Ocean New Zealand Whole Dog Health Adult Grain-Free King Salmon Dry Dog Food, 4-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Wishbone Ocean New Zealand Whole Dog Health Adult Grain-Free King Salmon Dry Dog Food is a dry food for adult dogs, primarily featuring ocean fish and king salmon.
This formula includes quality fat sources like chicken fat, which is a named fat with declared sources. It also features king salmon, contributing to a more diverse and bioavailable protein profile.
The primary protein source, ocean fish meal, is noted for delivering limited bioavailable amino acids, which impacts the overall protein quality of the food.
Good fit for adult dogs who need a grain-free diet. Less ideal if you prioritize high protein quality.
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 adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Ocean fish meal anchors position 1, with one pulse (peas at position 2).
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 47/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from fat quality, worth 11 points to the final number: Quality fat sources: named fat with declared fat sources. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 15.5 points. Low protein quality. ocean fish meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
Quality fat sources: named fat with declared fat sources.
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.
Low protein quality. ocean fish meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
- Bottom 10% for overall Sniff Score in grain-free dry kibbles (47/100)
- Bottom quartile for DMB fat in grain-free dry kibbles (13.3%)
- Bottom quartile for crude fiber in grain-free dry kibbles (4.4% DMB)
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 Adult Wholesome Grains High-Protein Natural Ocean Whitefish & Herring Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
Scores 29 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Wholesomes Adult Bison Meal & Rice Dry Dog Food, 35-lb bag
$1.43/lb vs your seed's $6.25/lb (77% less) at a comparable score.
Wellness CORE Adult Grain-Free High-Protein Natural Ocean Whitefish, Herring, & Salmon Dry Dog Food, 26-lb bag
Whitefish instead of ocean, 24 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 animalocean fish meal
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.
- 3tapioca
Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.
- 4king salmon
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the 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.
- 6fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 7fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 8othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 9brewers dried yeast
Yeast left over from brewing. Rich in B vitamins and amino acids. A traditional and well-tolerated inclusion.
- 10fruitblueberries
Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.
Position 10: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 11fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
Position 11: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 12papaya
- 13mango
- 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.
- 15basil
- 16oregano
- 17supplementrosemary
- 18thyme
- 19sunflower seeds
- 20peppermint
- 21mineralsodium chloride
Same as salt. Required mineral, necessary at small doses.
- 22mineralmagnesium sulfate
Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 23buffered vinegar
- 24supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 25mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
Showing first 25 of 46. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
14 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.