Instinct Original Real Chicken Recipe
Raw-feeding advocates who want the closest thing to raw in a canned format
Nutro Hearty Stew Tender Chicken
Owners who want visible, recognizable ingredients in a premium stew format
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Instinct Original Real Chicken Recipe
Raw-feeding advocates who want the closest thing to raw in a canned format
Instinct Original is as close to raw feeding as canned food gets — 95% real animal ingredients with cage-free chicken. The minimally processed philosophy extends to their wet food with excellent ingredient quality. At ~$9/day it commands a premium, but the ingredient list justifies it for quality-focused owners.
Strengths
- Cage-free chicken is the #1 ingredient with 95% real animal ingredients
- No grain, corn, wheat, soy, potato, artificial colors, or preservatives
- Minimally processed formula with whole-food ingredients for maximum nutrition
Limitations
- Premium pricing at ~$9/day — significantly more expensive than mid-range
- Grain-free formula subject to FDA DCM investigation concerns
- 2021 recall of freeze-dried product line (not canned) is a minor safety note
When to Choose Nutro Hearty Stew Tender Chicken
Owners who want visible, recognizable ingredients in a premium stew format
Nutro Hearty Stew stands out for its visual appeal — you can see real chicken chunks and vegetable pieces in the stew. No by-products, no corn/wheat/soy, clean ingredient list. The stew format is less calorie-dense than pate, so you may need more volume for larger dogs. A solid premium option with genuine ingredient quality.
Strengths
- Real chicken is the #1 ingredient with visible vegetable pieces in stew format
- No corn, wheat, soy, chicken by-product meal, or artificial preservatives
- Hearty stew texture with recognizable chunks that dogs find highly palatable
Limitations
- Owned by Mars (same parent as Pedigree) — corporate overlap may concern some
- Stew format has higher moisture content, meaning less caloric density per ounce
- Limited flavor variety compared to competitors with larger wet food lines
