CORE Small Breed Puppy Grain-Free High-Protein Natural Turkey Dry Dog Food, 12-lb bag

1. 1

   turkey

   Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.

   protein animal
2. 2

   chicken meal

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

   protein animal
3. 3

   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 →

   legume
4. 4

   turkey meal

   Turkey with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh turkey.

   protein animal
5. 5

   salmon meal

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

   protein animal
6. 6

   dried ground potatoes
7. 7

   chicken fat

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

   fat
8. 8

   dried plain beet pulp

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

9. 9

   flaxseed

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

   fat
10. 10

    salmon oil

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

    fat
11. 11

    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

    other
12. 12

    salt

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

    mineral
13. 13

    dried chicory root

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

    fiber
14. 14

    potassium chloride

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

    mineral
15. 15

    choline chloride

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

    supplement
16. 16

    vitamin e supplement

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

    vitamin
17. 17

    taurine

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

    supplement
18. 18

    spinach

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

    vegetable
19. 19

    broccoli

    Real vegetable. Adds fiber and some antioxidants. Fine in the small amounts used in kibble.

    vegetable
20. 20

    carrots

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

    vegetable
21. 21

    parsley

    Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.

    supplement
22. 22

    apples

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

    fruit
23. 23

    blueberries

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

    fruit
24. 24

    kale

    Leafy green with antioxidants and fiber. Small dose in kibble, but it's not just for marketing.

    vegetable
25. 25

    spearmint

    supplement

Showing first 25 of 54. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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