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Dr. Pol Healthy Balance Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag
Dr. Pol

Healthy Balance Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry $2.18/lb

Dr. Pol Healthy Balance Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 59/100 (C) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.

MNI

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF
Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 28% ⓘ
Protein
25%
min (as fed)
Fat
12%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

41 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

  2. 2
    peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

  3. 3
    sweet potato

    Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.

  4. 4
    lentils

    Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →

  5. 5
    tapioca

    Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.

  6. 6
    salmon oil

    Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.

  7. 7
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

  8. 8
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

  9. 9
    spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

  10. 10
    dried kelp

    Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.

  11. 11
    sunflower oil

    Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.

  12. 12
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  13. 13
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  14. 14
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  15. 15
    dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product
  16. 16
    dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product

    Probiotic strain. More heat-stable than lactobacillus, which means more of it likely survives kibble processing.

  17. 17
    dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product
  18. 18
    dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product

    A probiotic strain. Whether the dose is high enough to actually colonize is debated, but it's a real beneficial bacterium.

  19. 19
    dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product
  20. 20
    dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product
  21. 21
    glucosamine hydrochloride

    Joint-support compound. Most useful in larger doses for older dogs. The kibble dose is real but modest.

  22. 22
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  23. 23
    chondroitin sulfate
  24. 24
    dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation product
  25. 25
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

Showing first 25 of 41. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

19 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.