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ZIWI Peak Mackerel & Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food, 35.2-oz bag
ZIWI

Peak Mackerel & Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food, 35.2-oz bag

Evidence Fair
air dried $27.26/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

ZIWI Peak Mackerel & Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food is an air-dried formula featuring mackerel and lamb as its main protein sources.

This food includes quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber, which is good for gut health. It also features a diverse protein profile with named fish like mackerel and various lamb organ meats, offering high bioavailability. Plus, it uses premium micronutrient forms like chelated minerals.

The main thing to note is the absence of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified. This lack of verification significantly impacts its overall score.

Good fit for dogs whose owners prioritize high-quality protein and an air-dried format. Less ideal if AAFCO verification is a must-have for you.

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. Mackerel anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus lamb tripe at position 3 (a natural taurine precursor). 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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

Sniff scored this formula 59/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was carbohydrate quality (+12 points): Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. A hard cap of 59 also applied 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). If the brand publishing the AAFCO statement were on the label, the cap would lift and this formula could clear the B-band threshold (60).

What lifted the score

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

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

STACK

Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.

MNI
What pulled it down

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF
What sets this apart
  • Lowest crude fiber in ZIWI's lineup (3.5% DMB)
  • Top 5% for DMB protein in air-dried foods (51.2%)
  • Lowest protein quality in ZIWI's lineup (13.8/27)

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
Open Farm

Surf & Turf Air Dried Recipe for Dogs

75

Scores 16 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Spot & Tango

Beef & Barley UnKibble

59

$3.75/lb vs your seed's $27.26/lb (86% less) at a comparable score.

Worth a look
Different brand, different protein
Spot & Tango

Turkey & Sweet Potato UnKibble

69

Turkey instead of mackerel, 10 points higher, different brand.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 51% ⓘ
Protein
44%
min (as fed)
Fat
24%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3%
max (as fed)
Moisture
14%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

25 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    mackerel

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

  2. 2
    lamb

    Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.

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

  3. 3
    lamb tripe

    Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  4. 4
    lamb lung

    Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  5. 5
    lamb heart

    Position 5. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  6. 6
    lamb liver

    Organ meat. Same nutrient-density story as chicken or beef liver, dense in B vitamins, iron, vitamin A.

    Position 6. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  7. 7
    green mussel

    Mussel from New Zealand. Natural source of glucosamine and omega-3s. Common in joint-support formulas.

  8. 8
    lamb kidney

    Position 8. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  9. 9
    lamb spleen

    Position 9. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  10. 10
    lamb bone

    Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  11. 11
    lecithin

    Natural emulsifier, usually from soy or sunflower. Helps blend fats and water. Safe at typical inclusion.

  12. 12
    parsley

    Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.

  13. 13
    dried apple pomace
  14. 14
    inulin

    Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.

    Position 14: trace fiber inclusion.

  15. 15
    dipotassium phosphate
  16. 16
    magnesium sulfate

    Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  17. 17
    zinc amino acid complex

    Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.

  18. 18
    iron amino acid complex

    Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  19. 19
    copper amino acid complex

    Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.

  20. 20
    manganese amino acid complex

    Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

  21. 21
    dried organic kelp
  22. 22
    salt

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

  23. 23
    lamb cartilage
  24. 24
    citric acid

    Natural antioxidant preservative. Helps keep fats from going rancid.

  25. 25
    mixed tocopherols

    Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →

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