Rating: 
Nature’s Variety Instinct Dog Food (dry) gets the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.
Currently, the Nature’s Variety Instinct product line includes three kibbles… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Rabbit Meal Formula
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Chicken Meal Formula
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Duck Meal and Turkey Meal Formula
Nature’s Variety’s Instinct Duck Meal and Turkey Meal Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Nature's Variety Instinct Duck Meal and Turkey Meal
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Duck meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, tapioca, canola oil, tomato pomace, pumpkinseeds, herring meal, sun-cured alfalfa meal, montmorillonite clay, natural flavor, vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, biotin, niacin supplement, vitamin A acetate, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, carotene, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), potassium chloride, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, ethylenediamine dihydriodide), sea salt, dried kelp, peas, cranberries, blueberries, direct-fed microorganisms (Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast culture, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract), inulin, mixed tocopherols with citric acid (a natural preservative), rosemary extract, freeze dried turkey, freeze dried turkey liver, freeze dried turkey heart, freeze dried ground turkey bone
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first two items in this food are duck meal and turkey meal. Duck and turkey meals are both considered meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is salmon meal… another high-protein meat concentrate.
Unlike most fish meals, this item appears to be ethoxyquin-free.1
The fourth ingredient is tapioca. Tapioca is a natural extract made from the root of the cassava plant. It is a starchy carbohydrate that is not only grain-free… but also gluten-free.
Tapioca is mainly used as a binder to hold all the other ingredients together during the cooking process.
The fifth item is canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.2
Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product left after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as a cheap pet food filler laden with pesticides found on the skin of the tomato before processing.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
The seventh ingredient lists pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and, more importantly, linoleic acid… an essential omega-6 fat.
Herring meal is yet another source of concentrated protein.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other 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.
With three notable exceptions…
First, Instinct contains montmorillonite… a naturally occurring clay rich in numerous minerals. Montmorillonite has been approved for use in USDA Organic Certified products.
Reported benefits include the binding of certain mold-based toxins and even controlling diarrhea.
Next, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, this 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.
Nature’s Variety Instinct Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Based on the quality of these ingredients, it’s easy to see Nature’s Variety Instinct Dog Food is an exceptional kibble.
Just the same, we still must study the label’s nutrient percentages before we determine a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 39%, a fat level of 24% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 29%.
Featuring a brand average of 41%, protein numbers range from a high of 47% for the Chicken Meal recipe to a low of 39% for the remaining two products.
Fat was 24% for the group.
High protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical dry dog food).
This is the profile of a kibble containing an abundance of meat.
When you also consider its lack of any critical Red Flag items, it becomes obvious we’re evaluating an extraordinary dry food.
Bottom line?
Nature’s Variety Instinct is essentially a grain-free kibble using a generous amount of meat and poultry meals as its main sources of animal protein… earning the brand a well-deserved five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a top-level grain-free wet product may want to check-out our review of Nature’s Variety Instinct Canned 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
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific health benefit for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
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
11/03/2009 Original review
05/12/2010 Review updated
09/05/2010 Review updated (new recipe)
- Nature’s Variety FAQ, 5/12/2010 ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
I just found this website recently. Nice job. I’ve used dog food analysis for the past year, but I’m glad to see another dog food site.
I’ve been using a rotation of Evo, Orijen, Acana, Instinct and a touch of Fromm 4 Star. My dogs are looking great with soft shiny coats and no diarrhea when rotating.
My question is why do you have Menhaden fish meal in red but in the commentary you say no red flags? Typo?
Hi Sue… oops, you’re right. I’ve removed that line from my review. Thanks for calling this typo to my attention.
Your site’s extremely helpful — thank you!
I have an almost 12-year-old black lab. Within the last three months, I’ve switched her (and my other dog) from Science Diet (found out I was being a really bad mother) to Nature’s Variety Prairie. One reason I did this was that she has always had an anal gland issue (needed to be expressed every other month or so). Now, it seems to be getting worse, even though Prairie has a good fiber content. I could switch her to Instinct (3.9% fiber) or is there something else that might suit her better? (I also give her carrots as treats.)
Thanks!
Janet
Hi Janet… although a higher fiber content can be helpful for many dogs with anal gland issues, it will probably not always be effective for every pet. Fiber can be helpful… but it’s not always a cure. Unfortunately, many of the high fiber foods are also low in protein (especially the “weight loss” formulas). Your goal would be to find an above-average protein content combined with a high protein (superior).
To accomplish this, look for 4 or 5-star products with fiber content slightly over average (about 5% or so “dry matter”). Don’t go crazy over fiber, though. Remember, since fiber only comes from plant-based ingredients, high fiber usually (but not always) means low meat. Hope this helps.
I have really enjoyed your website and the excellent information contained on each product. I have 5 dogs….. all rescues. I have 2 labs, 2 chihuahuas, and a basenji mix. Each have their own issues. Which dog food do you find healthy and enjoyed by your own furry family member?
