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Functional Pour Overs: Skin & Coat - Salmon Stew
The Honest Kitchen

Functional Pour Overs: Skin & Coat - Salmon Stew

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $11.49/lb Data verified from brand site

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

The Honest Kitchen Functional Pour Overs: Skin & Coat - Salmon Stew is a wet food topper or meal supplement featuring salmon.

This formula uses salmon as a primary protein source, offering good amino acid coverage. It also includes quality fat sources like sunflower oil and salmon oil, which provide EPA and DHA. The inclusion of whitefish adds further protein diversity.

Nothing concerning in the deck.

Good fit for adult dogs. Nothing serious working against it.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

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. Salmon anchors position 2, 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

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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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

At 65/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 19 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. salmon delivers solid amino acid coverage. Secondary contribution comes from fat quality (+12 points). Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source). The 10-point gap to the A-tier line is concentrated in protein quality (19 of 27 possible). Full protein quality requires named-species named-cut proteins in the top of the deck (e.g., "deboned chicken" rather than "chicken meal" or "poultry meal").

What lifted the score

Reasonable protein quality. salmon delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

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

STACK
What pulled it down

No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.

What sets this apart
  • Lowest carb quality in The Honest Kitchen's lineup (9/16)
  • Top 1% for DMB fat in The Honest Kitchen's lineup (40.0%)
  • Top 10% for protein quality in The Honest Kitchen's lineup (19.1/27)

Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 40% ⓘ
Protein
4%
min (as fed)
Fat
4%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1%
max (as fed)
Moisture
90%
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 40%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

12 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    fish broth
  2. 2
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

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

  3. 3
    vegetable

    Unnamed vegetable. No way to know what species. Named vegetables are far more transparent.

    Position 3: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  4. 4
    tapioca

    Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.

  5. 5
    carrots

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

    Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  6. 6
    whitefish

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

    Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  7. 7
    sunflower oil

    Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.

    Position 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  8. 8
    salmon oil

    Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.

    Position 8. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.

  9. 9
    flaxseed oil

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

  10. 10
    biotin supplement
  11. 11
    vitamin e supplement

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

  12. 12
    zinc proteinate

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

9 of 12 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.