Turkey, Duck & Root Veggies Butcher Block Pâté
Graded by The Sniff System
The Honest Kitchen Turkey, Duck & Root Veggies Butcher Block Pâté is a wet food featuring turkey, turkey liver, and duck as its main protein sources.
This recipe offers good protein quality, with turkey providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality fat sources, like marine oil, which is a good source of EPA and DHA, and quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.
Nothing concerning in the deck, though sodium selenite is present as a mineral supplement.
Good fit for dogs who enjoy a pâté texture and owners prioritizing quality protein and fat. Less ideal if you prefer a food with an AAFCO statement.
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 navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Turkey anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus turkey liver at position 3 (a natural taurine precursor).
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 66/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 15 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. turkey 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 9-point gap to the A-tier line is concentrated in protein quality (15 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").
Reasonable protein quality. turkey delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Bottom 2% for crude fiber in The Honest Kitchen's lineup (4.5% DMB)
- Top 10% for overall Sniff Score in grain-free wet foods (66/100)
- Top quartile for DMB protein in The Honest Kitchen's lineup (47.7%)
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.
Beef, Lamb & Spring Veggies Butcher Block Pâté
Scores 4 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
ACANA Premium Pate Duck in Bone Broth Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 12.8-oz, case of 12
Duck instead of turkey, 4 points lower, 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 animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2turkey bone broth
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalturkey liver
Organ meat. Same nutrient-density story as chicken or beef liver: protein, iron, B vitamins, vitamin A.
Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 4protein animalduck
Real meat. Often used as a novel protein for dogs with sensitivities to chicken or beef.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 6vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 6: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 7fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 8agar-agar
Seaweed-derived gel used as a thickener. Functional alternative to carrageenan, generally well-tolerated.
- 9mineralcopper proteinate
Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.
- 10mineraliron proteinate
Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 11mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 12mineralsodium selenite Flagged
Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →
- 13mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 14mineralsodium chloride
Same as salt. Required mineral, necessary at small doses.
- 15mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 16mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 17magnesium proteinate
Magnesium bound to protein for better absorption. The premium chelated form.
- 18mineraltricalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.
- 19fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
- 20supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
19 of 20 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.