Skip to main content
snıff
NOW FRESH Good Gravy Ancient Grains Adult Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
Now Fresh

Good Gravy Ancient Grains Adult Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $4.13/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

NOW FRESH Good Gravy Ancient Grains Adult Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food is a dry food for adult dogs, with de-boned salmon as its primary protein source.

This formula uses quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber, which is good for gut health. It also includes de-boned salmon and dried egg, providing diverse, highly bioavailable protein. The AAFCO formulation for adult maintenance is inferred, though a verbatim statement isn't published.

The formula contains guar gum, an emulsifier. There's emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers, but no specific canine clinical evidence to date.

Good fit for adult dogs of any size. Nothing serious working against it.

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

Who this is for

Strong fit for medium-sized herding breeds like Australian Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dogs, and Border Collies navigating skin allergies. Working in its favor: calorie density (405 kcal/cup) matches a high-energy working breed. The protein deck is limited to de-boned salmon and dried egg. Aussies are working-line dogs that thrive on high-protein performance formulas. Coat quality also benefits from EPA+DHA. The National Research Council (2006) recommends a minimum of 2.6 grams of linoleic acid (an omega-6) per 1000 kcal of metabolizable energy to maintain skin barrier function in adult dogs  (NRC, 2006) .

Looking at this for adult Australian Shepherds or Australian Shepherds with skin allergies ? 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.

Why this score

Middle-of-pack grade. 58/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Carbohydrate quality did the heavy lifting (+12 points): Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. What we'd flag for vet discussion: controversial-ingredient penalty (-5 points). Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food. B-tier is 2.0 points away. Trimming controversial-ingredient penalty is the most direct route.

What lifted the score

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

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

STACK

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF
What pulled it down

Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Bottom 10% for DMB protein in wet foods (28.9%)
  • Top quartile for fat quality in Now Fresh's lineup (7/16)
  • Bottom quartile for protein quality in Now Fresh's lineup (12.6/27)

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
Wellness Protein Bowls Adult Wholesome Grains Salmon, Whitefish & Rice Fresh Alternative Dog Food, 6.2-oz pouch, case of 6
Wellness

Wellness Protein Bowls Adult Wholesome Grains Salmon, Whitefish & Rice Fresh Alternative Dog Food, 6.2-oz pouch, case of 6

67

Scores 9 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
NOW FRESH Good Gravy Ancient Grains Adult Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
NOW FRESH

NOW FRESH Good Gravy Ancient Grains Adult Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag

56

$3.82/lb vs your seed's $4.13/lb (7% less) at a comparable score.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 29% ⓘ
Protein
26%
min (as fed)
Fat
16%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

58 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    de-boned salmon

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

  2. 2
    peas

    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 2. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.

  3. 3
    oatmeal

    Gentle on the stomach. Slow-release carbs and soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

    Position 3: major carbohydrate source.

  4. 4
    rye

    Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.

  5. 5
    potato

    Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.

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

  6. 6
    pea flour

    Powdered peas, usually used as a binder or filler. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA flagged.

    Position 6. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.

  7. 7
    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 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  8. 8
    dried egg

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.

    Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  9. 9
    natural flavour
  10. 10
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

    Position 10: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  11. 11
    coconut oil

    Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.

    Position 11: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  12. 12
    pea fibre

    Position 12. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.

  13. 13
    monocalcium phosphate

    Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.

  14. 14
    calcium carbonate

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

  15. 15
    millet

    Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.

    Position 15: minor grain inclusion.

  16. 16
    alfalfa
  17. 17
    quinoa

    Pseudo-grain with a complete amino acid profile. Rare in dog food because it's expensive.

  18. 18
    sorghum

    Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated, decent fiber content.

  19. 19
    tomato
  20. 20
    guar gum

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

  21. 21
    carob powder
  22. 22
    turkey bone broth
  23. 23
    pumpkin

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

  24. 24
    squash

    Real vegetable. Fiber, vitamin A, gentle on the stomach. Similar nutrition role to sweet potato.

  25. 25
    sweet potato

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

Showing first 25 of 58. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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