Peak Mackerel & Lamb Recipe Canned Dog Food, 13.75-oz, case of 12
Graded by The Sniff System
ZIWI Peak Mackerel & Lamb Recipe Canned Dog Food is a wet food featuring mackerel and lamb as its main protein sources.
Mackerel as the first ingredient provides good protein quality and amino acid coverage. The recipe also includes organ meats like lamb lung, tripe, liver, and heart, which offer diverse, highly bioavailable protein.
The main thing to note is the absence of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness for any life stage is unverified. This also capped its overall score.
Good fit for dogs who thrive on fish and lamb, and owners prioritizing diverse protein. Less ideal if AAFCO verification is a must.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Mackerel anchors position 1, with one pulse (chickpeas at position 5), plus lamb tripe at position 6 (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
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
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 (+17 points): Reasonable protein quality. mackerel 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.
Reasonable protein quality. mackerel delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
- Lowest DMB fat in ZIWI's lineup (18.2%)
- Top quartile for DMB protein in ZIWI's lineup (47.7%)
- Lowest carb quality in ZIWI's lineup (6/16)
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.
ZIWI Peak Variety Pack Adult Grain-Free Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Mackerel & Lamb, Tripe & Lamb, Venison Pate Canned Dog Food, 6-oz can, case of 6
Scores 8 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
BIXBI Rawbble Grain-Free Canned Lamb Recipe Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz can, case of 12
$4.02/lb vs your seed's $8.96/lb (55% less) at a comparable score.
CANIDAE Pure Goodness All Stages Grain-Free Limited Ingredient Lamb Recipe Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Lamb instead of mackerel, 7 points higher, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 48%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalmackerel
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2water sufficient for processing
The regulatory phrase for cooking water in wet food. Has no nutritional implication, just labeling formality.
- 3lamb lung
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4protein animallamb
Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5legumechickpeas
Also called garbanzo beans. Affordable plant protein source, part of the legume stack the FDA examined in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 5. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 6lamb tripe
Position 6. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 7protein animallamb liver
Organ meat. Same nutrient-density story as chicken or beef liver, dense in B vitamins, iron, vitamin A.
Position 7. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 8lamb heart
Position 8. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 9green mussel
Mussel from New Zealand. Natural source of glucosamine and omega-3s. Common in joint-support formulas.
- 10lamb bone
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11lamb kidney
Position 11. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.
- 12lecithin
Natural emulsifier, usually from soy or sunflower. Helps blend fats and water. Safe at typical inclusion.
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14mineralmagnesium sulfate
Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 15mineralzinc amino acid complex
Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.
- 16mineraliron amino acid complex
Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 17mineralcopper amino acid complex
Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.
- 18mineralmanganese amino acid complex
Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 19lamb cartilage
- 20supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 21mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
14 of 21 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.