Instinct Dog Food Reviews

Instinct Raw Boost is made by Nature’s Variety, a brand that was started in 2002 with the intention of creating holistic food for pets. None of their foods use any artificial colors or flavors, and they also avoid animal by-products; every ingredient is included with pets’ health in mind.

Their Instinct Raw Boost line is notable for having chunks of freeze-dried raw meat inside. It’s akin to feeding a raw diet, without having to completely transition over. As a result, it’s become very popular among owners who believe in the virtues of feeding a raw diet, but don’t have the time or money to do so.

All their food is made in the St. Louis area, where they’re headquartered. They’re a privately-owned company, so they don’t answer to a giant multinational corporation.

We really like this food, but it’s not necessarily for everyone. Read on to find out who we feel should (and shouldn’t) give it a try.

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Is Instinct a Good Dog Food?

Rating:

Nature’s Variety Instinct Original Dog Food earns The Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.

A Quick Guide to Instinct Raw Boost

Thinking about Instinct Raw Boost… but confused by its unusual design? This short video from Chewy may help.

Instinct is owned by Natures Variety of Lincoln, Nebraska. All Instinct recipes are made at the company’s own facilities in Lincoln.

Each Instinct dog food is formulated by the company’s on-staff professionals. This includes a veterinarian who is board-certified in both veterinary nutrition and integrative medicine.

The company’s chief scientific officer holds a PhD in food science. And one of its directors of research and development holds a masters degree in the same field.

Has Instinct Dog Food Been Recalled?

Here’s a list of all recalls since 2009 related to Instinct dog products. Updates are added as soon as new recalls are posted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls here.

Get free recall alerts by email. Subscribe to The Dog Food Advisor’s recall notification list.

FAQ

Does instinct dog food come from China?

Our Rating of Instinct Dog Food

The Dog Food Advisor finds Instinct to be an exceptional grain-free dry kibble. The Original recipe uses an abundance of named meat meal as its primary source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 5 stars. The Limited Ingredient formula gets 4.5 stars.

What is the healthiest dog food in the world?

Where is your food made? All Instinct raw and kibble recipes are made in the U.S.A. using the finest ingredients from around the world. Our frozen and freeze-dried raw recipes are made in our company-owned facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Is Instinct owned by Purina?

The 10 Best Healthiest Dog Food Brands
  1. The Farmer’s Dog – Best Overall. …
  2. Solid Gold Barking at the Moon High-Protein. …
  3. Nature’s Logic Sardine Meal Feast All Life Stages. …
  4. K9 Natural Beef Feast Raw Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food. …
  5. Sojos Wild-Caught Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food.