Nature's Variety Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Meal Small Breed Dry Dog Food is for dogs with sensitive stomachs caused by food allergies or intolerances, where "less is more". This formula is made with only pure, simple and essential ingredients that have been carefully chosen and thoughtfully balanced for your dog's special needs. Complete and balanced for all breeds and life stages, it provides grain-free, gluten-free instinctive nutrition with one single protein and one hypoallergenic starch, combined with just a few other wholesome, natural ingredients. Fewer ingredients means fewer worries that your dog will react negatively to his or her food. Each kibble is coated with an exclusive green tea antioxidant blend for added flavor and health. And with the variety of omega fatty acids in canola oil and coconut oil, your dog's skin and coat will be nourished naturally from the inside out.

Simply put, Nature's Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diets are made with one protein and one starch. What it contains is lamb meal, tapioca, canola oil, peas, coconut oil, vitamins, minerals and dried green tea. What it does NOT contain is chicken, beef, fish, eggs, dairy, grain or gluten, which are common food allergens. The kibble size is perfect for small to large dogs. It is naturally preserved, with no added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chelated minerals are added for better nutrient absorption. Because food-allergic pets thrive on simplicity and purity, most LID diets will not contain additional fruits, vegetables or other whole foods, even though they may provide some health benefits. With LID diets, pets with food sensitivities to certain ingredients can still have a natural, nutritious, complete and balanced meal.

Turkey meal is the clean combination of the flesh and skin of turkey (with the moisture removed). Nature's Variety high quality turkey meal is an excellent source of highly digestible, lean meat protein and never contains added growth hormones. Turkey meal is also rich in essential amino acids, such as tryptophan. Turkey proteins are NOT considered to be cross-reactive with chicken proteins. In other words, pets with allergies to chicken should NOT have an allergic reaction when they eat turkey.

Tapioca is an all natural ingredient that is extracted from the root of the cassava plant via a series of washing, peeling, grating and drying steps, a process that removes any cyanogenic glycosides. It is a grain-free and gluten-free starch that is 98% digestible. There are no known allergies to tapioca, and many veterinary teaching hospitals incorporate tapioca rather than potato into their hypoallergenic, homemade recipes for food allergies and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Nature’s Variety includes tapioca in their grain-free Instinct kibble diets. Without some sort of natural starch as a binder, the ingredients in dry dog or cat foods do not hold together during the cooking process.

Green tea is the unfermented, dried leaf of the Camellia sinensis plant which has been carefully harvested, dried and ground. Green tea is prized throughout the world for its nutritive and health-promoting phytonutrients, some with powerful antioxidant ability. A diet rich in antioxidants has been shown to protect the body from damages caused by free radicals cell-damaging chemicals found in the environment and also found as natural by-products of metabolic events. These antioxidants, collectively known as polyphenols, include specific types called flavenoids and catechins. Instinct LID diets are estimated to contain approximately 1000 ppm of pure green tea (~300 ppm polyphenols) and may help protect your pet's cells from the harmful, disease-causing effects of free-radicals.

Nature's Variety Instinct kibble formulas are great for dogs with food allergies, mainly to grain, gluten or commonly used proteins. For some pets, however, the food allergy may include an ingredient that is still used in Nature Variety's Instinct kibble. In that case, Nature's Variety LID is an option for severely allergic pets who require a single protein formula with limited ingredients. The primary difference between Instinct Kibble and Instinct LID kibble is that Instinct LID uses only one meat source and one hypoallergenic starch, making it a great option for dogs who cannot tolerate other specific animal proteins. Additionally, Instinct LID uses an exclusive green tea coating to supply healthful antioxidants that would be normally supplied by fruits and vegetables in other Instinct kibble formulas.

Some pets may experience reactions to proteins found in certain animal or plant based ingredients. Even after changing food brands, some pets may still experience unresolved intestinal distress or skin problems. Often these unresolved symptoms may be due to undiagnosed food allergies or intolerances. In such cases, veterinarians will often recommend a simple diet that has a limited number of ingredients to help alleviate food allergy symptoms, including sensitive stomachs. Instinct LID provides a natural solution.

*** Ships within 2-3 business days ***

Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Peas, Turkey, Tapioca, Canola Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Natural Flavor, Coconut Oil, Montmorillonite Clay, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin), Salt, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide), Freeze Dried Turkey, Freeze Dried Turkey Liver, Pumpkinseeds, Freeze Dried Turkey Heart, Rosemary Extract.

Crude Protein (min) .............................. 35 %
Crude Fat (min) .............................. 14.5 %
Crude Fiber (max) .............................. 3.5 %
Moisture (max) .............................. 10 %
Calcium (min) .............................. 1.4 %
Phosphorus (min) .............................. 1.1 %
Vitamin E (min) .............................. 200 IU/kg
*Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (min) ........ 100 mg/kg
*Omega 3 Fatty Acids (min) .............................. 0.4 %
*Omega 6 Fatty Acids (min) .............................. 2.5 %
Glucosamine (min) .............................. 300 mg/kg
Chondroitin Sulfate (min) .............................. 525 mg/kg

* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.

Based on a standard 8 oz. measuring cup. For dogs over 100 lbs., please visit www.naturesvariety.com.

The above feeding guidelines are only general recommendations. Individual requirements will also vary based on specific metabolism, daily activity, age, genetics, health status, environment, outdoor temperature and other factors. Keep fresh water available at all times and offer plenty of exercise.

Sudden changes in diet can sometimes result in digestive disturbances. Overfeeding is a common cause of digestive upset. Do not overfeed regardless of your pet's acceptance or eagerness. Always introduce any new diet over a period of 5-7 days, mixing increasing amounts with the present diet.