Lamb & King Salmon Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 1.1-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
K9 Natural Lamb & King Salmon is a freeze-dried dog food that features lamb and lamb liver as its primary protein sources.
This freeze-dried food has a strong protein profile, with lamb as the primary ingredient, offering high biological value. It also includes a good variety of organ meats and named fish like king salmon, providing diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources. The carbohydrate sources are also noted for their quality and fermentable fiber.
The main thing to note is the absence of an AAFCO statement, which means the nutritional completeness of this food is unverified. This lack of verification is why the score is capped at 59.
Good fit for owners seeking a freeze-dried food with a strong protein profile. Less ideal if you need AAFCO verification for nutritional completeness.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
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) . Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Lamb anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus lamb tripe at position 3 (a natural taurine precursor) and king salmon at position 2.
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 59/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 21.5 points to the final number: Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. The ceiling on this score is 59, set because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). The fix path: the brand publishing the AAFCO statement. That would lift the cap and put this formula above the B-band line at 60.
Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
- Top 4% for DMB fat in grain-free freeze-dried foods (41.3%)
- Bottom quartile for crude fiber in grain-free freeze-dried foods (2.7% DMB)
- Top quartile for protein quality in grain-free freeze-dried foods (21.7/27)
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.
Simple Food Project Lamb Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 6-lb box
Scores 3 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
A Better Treat Raw You Can See Salmon Recipe High-Protein Kibble & Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 15-lb bag
$5.33/lb vs your seed's $48.14/lb (89% less) at a comparable score.
Formula Raw Lamb Grain-Free Adult Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food, 25-oz bag
Beef instead of lamb, 2 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.
- 2king salmon
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3lamb tripe
Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 4lamb lung
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5protein animallamb liver
Organ meat. Same nutrient-density story as chicken or beef liver, dense in B vitamins, iron, vitamin A.
Position 5. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 6lamb kidney
Position 6. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 7lamb heart
Position 7. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 8flaxseed flakes
- 9carrot
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, antioxidants. Same as carrots, sometimes singular on labels.
- 10green mussel
Mussel from New Zealand. Natural source of glucosamine and omega-3s. Common in joint-support formulas.
- 11ground lamb bone
Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 12vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 12: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 13fatsunflower oil
Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.
Position 13: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 14vegetablebroccoli
Real vegetable. Adds fiber and some antioxidants. Fine in the small amounts used in kibble.
Position 14: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 15supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 16dipotassium phosphate
- 17vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 18mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 19mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 20mineraliron proteinate
Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 21mineralmagnesium oxide
Inorganic magnesium. Functional at AAFCO doses, less efficiently absorbed than chelated forms.
- 22mineralselenium yeast
Organic selenium grown in yeast. The form premium brands use, gentler and more bioavailable than sodium selenite.
- 23mineralcopper proteinate
Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.
- 24mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 25vitamins
16 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.