Nature's Variety "Raw Instinct"

[Cash]

Nature's Variety has come out with a grain free kibble comparable to Innova's Evo called Raw Instinct.
Interestingly where Evo uses potato as their carbohydrate source, Nature's Variety uses tapioca. Raw Instinct has the same protein to fat ratio, but with 40 fewer calories. Here is the link to their site for more details. The site says the food is "coming soon" but I've seen it in stores.
http://www.naturesvariety.com/

[LynnS]

40% fewer calories???? I want a bag NOW LOL

I have not seen it up here yet but just bought there reformulated Lamb and Oatmeal kibble.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by LynnS

40% fewer calories???? I want a bag NOW LOL

I have not seen it up here yet but just bought there reformulated Lamb and Oatmeal kibble.

LOL. 40 fewer calories. (actually, closer to 50.)
Evo has 537/cup Raw Instinct has 490/cup
Your wishful thinking added the %.

My pet store just received it's first shipment last week.

[fbkeays]

I am almost due for my next bag of the Venison from NV (they don't carry the big bag so they special order it for me). So I will pick up my Venison and ask about getting the raw instinct instead next time. I liked EVO a lot, but Cipher had a lot of gas with it. Evo also had a lot of different protein sources if I remember correctly. This one mainly has chicken with a little turkey thrown in near the end.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by fbkeays

I am almost due for my next bag of the Venison from NV (they don't carry the big bag so they special order it for me). So I will pick up my Venison and ask about getting the raw instinct instead next time. I liked EVO a lot, but Cipher had a lot of gas with it. Evo also had a lot of different protein sources if I remember correctly. This one mainly has chicken with a little turkey thrown in near the end.

While you are inquiring ask your store about Great Life's "Rubicon" line. They make 3 different kibbles (buffalo, lamb & chicken) which are all single protein/grain free lines. if I am not mistaken it's made & distributed through NV so they should be able to get it for you.

[rommel's mom]

Could someone explain what Montmorillonite Clay is. It sure doesn't sound very good

INGREDIENTS
Chicken Meal, Tapioca, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Pumpkinseeds, Menhaden Fish Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Montmorillonite Clay, Natural Chicken Flavor, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Biotin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta Carotene, Folic Acid), Kelp, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite), Chicken Liver, Sea Salt, Inulin, Flaxseed Oil, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Apples, Carrots, Peas, Cottage Cheese, Chicken Eggs, Freeze Dried Chicken, Freeze Dried Turkey, Freeze Dried Turkey Liver, Freeze Dried Turkey Hearts, Ground Chicken Bone, Butternut Squash, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Salmon Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Persimmons, Olive Oil, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Rosemary Extract, Sage, Clove.

[spidey]

Here is some info on Montmorillonite Clay. It apparently has some healing benefits.

[groupieindenial]

Tapioca has nearly no nutritional value, some amino acids, some iron, and manganese. There is next to nothing as for nutritional value. If this is the second ingredient, sure explains why the caloric content is much lower than evo's.

Besides Alfalfa and pumpkin seeds, it has little to none natural vitamins from foods. Its all fortified with vitamins, and near the end of the ingredient list is a few other natural ingredients but that only indicates minor traces of them. A marketing ploy none the less. Using fresh ingredients costs, hence why it is fortified first.

The high protein 42% count is due to the meat, which is a little too high for my likings, but I know thats their point to make it like Evo's. I feel there is too much tapioca used as filler. That would indicate the 490/cup content.

Honest oppinion. Not terrible food, but I don't think it's well balanced. Looks like their main aim was to get the high protein content, and cheated on making it appear balanced.

I think it might be an option for dogs sensitive to the protein in grains.

[SamIam]

Since this food has now been out for a couple of months now, has anyone tried it? Any first-hand experience? How do the dogs like it? Inquiring minds need to know.

[Andiamo Enzo]

Used it! Very palatable to the dogs. But the GAS!! I switched from NV Venison. Switching back, it is too rich for them I think. Good thing I don't smoke....

[ReneeHawk]

Cash,
I fed Innova for a while, it is not a horrible kibble but all points brought up in recent replies striked the same concerns with me. I feed a grain-free diet called Force from honest kitchen. It works wonders!! Not all that filler crap that seems to be in the Raw Instinct (tapioca etc)...and nice that they have single-protein blends! I think they are based out of LA...have you heard of it where you are?
What is Great Life all about, I had not heard of this one...
Renee

[anni's.mom]

i've been feeding this for several months now, with good results. jack had been on proplan before i adopted him. when i got him home he had nasty looking teeth, bad breath and a funny odor about him. i put him on a 40/60 mix of the chicken and rice kibble and the frozen raw chicken and turkey. his teeth are much, much better and the mouth and coat odors are gone. and he poops less than half the quantity he did on proplan. best of all, he likes it a LOT!

i haven't tried the freeze-dried raw instinct, primarily because it's priced higher than the frozen raw.

[ccarter]

Does your dog have allergy problems? I use venison food and rabbit for my dog because of allergies. We have a discount store here so I sometimes can find venison in dry food in Royal Canin at 18.00 for a big bag.