Good Gravy Small Breed Ancient Grains Adult Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food, 3.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
NOW FRESH Good Gravy Small Breed Ancient Grains Adult Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food is a dry food for adult small breed dogs, featuring salmon as its main protein.
The formula includes quality carbohydrate sources like oatmeal and rye, which also provide fermentable fiber. It also features de-boned salmon and dried egg, contributing diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources.
The formula contains guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data, though there's no canine clinical evidence. This is a minor penalty, usually seen in canned food.
Good fit for adult small breed dogs who enjoy a salmon-based recipe. Less ideal if you prefer foods without guar gum.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for adult French Bulldogs and similar lower-energy companion breeds navigating weight management. At 411 kcal/cup this formula runs on the rich side, with crude fiber at 5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). The American Kennel Club breed standard for the French Bulldog specifies that weight must not exceed 28 pounds, a critical guideline for a breed prone to obesity and related health issues (AKC) . The 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines define overweight as a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6-7 on a 9-point scale. A score of 8 or 9 indicates obesity, representing 20-30% and >30% above ideal body weight, respectively (Brooks et al., 2014) .
Looking at this for adult French Bulldogs or French Bulldogs 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 4 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- AKCweight management
- 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 58/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was carbohydrate quality (+12 points): Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. The biggest detractor was controversial-ingredient penalty (-5 points): Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food. The gap to B-tier is small (2.0 points). Trimming controversial-ingredient penalty would likely close it.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..
- Top 10% for caloric density in wet foods (411 kcal/cup)
- Bottom 10% for DMB protein in wet foods (28.9%)
- Top quartile for fat quality in Now Fresh's lineup (7/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Scores 9 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
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$3.82/lb vs your seed's $7.43/lb (49% 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.
- 1de-boned salmon
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2legumepeas
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.
- 3grainoatmeal
Gentle on the stomach. Slow-release carbs and soluble fiber that supports stool quality.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4grainrye
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5vegetablepotato
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.
- 6legumepea 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.
- 7protein animaldried egg
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8fatcanola 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 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 9fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 9: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 10natural flavour
- 11fatcoconut 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.
- 12pea fibre
Position 12. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 13mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 14fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
Position 14: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 15monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 16grainmillet
Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.
- 17grainquinoa
Pseudo-grain with a complete amino acid profile. Rare in dog food because it's expensive.
- 18grainsorghum
Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated, decent fiber content.
- 19supplementalfalfa
- 20tomato
- 21fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
- 22mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 23carob powder
- 24turkey bone broth
- 25vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Showing first 25 of 60. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
17 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.