Skip to main content
snıff
Nature's Recipe Grain-Free Salmon, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe Wet Dog Food, 13-oz can, 12 count
Nature's Recipe

Grain-Free Salmon, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe Wet Dog Food, 13-oz can, 12 count

Evidence Fair
wet $3.93/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Nature's Recipe Grain-Free Salmon, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe is a wet food featuring salmon and chicken.

This food has a strong protein profile, with salmon as the first ingredient, which means good biological value. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber, and ingredients like chicken liver add diverse, highly bioavailable protein.

The biggest thing to note is the lack of an AAFCO statement, so its nutritional completeness isn't verified. It also contains carrageenan, a thickener that some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation.

Good fit for adult dogs who enjoy a wet food with a strong protein profile. Less ideal if you prefer a verified AAFCO statement or no carrageenan.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Salmon anchors position 1, with one pulse (pea protein at position 10), plus chicken liver at position 7 (a natural taurine precursor). 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

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

  • FDA, 2022
    cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    diet composition· cited in 2 claims
  • NRC, 2006
    nutrient bioavailability

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

Middle-of-pack grade. 55/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+21 points): Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What capped it: the score can't exceed 59 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). Removing the cap alone wouldn't change the band. AAFCO compliance is the deeper issue.

What lifted the score

Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK
What pulled it down

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Top quartile for DMB fat in Nature's Recipe's lineup (22.7%)
  • Bottom quartile for DMB protein in grain-free wet foods (36.4%)
  • Top quartile for protein quality in Nature's Recipe's lineup (21/27)

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.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey & Sweet Potato Entree Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Purina Pro Plan

Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey & Sweet Potato Entree Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12

59

Scores 4 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Chicken Soup for the Soul Turkey & Sweet Potato Stew Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 12
Chicken Soup for the Soul

Chicken Soup for the Soul Turkey & Sweet Potato Stew Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 12

55

$3.38/lb vs your seed's $3.93/lb (14% less) at a comparable score.

Worth a look
Different brand, different protein
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Small Breed Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Salmon Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz, case of 12
Natural Balance

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Small Breed Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Salmon Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz, case of 12

56

Whitefish instead of salmon, 1 point higher, different brand.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • carrageenan
    Seaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 36% ⓘ
Protein
8%
min (as fed)
Fat
5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
78%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 36%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

27 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

    Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.

  3. 3
    chicken broth

    Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.

    Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  4. 4
    turkey broth

    Real broth from named meat. Adds flavor and moisture, signals a recipe that leans on real meat.

    Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  5. 5
    sweet potato

    Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.

    Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  6. 6
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

    Position 6: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  7. 7
    chicken liver

    Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.

    Position 7. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  8. 8
    apple

    Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.

  9. 9
    ground fish
  10. 10
    pea protein

    Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.

    Position 10. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.

  11. 11
    turkey

    Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.

    Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.

  12. 12
    canola oil

    Plant oil. Some omega-3 from the parent plant, though dogs absorb it less efficiently than fish-derived omega-3. Fine in moderation.

    Position 12: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  13. 13
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  14. 14
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →

    Position 14: trace fiber inclusion.

  15. 15
    carrageenan Flagged

    Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →

  16. 16
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  17. 17
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  18. 18
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

  19. 19
    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

  20. 20
    iron sulfate
  21. 21
    iron proteinate

    Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  22. 22
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

  23. 23
    copper proteinate

    Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.

  24. 24
    sodium 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 →

  25. 25
    manganese sulfate

    Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.

Showing first 25 of 27. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.