Broth-Licious Shiny Coat Grain-Free Ocean Fish in Fish Bone Broth Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz tray, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
Health Extension Broth-Licious Shiny Coat Grain-Free Ocean Fish in Fish Bone Broth is a wet food for adult dogs, with whitefish as its main protein source.
This formula includes named fish, which contributes to a diverse and bioavailable protein profile. It's good to see a clear protein source listed.
The protein quality is noted as low, with whitefish offering limited bioavailable amino acids. It also contains menadione, a synthetic vitamin K3, and guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data.
Good fit for adult dogs who enjoy wet food. Less ideal if you prefer formulas with higher protein quality or without synthetic vitamin K3.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Labrador Retrievers navigating weight management. At 53 kcal/cup this formula runs on the lean side. 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. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs (APOP, 2023) .
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Below-average grade. 37/100 (D) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Ingredient diversity did the heavy lifting (+5 points): Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein. What we'd flag for vet discussion: protein quality (-15.5 points). Low protein quality. whitefish delivers limited bioavailable amino acids. C-tier is 8 points up. Protein quality is where to find them.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
Low protein quality. whitefish delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source..
Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..
- Lowest carb quality in Health Extension's lineup (6/16)
- Top 10% for DMB protein in wet foods (54.5%)
- Bottom 4% for DMB fat in grain-free wet foods (9.1%)
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.
ACANA Premium Pate Lamb in Bone Broth Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 12.8-oz, case of 12
Scores 34 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Health Extension Grain-Free Beef Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
$4.59/lb vs your seed's $12.53/lb (63% less) at a comparable score.
ACANA Premium Pate Beef in Bone Broth Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 12.8-oz, case of 12
Beef instead of whitefish, 32 points higher, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 1
- menadioneSynthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 55%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1fish broth
- 2protein animalwhitefish
Real fish meat. Lean protein with a clean amino acid profile.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 3: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 4legumegreen peas
Same as peas. Useful in small amounts. The concern is when pulses dominate the top of the ingredient list. See why →
Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5potato starch
Refined potato. Pure carb energy, low on other nutrition. Often used as a binder in grain-free recipes.
- 6sunflower seed oil
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 7fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
Position 7: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 8calcium lactate
Calcium source from lactic acid fermentation. Functional, well-tolerated.
- 9mineraltricalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.
- 10mineralzinc amino acid complex
Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.
- 11supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 12vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 13mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 14vitamincalcium pantothenate
Same as d-calcium pantothenate. Vitamin B5 in standardized form.
- 15mineralmanganese amino acid complex
Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 16vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 17vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 18vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 19mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 20vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 21vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 22vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
- 23mineralpotassium iodide
Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 24vitaminmenadione Flagged
Same as menadione sodium bisulfite complex. Synthetic K3, banned in human supplements but the only AAFCO-approved K source, which is why even premium brands use it. See why →
- 25vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
This meticulously crafted recipe meets the nutritional standards set by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Adult Maintenance.