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Earthborn Holistic Unrefined Smoked Salmon with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag
Earthborn Holistic

Unrefined Smoked Salmon with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry $3.04/lb

Earthborn Holistic Unrefined Smoked Salmon with Ancient Grains & Superfoods Dry Dog Food, 25-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

Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Named fresh meat paired with same-species meal, a strong extrusion architecture.

STACK

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 27% ⓘ
Protein
24%
min (as fed)
Fat
17%
min (as fed)
Fiber
9.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

37 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
    oats

    Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.

  3. 3
    salmon meal

    Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient.

  4. 4
    barley

    Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.

  5. 5
    pumpkin

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

  6. 6
    vegetable

    Unnamed vegetable. No way to know what species. Named vegetables are far more transparent.

  7. 7
    sunflower oil

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

  8. 8
    quinoa

    Pseudo-grain with a complete amino acid profile. Rare in dog food because it's expensive.

  9. 9
    chia
  10. 10
    dried egg

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.

  11. 11
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

  12. 12
    dried yeast

    Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.

  13. 13
    natural flavors

    Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.

  14. 14
    apples

    Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.

  15. 15
    blueberries

    Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.

  16. 16
    carrots

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

  17. 17
    cranberries

    Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.

  18. 18
    spinach

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

  19. 19
    l-threonine

    Essential amino acid. Sometimes added when plant proteins dominate, since threonine is naturally lower in plants than meat.

  20. 20
    dicalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.

  21. 21
    dried chicory root

    Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.

  22. 22
    choline
  23. 23
    salt

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

  24. 24
    potassium chloride

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

  25. 25
    taurine

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

Showing first 25 of 37. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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