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Instinct RawBoost Real Chicken Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food

Both score 8.4 out of 10 on KibbleLab. Compare ingredients, guaranteed analysis, and AAFCO nutritional adequacy, side by side.

Instinct RawBoost Real Chicken Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food and Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food compared

Nutrients:
As Fed
Instinct RawBoost Real Chicken Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food
Instinct RawBoost Real Chicken Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food

Verified Jul 22, 2026

Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food

Verified Jul 21, 2026

KibbleLab score The KibbleLab expert rating, 0 to 10, based on published veterinary science.
8.4 / 10 8.4 / 10
Guaranteed analysis (as fed)
Protein Guaranteed analysis gives label minimums and maximums, not measured values, shown as fed.
32.00% 30.00%
Fat 18.00% 18.00%
Fiber 4.00% 4.50%
Calcium 1.80% Not listed
Phosphorus 1.10% Not listed
Omega-3 0.50% 0.40%
Omega-6 3.30% 3.00%
Taurine 0.10% 0.17%
Moisture Higher moisture means a wetter food; it dilutes the other percentages above.
9.00% 11.00%
Calories 3790 kcal/kg 3827 kcal/kg
Calorie density Moderate Moderate
Ingredients
Full ingredient list Every ingredient on each label, in order of weight.
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Tapioca, Sweet Potatoes, Fish Meal, Turkey Meal, Freeze-Dried Chicken, Chickpeas, Dried Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Ground Flaxseeds, Freeze-Dried Chicken Liver, Salt, Coconut Oil, Potassium Chloride, Pumpkin Seeds, Freeze-Dried Chicken Heart, Montmorillonite Clay, Miscanthus Grass, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin), Apples, Blueberries, Carrots, Cranberries, Dried Yeast, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide), Choline Chloride, Taurine, Yeast Culture, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract, Salmon Oil, Rosemary Extract. Show full list
Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Pea Protein, Chicken Fat, Peas, Salmon Meal, Dried Egg Product, Potato Protein, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Miscanthus Grass, Dried Yeast, Salmon Oil, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, Apples, Blueberries, MINERALS [Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Calcium Iodate], DL-Methionine, Sunflower Oil, Taurine, VITAMINS [Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin D-3 Supplement], Mixed Tocopherols For Freshness, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract. B298423 Show full list
Limited ingredient No No
Health focus Digestive health, Skin coat health, Immune support, Bone health, Joint care, Weight management Brain health, Joint care, Skin coat health, High energy
Format & suitability
Food type Dry Dry
Texture Kibble Kibble
Processing Freeze Dried Not listed
Life stage All Life Stages Puppy
Breed size Small Small
AAFCO nutritional adequacy
Complete & balanced Whether the manufacturer's label claims the food meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for a life stage. Not an independent test.
Yes Not indicated
Life stages All Life Stages Not listed
Substantiation How adequacy was established. Feeding trials are the higher bar; formulation means the recipe is calculated to meet the profile.
Formulation Not listed
Maker standards
WSAVA guidelines The World Small Animal Veterinary Association publishes criteria for evaluating a manufacturer: qualified nutritionists on staff, feeding trials, and published research. It does not certify or endorse brands.
No No
PSC accredited The Pet Sustainability Coalition is a nonprofit that accredits pet companies on their environmental and social impact through third-party verification. It reflects sustainability practices, not food quality.
Yes No
Recalls & where to buy
Recalls on record KibbleLab began logging recalls in July 2026, so earlier recalls may not appear.
None None
Where to buy
Amazon
Amazon

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Shared ingredients

Both foods list these among their top ingredients, by label weight.

  • Chicken
  • Pea
  • Chicken Fat
  • Sweet Potato

Not sure which is right for your pet?

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Common Questions

Which food scores higher on KibbleLab?

Both foods score 8.4 out of 10 on KibbleLab.

Do these two foods share ingredients?

Yes. They share these top ingredients: Chicken, Pea, Chicken Fat, Sweet Potato.

Are both foods AAFCO complete and balanced?

Instinct RawBoost Real Chicken Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food is labeled complete and balanced; Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food does not list an AAFCO status.

See the full profiles: Instinct RawBoost Real Chicken Recipe Small Breed Dry Dog Food and Merrick Lil' Plates Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food .

KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

This is a neutral, factual comparison, not a ranking or an endorsement of either product. A food's guaranteed analysis gives legal minimums and maximums for a few nutrients, not measured values. No one can pay for placement or a higher score.

Product details are compiled from public sources and may not reflect the latest formulation. Represent one of these brands? Request a correction. Anyone else can email us.