Rating: 
Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet dry dog food earns the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4.5 stars.
The Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet product line includes 2 dry dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
By limiting the number of ingredients, the company has provided a logical way to help consumers identify a specific item that might be responsible for inducing food allergies or intolerances in an animal.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb Meal
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Meal
Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb Meal Formula was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.
Nature's Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Lamb meal, tapioca, canola oil, peas, natural flavor, montmorillonite clay, coconut oil, potassium chloride, 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), sea salt, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, ethylenediamine dihydriodide), dried green tea, mixed tocopherols with citric acid (a natural preservative), rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 29% | 18% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 32% | 20% | 40% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 27% | 40% | 33% |
The first ingredient in this dog food lists lamb meal. Lamb meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh lamb.
The second 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.
The third ingredient includes 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.1
However, plant-based oils (like canola) are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.
The fourth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein… a factor that must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
After natural flavor, we find montmorillonite clay… a naturally occurring compound rich in many trace 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 and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The seventh ingredient is coconut oil. Depending upon the quality of the raw material, coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids.
Coconut oil has been reported to have a beneficial effect on a dog’s skin and coat, improve digestion, and reduce allergic reactions.2
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 affect the overall rating of this product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet looks to be an above-average dry dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 32%, a fat level of 20% and estimated carbohydrates of about 40%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 32% and a mean fat level of 20%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
In addition, when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet is a grain-free dry kibble using a moderate amount of lamb or turkey meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended.
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 specific health benefits 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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
06/03/2011 Original review
06/03/2011 Last Update
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
- Dr. Bruce Fife, Healthy Ways Newsletter, Vol 4:3 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.
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