Adult Medium Breed Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag

1. 1

   chicken

   Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

   protein animal
2. 2

   corn

   Whole corn is more nutritious than it gets credit for, with decent amino acids and steady carbs. The bigger concern is when corn dominates the top of the ingredient list at the expense of named meat.

   grain
3. 3

   soybean meal

   Concentrated soy protein. Cheap plant protein that pads the label number, common in budget formulas.

   protein plant
4. 4

   wheat

   Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.

   grain
5. 5

   ground grain sorghum

   Same as sorghum. Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated.

6. 6

   chicken fat

   Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.

   fat
7. 7

   pork meal

   Pork cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh pork.

   protein animal
8. 8

   chicken by-product meal

   Ground organs, bone, and tissue. Nutritionally dense, especially the liver and gizzard fractions. Named species ('chicken') is what matters. Generic 'poultry by-product meal' is the one to worry about.

   protein animal
9. 9

   brown rice

   Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.

   grain
10. 10

    dried plain beet pulp

    Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

11. 11

    natural flavors

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

    other
12. 12

    salt

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

    mineral
13. 13

    sodium tripolyphosphate

    Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.

    mineral
14. 14

    choline chloride

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

    supplement
15. 15

    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

    mineral
16. 16

    potassium chloride

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

    mineral
17. 17

    rosemary extract

    Natural preservative. Replaces synthetic ones like BHA and BHT.

    preservative natural
18. 18

    preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid
19. 19

    fructooligosaccharides

    Prebiotic fiber, often called FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria, similar in function to inulin.

    fiber
20. 20

    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

    supplement
21. 21

    glucosamine hydrochloride

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

    supplement
22. 22

    zinc oxide

    Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.

23. 23

    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

    mineral
24. 24

    manganous oxide

    Inorganic manganese. Functional, cheaper than chelated forms, less efficiently absorbed.

25. 25

    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

    mineral

Showing first 25 of 28. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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