Fish Recipe High-Protein Adult Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 24-oz bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Dr. Gary's Best Breed Fish Recipe High-Protein Adult Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food is a freeze-dried food for adult dogs, with fish as its main protein.
This formula includes quality fat sources like salmon oil, which provides beneficial EPA and DHA. It also has quality carbohydrate sources that offer fermentable fiber. The food is formulated for adult maintenance, though the exact AAFCO statement isn't published.
The main thing to note is the protein quality. Fish, while present, delivers limited bioavailable amino acids compared to some other protein sources. Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for adult dogs who enjoy a fish-based diet. Less ideal if you're looking for a food with higher protein bioavailability.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Salmon oil anchors position 8, with zero pulses in the top 15. In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) .
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 55/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was fat quality (+12 points): Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source). The biggest detractor was protein quality (-17.5 points): Low protein quality. fish delivers limited bioavailable amino acids. The gap to B-tier is small (5.0 points). Addressing protein quality would likely close it.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
Low protein quality. fish delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
- Lowest caloric density in Dr. Gary's Best Breed's lineup (272 kcal/cup)
- Bottom 1% for protein quality in grain-free freeze-dried foods (7.6/27)
- Bottom quartile for fat quality in Dr. Gary's Best Breed's lineup (12/16)
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.
Dr. Gary's Best Breed Chicken Recipe High-Protein Adult Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 12-oz bag
Scores 19 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
A Better Treat Raw You Can See Chicken Recipe High-Protein Kibble & Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 15-lb bag
$4.67/lb vs your seed's $41.33/lb (89% 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.
- 1fish
- 2dried eggs
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3coconut flour
- 4sunflower seeds
- 5flaxseeds
Plural form, same as flaxseed. Plant source of omega-3, helpful for skin and coat.
- 6apple
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
- 7mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 8fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
Position 8. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 9caclium carbornate
- 10green mussels
- 11vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 11: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 12carrot
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, antioxidants. Same as carrots, sometimes singular on labels.
- 13vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
Position 13: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 14chicken cartilage
Position 14: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 15mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 16mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 17vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 18preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →
- 19fruitblueberries
Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.
- 20fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
- 21vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
- 22vegetablebroccoli
Real vegetable. Adds fiber and some antioxidants. Fine in the small amounts used in kibble.
- 23supplementkelp
Seaweed source of iodine. Trace mineral support, common in better formulas.
- 24mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 25mineraliron proteinate
Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
Showing first 25 of 41. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
19 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.