Thanks for your insight,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth… thanks for rescuing all those sweet babies. To answer your question… we like to feed Bailey a variety of canned meat “toppers” over a number of different four and five-star kibbles. I’m probably not a very good role model as I happen to favor quite a few dog foods. Endorsing one specific brand over all the others would be unfair to many of the better manufacturers out there… and probably misleading to you, too. Actually, I’m not even sure I have a favorite brand.
Simply avoiding the lower quality dog foods is an important step in the right direction. Some of them are nothing more than agricultural waste.
Just look at 3, 4 and 5-star dog foods and find one that makes sense to you… and that also fits your budget. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your reply, Mike. I do try to stay within the 4 to 5 star rated products. I do like to alternate foods to avoid boredom. I totally agree that there is no “one size fits all” product. Thank you for sharing your ideas. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful furry family. Adoption is very near and dear to my heart.
Best,
Elizabeth
I emailed Nature’s Variety and was told that ethoxyquin was not present in their food. I was told that it’s a preservative and the suppliers they source from guarantee that their fish is flash-frozen after being caught — negating the need for a preservative. I do hope this is true. It’s an expensive food and I don’t want my dog eating ethoxyquin. That said, I may be switching off this food, as my dog’s stool are pretty loose on it. Too bad, because I feel it’s the best kibble to feed based on my research.
Hi,
I purchased this food, but the Rabbit meal formula. They say it’s for all lifestages…would my puppy be better served with a “puppy formula” instead? I found the kibbles to be harder than others. Have you tryed this on puppies? I was thinking of getting it a little wet, but I read somewhere tht this particular brand due the natural preservative that it has it is not a good idea to get the kibble wet before feeding. Any imput will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
Hi Daisy… Unfortunately, I haven’t tried but very few dog foods on my own “single dog family”. I rate the foods on my website by reading and interpreting the labels only. “All life stages” includes the growth phase of puppies. But these ratings only assess the nutrients in the foods and not the kibble sizes or hardness. That’s where some of the puppy-specific formulas seem to win out over the ones rated “for all life stages”. Hope this helps.
Hi Mike- thanks for the helpful website:) as the “mother” of 3 rescued dogs- 2 dobermans and 1 rottie/lab, I am wanting to feed them a grain free, hi protein food. I have been researching (to the best of my ability) foods and I am considering switching to Instinct, I was feeding Canidae and had no trouble til just recently when all 3 dogs develpoed runny stools-vet said Canidae changed some of their ingredients (?) My question about Instinct is I read on another website that you were not to pre-moisten Instinct dry before feeding because it has citric acid as a preservitive and that wetting it can release harmful gases into the food that when digested can cause problems…have you any thoughts/imputs on this?
thanks for all your help
Hi Kelly… As far as I can tell, this whole citric acid thing appears to be related to an article about canine bloat which appeared a few years ago and originated from Purdue University. There is a great deal of controversy about how much truth can be found in that “study”.
One of my favorite explanations about this subject was written by Linda Arndt (also known as The Great Dane Lady). She does a very good job of presenting the other side of this story. Click on the link here to read her article, “My Comments on the Purdue Bloat Study“. Check it out.
Hi mike,
thanks for the info on the citic acid- the article you suggested was very helpful and informative…..just one other question if i might…could you give me any info on montmorillonite clay? Just wondering what it is exactly and why Instinct uses it in their food? Have not seen it used in other dog foods (at least not any that ive looked into)
thanks again for all the help and info,
Kelly
HI Kelly… Montmorillonite is a naturally occurring clay that happens to be unusually rich in many minerals. Its reported benefits include the binding of certain toxins and even controlling diarrhea. Montmorillonite has even been approved for use in strictly regulated USDA Organic Certified products.
Hi Mike…
Nature’s Variety Instinct was the first dry kibble that my border collie will go for with lust. My 3-year old picky eater just turned eager. I’ve always supplemented his kibble (4-star variety) with bits of fresh meat, Nature’s Variety fresh meat medallions, cheese and freeze dried organ meats. Fenway would “eat around” the kibble and only go for the good stuff. Now he eats up his whole bowl of Instinct without any toppings….and lets me know he wants more! Personally, I think it’s the freeze-dried raw coating on the kibble that entices him. He knows what the good stuff is and won’t settle for less. As an aside, their new grain-free biscuits are the first ones he’s ever eaten. He’s always refused to touch Milk Bones or anything like them. Go figure…he’s a SMART border collie gourmand!
My dog 5 year old maltipoo was eating Natural Balance for about 4 months. In the last month, she began panting almost non-stop. She wouldn’t play and just slept all the time. She stayed in her crate at the back and walking was a chore for her. I read online about the food recall and switched her Immediately to Instinct Within a day, she stopped panting and came out of her crate. Within 2 days she began barking out the window (her favorite fun thing to do) and playing with her toys. Today she even played with the neighbor’s dog. I certainly am glad to have her feeling better. My problem is that she throws up the bio coating hours later. I had to coax her to eat by rinsing off the coating. If I accidentally leave too much of it on, she throws up. Should I find another dog food to try?
