s Instinct Duck Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Nature's Variety Instinct Duck Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Duck, turkey liver, water, flaxseed, tricalcium phosphate, peas, potassium chloride, carrots, lecithin, vitamins (choline chloride, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, riboflavin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), dried kelp, salt, taurine, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, ethylenediamine dihydriodide), artichokes, cranberries, pumpkin, tomato, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, kale, parsley
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 12%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”.1
Like most meats, duck is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second item is turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is water… which (of course) adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The fourth item is flaxseed… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. And the seeds are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
However, we find it unusual to see flaxseed here in its whole seed form. Whole flax seeds are almost impossible to digest (at least for us humans) unless they are first ground to a usable powder before they are consumed.
The fifth ingredient is tricalcium phosphate… a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorous. Plus (in canned products) this additive also acts as an emulsifier… an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other healthy items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.
The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
The Bottom Line…
Nature’s Variety Instinct Canned Dog Food
Judging from its ingredients alone, Nature’s Variety Instinct Dog Food looks like a first-rate canned product.
In any case, it’s important to check the label’s nutrient percentages to estimate the product’s meat content… before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 28% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 28%.
Instinct’s six canned products all reveal the same protein content of 36%… with fat clocking-in at around 28% for the group.
Average protein. Above-average fat. And average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical canned dog food).
This is the profile of a canned dog food containing only an average amount of meat.
Yet it’s hard to ignore the lack of any plant-based protein boosters as well as the complete absence of any Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
Nature’s Variety Instinct is primarily a grain-free canned dog food using a variety of species-specific meats as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand an admirable five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a nice quality kibble may want to check-out our review of Nature’s Variety Instinct Dry Dog Food.
See a recap of all the product lines made by this company when you visit our summary page… Nature’s Variety Dog Food Reviews.
A Final Word
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes
11/02/2009 Original review
05/12/2010 Review updated
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor from the official definition for chicken published by the American Association of Feed Control Officials, 2008 Edition ↩
