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Wholemade Whole Grain Fish & Oat
The Honest Kitchen

Wholemade Whole Grain Fish & Oat

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $13.75/lb Data verified from brand site

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Whole Grain Fish & Oat is a dry dog food with white fish as its primary protein source.

This formula features quality carbohydrate sources like barley and oats, which provide fermentable fiber that can support gut health. Eggs are also included, adding to the protein variety.

The main thing to note is the protein quality. White fish, while a primary ingredient, delivers limited bioavailable amino acids, which affects the overall protein quality of this food.

Good fit for dogs who do well on quality grains and fermentable fiber. Less ideal if your dog needs a higher quality, more bioavailable protein.

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, including the Labrador Retriever, navigating weight management. Working in its favor: crude fiber (5%) helps satiety. Caloric density is not declared, with crude fiber at 5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs  (APOP, 2023) .

Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? 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.

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

Middle-of-pack grade. 58/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Carbohydrate quality did the heavy lifting (+16 points): Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. What we'd flag for vet discussion: protein quality (-16 points). Low protein quality. white fish delivers limited bioavailable amino acids. B-tier is 2.0 points away. Improving protein quality is the most direct route.

What lifted the score

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared not stated. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF
What pulled it down

Low protein quality. white fish delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI
What sets this apart
  • Bottom 10% for DMB fat in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (9.8%)
  • Top quartile for carb quality in The Honest Kitchen's lineup (16/16)
  • Bottom 10% for fat quality in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (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.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Whole Grain Beef & Oat Whole Food Clusters
The Honest Kitchen

Whole Grain Beef & Oat Whole Food Clusters

71

Scores 13 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Whole Grain Chicken Essential Clusters
The Honest Kitchen

Whole Grain Chicken Essential Clusters

58

$5.00/lb vs your seed's $13.75/lb (64% less) at a comparable score.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 31% ⓘ
Protein
28%
min (as fed)
Fat
9%
min (as fed)
Fiber
5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
8.5%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

23 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    white fish

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

  2. 2
    barley

    Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.

    Position 2: major carbohydrate source.

  3. 3
    oats

    Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.

    Position 3: major carbohydrate source.

  4. 4
    eggs

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.

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

  5. 5
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

    Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.

  6. 6
    potato

    Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.

    Position 6: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  7. 7
    carrots

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

    Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  8. 8
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

    Position 8: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  9. 9
    tricalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.

  10. 10
    parsley

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

  11. 11
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  12. 12
    iron amino acid chelate

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

  13. 13
    zinc amino acid chelate

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

  14. 14
    copper amino acid chelate

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

  15. 15
    potassium iodide

    Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  16. 16
    sodium 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 →

  17. 17
    vitamin e supplement

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

  18. 18
    vitamin b12 supplement

    Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.

  19. 19
    calcium pantothenate

    Same as d-calcium pantothenate. Vitamin B5 in standardized form.

  20. 20
    vitamin d3 supplement

    The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

  21. 21
    thiamine mononitrate

    B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.

  22. 22
    riboflavin supplement

    B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.

  23. 23
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

22 of 23 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.