Hi Annette… If you suspect your dog’s vomiting is related to the food, I’d consider switching. But because of her recent history, I’d make this change (transition) very gradually. One problem I have with rinsing a dog food is the potential long term effect of continually removing the same nutrients. You should be able to find a dog food your dog likes to eat without having to modify the product.
Thanks to the suggestion of a vet assistant when our dog refused to eat while boarding, we now top Bailey’s kibble with a quality canned food. He gobbles it up. Hope this helps.
Hi Mike, I adopted a 4yr old Maremma who is on Black Gold Performance blend dry food. My other dog is a 5yr old cattle dog on Bil-Jac reduced fat. After reserching dog foods, I see the the Bil-Jac isn’t really as good as I was led to believe. I want to find something that will benefit both dogs and was looking at maybe Nutro Natural Choice. Also, do I really need to look at the “for large breeds only” choice since my other dog is only 50lbs? Any suggestions, I’m overwhelmed! Thanks
Hi Kim… Most of the better 3, 4 and 5-star dog foods are fully capable of feeding adult dogs of all sizes. The recipes specially designed for larger dogs are usually only subtly different. However, larger kibble sizes aren’t appropriate for smaller dogs. They’re simply too large for small mouths. Although some may disagree, most modern feeding concepts support high protein diets for all dogs and all life stages. Hope this helps.
Hi Mike,
I have 6 golden’s that I show. They have been eating Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul for quit some time. One of my 2yr. old dog’s could use more energy when in the ring. I have tried energy supplements on him that really hasn’t helped much. Would a higher protein diet of more than 24% help boost his energy level?
Hi Linn… The average kibble in our data base contains about 28% (dry matter) protein. If your package of dog food reports 24% protein on its label, then, after removing the 10% moisture, that protein level approached 27% (dry matter)… very close to the average kibble. So, you’re only feeding an average protein level.
Since I’m not a vet it would be misleading for me to assure you feeding a higher protein diet would deliver the health (energy) results you’re after. That said, most better foods do tend to contain above-average meat content.
Hi Mike,
I was just wondering, My wheaten terrier puppy is having trouble with the praire lamb and oatmeal medley, he is having constant diarrhea since i switched him from avoderm about a week ago, is that normal for them to be like that when switching over? Just concerned about if this food is for him or not?
Hi Heather… Since I’m not a vet, it would be misleading for me to assure you a particular food like this one will benefit your dog’s health issue. In any case, should you decide to make a switch, be sure to transition to the new food very slowly over a week to 10 days. Hope this helps.
hi there, great site, as many have said!
I was wondering can you (or anyone else) comment on the 42% protein in the Chicken Instinct as far as its higher amount of protein and feeding it to a 16yo ?
My vet seems to think too much.
But there are articles that say it its high quality protein, then it will be ok for their kidneys.
Any comments on this please?
thank you.
gary and Boo:)
Hi Gary… Dietary protein can be a controversial subject, to say the least. Although many still insist dogs need less protein as they age, more recent research suggests older dogs can have difficulty absorbing protein (especially the lower quality vegetable-based types).
Today, many canine professionals are beginning to recommend maintaining higher dietary protein for dogs. The article “Senior Dogs and Special Needs” by respected nutritionist Dr. Lew Olson presents the more modern view.
Another source of excellent information about protein in a dog’s diet can be found in a white paper entitled “The Biologically Appropriate Food Concept and the Dietary Needs of Dogs and Cats“. This article is published by Champion Petfoods… the makers of Orijen and Acana dog foods.
I believe you’ll find these two articles reassuring regarding high protein diets. Run these by your vet. See what he/she says.
Gary, thanks for reminding me of the need to write a future article about this important topic.
Hiya Mike
you are welcome and thank you for the reply.
will check out those articles ASAP
gary
I have been using instinct since my dog was 6 months old and have loved it. Well until recently. They changed their bag and at first i didn’t think much of it, but my dog has had diarrhea and is not as interested in eating it. So I went back to the pet food store and found and old bag bought it and compared the labels. Turns out they not only changed their bag, but they also changed their recipe. I am trying to figure out whether i should stick it out and let my dog get used to the food or if I should try a new food. Any recommendations on new food when switching from Instinct? I was thinking Taste Of The Wild or Evo.
Hi Laurie… Recipe changes are a continual problem with many dog food manufacturers. We had recently (May) updated our review of this line. So, we’ll check out your report a soon as we can. In the meantime, the products you mention are excellent. But not all of them are grain-free (like Instinct). So, you may want to study your decision carefully. It would be unfair for me to suggest a replacement for this food as there are (of course) none exactly the same. Thanks for the tip.
Hi Laurie… There were some minor changes in the order of the ingredients beginning at the fourth. But I see no changes in the nutrient percentages originally reported.
Thanks to your tip, I’ve now updated the dashboard and the review to reflect the new recipe.