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Firstmate Grain Friendly Cage Free Chicken Meal & Oats Formula Dog Food, 25-lb bag
Firstmate

Grain Friendly Cage Free Chicken Meal & Oats Formula Dog Food, 25-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry $2.44/lb

Firstmate Grain Friendly Cage Free Chicken Meal & Oats Formula Dog Food, 25-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 54/100 (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 carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.

CQI

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

MNI

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

Low protein quality. chicken meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF
Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 31%
Protein
28%
min (as fed)
Fat
12%
min (as fed)
Fiber
7%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

30 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken meal

    Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken.

  2. 2
    oatmeal

    Gentle on the stomach. Slow-release carbs and soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

  3. 3
    brown rice

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

  4. 4
    chicken fat

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

  5. 5
    tomato pomace

    The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.

  6. 6
    potassium chloride

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

  7. 7
    choline chloride

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

  8. 8
    calcium propionate
  9. 9
    blueberries

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

  10. 10
    raspberries
  11. 11
    cranberries

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

  12. 12
    zinc proteinate

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

  13. 13
    iron proteinate

    Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  14. 14
    calcium carbonate

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

  15. 15
    manganese proteinate

    Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

  16. 16
    copper proteinate

    Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.

  17. 17
    selenium yeast

    Organic selenium grown in yeast. The form premium brands use, gentler and more bioavailable than sodium selenite.

  18. 18
    calcium iodate

    Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.

  19. 19
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  20. 20
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

  21. 21
    thiamine mononitrate

    B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.

  22. 22
    d-pantothenic acid
  23. 23
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  24. 24
    riboflavin supplement

    B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.

  25. 25
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

    B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.

Showing first 25 of 30. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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