Zen Vegetarian Plant Based Skin & Coat Health Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Addiction Zen Vegetarian Plant Based Skin & Coat Health Dry Dog Food is a plant-based dry food formulated for all life stages.
One positive is the inclusion of premium micronutrient forms, such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E, which are generally easier for your dog's body to absorb.
The formula is plant-protein-dominated, with oats as the first ingredient, which is a significant driver for its lower score. Also, the AAFCO statement is ambiguous or incomplete.
Good fit for owners seeking a plant-based diet for their dog. Less ideal if you prioritize a complete AAFCO statement or traditional protein sources.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. Good fit for active large sporting breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and English Setters navigating weight management. At 363 kcal/cup this formula runs on the moderate side, with crude fiber at 7.5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). The 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines define overweight as a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6-7 on a 9-point scale. A score of 8 or 9 indicates obesity, representing 20-30% and >30% above ideal body weight, respectively (Brooks et al., 2014) .
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? 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.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- APOP, 2023prevalence
- Raffan et al., 2016genetics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 42/100, this formula sits below where we look for everyday picks. The lift comes from micronutrient inclusion, worth 3 points to the final number: Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 21 points. Plant-protein-dominated formula. oats as the #1 ingredient. This formula sits 3.0 points below the C-tier line. The most direct lever is protein quality.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
Plant-protein-dominated formula. oats as the #1 ingredient.
AAFCO statement ambiguous or incomplete.
- Lowest DMB protein in Addiction's lineup (24.4%)
- Top 10% for crude fiber in Addiction's lineup (8.3% DMB)
- Lowest DMB fat in Addiction's lineup (10.0%)
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.
Addiction Premium Wild Islands Island Birds Adult Grain-Free & High-Protein Poultry Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Scores 23 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Vegetarian Recipe Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag
$3.04/lb vs your seed's $4.76/lb (36% less) at a comparable score.
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.
- 1grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with oats as the dominant carb.
- 2protein plantsoybean meal
Concentrated soy protein. Cheap plant protein that pads the label number, common in budget formulas.
Position 2: plant protein in the top 5. Stacked with animal protein, can inflate the crude protein number without matching the amino-acid quality of named animal sources.
- 3grainrice
Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4legumepeas
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 →
Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5fatcoconut oil
Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.
Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 6supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 7mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 8fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 9othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 10brewers dried yeast
Yeast left over from brewing. Rich in B vitamins and amino acids. A traditional and well-tolerated inclusion.
- 11mineralsea salt
Same as salt. Required at small doses for normal physiology.
- 12mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 13natural buffered vinegar
- 14supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 15supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 16supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 17mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 18mineralzinc amino acid complex
Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.
- 19mineraliron amino acid complex
Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 20vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 21vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 22mineralcopper amino acid complex
Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.
- 23vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 24mineralmanganese amino acid complex
Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 25mineralsodium selenite Flagged
Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →
Showing first 25 of 38. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
The Addiction Zen Vegetarian Plant Based Skin & Coat Health Dry Dog Food is specifically designed to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for all life stages, including growth. This ensures that the food can be fed as your dog’s complete and balanced diet, providing all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals they need for optimal health.