Turkey Freeze-Dried Raw Sliders Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 25-oz bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Smallbatch Pets Turkey Freeze-Dried Raw Sliders Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a freeze-dried raw food that features turkey as its main protein source.
This food has a strong protein profile, with turkey as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. The inclusion of turkey livers, gizzards, and hearts in the top ingredients also adds a good variety of organ meats.
The biggest watch item is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified. Also, there's no declared source of omega-3 fatty acids like fish or algae oil.
Good fit for dogs whose owners prefer a raw, freeze-dried diet with a strong protein base. Less ideal if AAFCO verification or omega-3 sources are a concern.
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 active large sporting breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Turkey anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15.
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 55/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 20.5 points to the final number: Strong protein profile with turkey 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 cap isn't the binding constraint here. Fat quality would also need to improve to reach the next band.
Strong protein profile with turkey as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
- Lowest fat quality in Smallbatch Pets's lineup (4/16)
- Top 4% for DMB protein in grain-free freeze-dried foods (55.8%)
- Lowest carb quality in Smallbatch Pets's lineup (9/16)
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.
Wellness CORE+ Small Breed with Freeze-Dried Pieces Adult Grain-Free High-Protein Natural Turkey Dry Dog Food, 10-lb bag
Scores 21 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Simple Food Project Duck Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 6-lb box
$18.75/lb vs your seed's $42.94/lb (56% less) at a comparable score.
Simple Food Project Chicken & Turkey Recipe Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 6-lb box
Chicken instead of turkey, 13 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 animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3turkey livers
Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 4turkey gizzards
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5turkey hearts
Position 5. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 6vegetablecelery
Real vegetable. Mostly water and a little fiber. Decorative more than nutritional in the amounts used.
Position 6: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 7vegetablevegetable
Unnamed vegetable. No way to know what species. Named vegetables are far more transparent.
Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 8bok choy
- 9cauliflower
- 10green beans
Real vegetable. Fiber and a small amount of vitamins. Often used in weight-management formulas because it bulks up a meal without adding calories.
- 11dandelion greens
- 12cilantro
- 13blueberry
- 14preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →
Natural preservative. Methodologically preferred over synthetic alternatives.
- 15supplementkelp
Seaweed source of iodine. Trace mineral support, common in better formulas.
- 16pollock oil
- 17apple cider vinegar
- 18vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 19wheatgrass
- 20thyme
- 21oregano
8 of 21 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.