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Solid Gold Barking at the Moon 95% Beef Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13.2-oz, case of 6
Solid Gold

Barking at the Moon 95% Beef Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13.2-oz, case of 6

Evidence Fair
wet $4.93/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Solid Gold Barking at the Moon 95% Beef Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food is a wet food featuring beef, whitefish, and beef liver.

The protein quality is reasonable, with beef providing solid amino acid coverage. The inclusion of whitefish and beef liver adds diverse, high-bioavailability protein sources to the recipe.

The biggest watch item is the lack of an AAFCO statement, meaning its nutritional completeness is unverified. It also contains guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data, though canine clinical evidence is not yet available.

Good fit for dogs who need a wet food with diverse protein sources. Less ideal if you prefer foods with a verified AAFCO statement.

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 like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef anchors position 1, with one pulse (dried ground peas at position 5), plus beef liver at position 4 (a natural taurine precursor) and whitefish at position 3. 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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. 53/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+18.5 points): Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage. 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

Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

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

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Lowest crude fiber in Solid Gold's lineup (3.4% DMB)
  • Top quartile for DMB protein in Solid Gold's lineup (43.2%)
  • Bottom 10% for carb quality in Solid Gold'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.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Instinct Original Adult Grain-Free Real Beef Recipe Wet Dog Food, 13.2-oz can, case of 6
Instinct

Instinct Original Adult Grain-Free Real Beef Recipe Wet Dog Food, 13.2-oz can, case of 6

67

Scores 14 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Beef Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Beef Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12

49

$4.55/lb vs your seed's $4.93/lb (8% less) at a comparable score.

Worth a look
Different brand, different protein
Chicken Soup for the Soul Chicken with Beef & Vegetables Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 12
Chicken Soup for the Soul

Chicken Soup for the Soul Chicken with Beef & Vegetables Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 12

59

Chicken instead of beef, 6 points higher, different brand.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 43% ⓘ
Protein
9.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
6%
min (as fed)
Fiber
0.75%
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 43%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

38 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

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

  2. 2
    beef broth

    Real broth. Adds flavor and moisture, signals the recipe leans on real meat.

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

  3. 3
    whitefish

    Real fish meat. Lean protein with a clean amino acid profile.

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

  4. 4
    beef liver

    Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.

    Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  5. 5
    dried ground peas

    Position 5. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.

  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
    tricalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.

  8. 8
    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 8: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.

  9. 9
    ground flaxseed

    Cracked flaxseed for better digestibility. Same plant omega-3s as whole flaxseed, just easier for the dog to extract.

    Position 9: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  10. 10
    alfalfa meal

    Dried alfalfa. Real fiber and trace minerals. Functional plant ingredient.

  11. 11
    cassia gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Functional, no major concerns at typical inclusion.

  12. 12
    xanthan gum

    Thickener common in wet food and gravies. Same emulsifier-microbiome conversation as guar gum, not a clear flag. See why →

    Position 12: trace fiber inclusion.

  13. 13
    salt

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

  14. 14
    potassium chloride

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

  15. 15
    spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

    Position 15: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  16. 16
    cranberries

    Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.

  17. 17
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

  18. 18
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  19. 19
    zinc proteinate

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

  20. 20
    iron proteinate

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

  21. 21
    blueberries

    Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.

  22. 22
    apples

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

  23. 23
    thiamine mononitrate

    B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.

  24. 24
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  25. 25
    copper proteinate

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

Showing first 25 of 38. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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