Natural Instinct

Natural Instinct Senior review

Name: Natural Instinct Senior
Brand: Natural Instinct

85.7/100Outstanding

RawAdultSenior

A frozen raw recipe for older dogs that keeps the full strength of a raw bowl, and it holds our Outstanding band. Protein converts to 45.7% of dry matter with fat at 37.9%. Glucosamine and chondroitin are in the recipe itself, so there is no jar to measure on the side.

Where to buy: coming soon

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Our view

Likely to suit

Owners who were already adding joint support
A senior settled on chicken, the only land animal on the list
A quiet appetite. Raw chicken finished with salmon oil is about as tempting as a bowl gets
Cereal-free feeding: nothing on the label is a grain
Older dogs of any size, toy to giant

Worth watching

No inclusion figure for the glucosamine or chondroitin
Commercial glucosamine is normally made from shellfish
Salmon oil, so not fish free
Freezer room, a fridge thaw and a wipe of the surfaces

Written by our editorial team. Independent guidance, not veterinary advice.

How this scores

How we score

85.7/100Outstanding

Protein and processingOutstanding

Nutritional balanceOutstanding

TransparencyGood

ValueOutstanding

The details

Dog fit

Listed for adults and seniors of every size. An older dog doing less walking usually needs somewhat under the 345 grams a day we estimate for 15kg, so start lower and watch condition.

Food type

Raw

Life stage

Adult, Senior

Breed size

Toy, Small, Medium, Large, Giant

Main protein

Chicken

The score, in context

Natural Instinct Senior 85.7

All one Outstanding. Typical raw food: Outstanding.

It holds its place in the toughest company we score; the one softer reading comes from joint ingredients named generously but never quantified.

What's in it

Chicken75%The whole animal story, with ground bone in the mince doing the mineral work.
Apple, butternut squash
CarrotSoluble fibre and the pigments behind vitamin A.
Chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine hydrochlorideNamed to lift the amount beyond traces. Clinical results have been mixed, so read it as a sensible inclusion.
KelpIodine and trace minerals.
Salmon oilThe omega 3 a stiffening older dog is usually given a supplement for.
Spinach
Vitamin C

Calcium converts to 2.89% of dry matter, from bone in the mince and not an added carbonate.

Named ingredients

Chicken 75%, apple, butternut squash, carrot, chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine hydochloride, kelp, salmon oil, spinach, vitamin c

Against the range

One frozen recipe: chicken at 75% with ground bone in the mince, then a short, legible vegetable side, salmon oil, and glucosamine and chondroitin written into the ingredients. Vitamin C is the only other supplemented nutrient.

Nutritional analysis

Declared analysis

Energy

154.9 kcal/100g

Estimated using Modified Atwater factors*

Protein

14.2%

Fat

11.8%

Fibre

0.5%

Ash

3.2%

Moisture

68.9%

Dry weight

Protein

45.7%

Fat

37.9%

Fibre

1.6%

Ash

10.3%

Carbs

4.5%

As-fed composition

Estimated breakdown of the finished product by ingredient category, from the declared ingredient list and ingoing weights. These are estimates, not measurements.

Meat

75%

Veg

20.7%

Oils

0.6%

Other

3.7%

Pricing & size