Premium Wild Islands Highland Adult Grain-Free & High-Protein Meat Recipe Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Addiction Premium Wild Islands Highland Adult Grain-Free & High-Protein Meat Recipe is a dry food for adult dogs, featuring lamb, beef, and lamb liver as its main protein sources.
This formula has a strong protein profile, with lamb as the first ingredient, contributing to high biological value. It also includes eggs, lamb liver, and beef tripe, which add diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources. The formula is inferred to meet AAFCO adult maintenance standards.
The ingredient list shows high legume stacking, with multiple pulse-family ingredients like pea protein, fava beans, and green peas appearing in the top 15. This is somewhat mitigated by the presence of organ meat in the top 10.
Good fit for adult dogs who thrive on a high-protein diet. Less ideal if you prefer foods without significant legume content.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Marginal fit for adult Golden Retrievers navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Lamb anchors position 1, with 3 pulse-family ingredients in the top 15 (pea protein at position 7, fava beans at position 8, green peas at position 10), plus lamb liver at position 3 (a natural taurine precursor).
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 60/100, landing in B-tier territory. The biggest contributor was protein quality (+23 points): Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. The biggest detractor was controversial-ingredient penalty (-2 points): Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10.
Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Lowest fat quality in Addiction's lineup (6/16)
- Top 3% for DMB protein in grain-free dry kibbles (44.4%)
- Lowest carb quality in Addiction's lineup (5/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Red Meat & Grains Rocky Mountain Recipe High-Protein Adult Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag
Scores 20 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Taste of the Wild Pine Forest Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag
$2.11/lb vs your seed's $7.20/lb (71% less) at a comparable score.
ACANA Appalachian Ranch Highest Protein Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag
Pork instead of lamb, 18 points higher, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animallamb
Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animallamb liver
Organ meat. Same nutrient-density story as chicken or beef liver, dense in B vitamins, iron, vitamin A.
Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 4beef tripe
Stomach lining. Strong-smelling but nutrient-dense, with natural digestive enzymes.
Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 5protein animalbeef meal
Beef cooked down to a dry concentrate. More protein per pound than fresh beef. See why →
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6eggs
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7protein plantpea protein
Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.
Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 8fava beans
Less common pulse. Same concern as peas when stacked with other legumes.
- 9beef fat
Real animal fat, a clean energy source. Stable on the shelf without synthetic preservatives.
Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 10legumegreen peas
Same as peas. Useful in small amounts. The concern is when pulses dominate the top of the ingredient list. See why →
Position 10. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 11tapioca
Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.
- 12protein animallamb meal
Lamb cooked down to a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh lamb. See why →
Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 13fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 13: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 14green-lipped mussel
- 15manuka honey
- 16kiwifruit
- 17legumepeas
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 →
- 18othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 19brewers dried yeast
Yeast left over from brewing. Rich in B vitamins and amino acids. A traditional and well-tolerated inclusion.
- 20natural buffered vinegar
- 21mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 22supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 23supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 24supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 25mineralzinc amino acid complex
Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.
Showing first 25 of 47. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
21 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.