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Gently Cooked Grain Free Salmon Recipe Wet Dog Food
Health Extension

Gently Cooked Grain Free Salmon Recipe Wet Dog Food

Verified Aug 17, 2026

Dog · Wet All Life Stages All Breed Sizes

This is a gently cooked, grain-free wet dog food designed for all life stages, including large-breed puppies. It uses salmon and duck as the main animal protein sources, cooked in duck bone broth with vegetables like carrot, pumpkin, and peas, plus added vitamins and minerals for complete and balanced nutrition. The moderate calorie density makes it suitable as a primary diet or as a topper for dogs who enjoy a soft, stew-like texture.

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Over-the-counter AAFCO No recalls

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Official product page
KibbleLab Score
8.3 out of 10

Strong Choice

Nutritionally, this is a high-quality gently cooked wet food with salmon and duck providing the main protein, and it’s formulated to be complete and balanced for all life stages, including large-breed puppies. The ingredient list is straightforward, with recognizable meats and vegetables, plus a full suite of added vitamins and chelated minerals for good nutrient availability. It should work well for many dogs who do better without grains or chicken, though it may not be ideal if your dog is sensitive to fish or duck, and peas appear in the ingredient list, which some owners of at-risk breeds will want to keep in mind regarding current DCM research.

Nutritional profile 8.0
Ingredient composition 8.0
Adequacy substantiation 7.0
Health considerations 10.0

Computed from 4 of 4 applicable checks. Missing data is skipped, never counted against a food.

The KibbleLab Score (1–10) is assessed from publicly available product data. Our evaluation is science-based, not marketing-based.

Nutritional profile Protein, fat, fiber on a dry-matter basis, for the stated life stage and format
Adequacy substantiation Complete and balanced substantiation; feeding trials valued higher
Ingredient composition Screened for unnamed sources, artificial additives, and label protein inflation. Not a quality ranking.
Health considerations Pulse-heavy grain-free (DCM) pattern and recall history
Verified manufacturer evidence A small bonus when we can verify evidence addressing WSAVA selection criteria
9.0 - 10 Top Pick
8.0 - 8.9 Strong Choice
7.0 - 7.9 Solid Option
6.0 - 6.9 Worth a Conversation
Below 6.0 Review Carefully

KibbleLab may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through a link. No one can pay for a higher score, or to change what we recommend for your pet.


At a Glance

Marketed Benefits
Where these benefits come from Benefits the manufacturer highlights in its own product marketing. KibbleLab lists them for reference and does not verify these claims.
Skin Coat Health Digestive Health Immune Support Probiotic Support Sensitive Stomach
Suitable For
All Life Stages All Breed Sizes
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We'll check every ingredient against your pet's sensitivities and avoidance list.

Nutritional Perspective

KibbleLab Review

Strengths

  • Salmon and duck are named animal proteins at the front of the ingredient list, providing good-quality protein and essential amino acids.
  • AAFCO complete and balanced for all life stages, including large-breed growth, which is a higher nutritional bar than adult-only diets.
  • Uses gently cooked processing with a stew-in-bone-broth style, which many dogs find palatable and easy to eat, especially seniors or those with dental issues.
  • Includes vegetables and superfood-style ingredients like carrot, pumpkin, and goji berry, along with chelated (proteinate) trace minerals to support overall nutrient balance.

Considerations

  • Contains fish (salmon) and duck, which are common triggers for dogs with fish or poultry allergies; not suitable if your dog reacts to these proteins.
  • This is a grain-free formula that includes green peas; for breeds with higher risk of heart disease, some cardiologists currently recommend being cautious with long-term use of legume-heavy, grain-free diets.
  • Wet foods are less calorie-dense than dry kibble, so larger dogs may require multiple pouches per day to meet their energy needs, which some owners may find logistically challenging.
Scored using the rubric of an NAVC Certified Pet Nutrition Coach (PNCC). This is informational, not veterinary advice.

Full Ingredient List

Salmon, Duck, Carrot, Pumpkin, Green Pea, Duck Bone Broth, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Amino Acid, Tricalcium Phosphate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamins (Vitamin C Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Choline Chloride, Pyridoxin Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Goji Berry, Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Rosemary.

Ingredients and analysis reflect manufacturer data at the time of our last update and can change without notice. Always check the actual product packaging before feeding.

Ingredient filtering helps identify compatible options but is not a substitute for a veterinary elimination diet.

Top 5 Ingredients Explained

01
Salmon
Salmon is commonly used as a high-quality animal protein and rich source of omega‑3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) in dog and cat foods, supporting skin and coat condition, joint and cognitive health, and overall muscle maintenance. While very nutritious, salmon can be an allergen for some pets and raw salmon may pose risks from parasites, thiaminase-related thiamine loss, and region-specific pathogens (e.g., salmon poisoning); owners should avoid feeding uncooked bones and consider sourcing to minimize contaminant and sustainability concerns.
View ingredient
02
Duck
Duck is used in pet food primarily as a flavorful animal protein and fat source, commonly included in limited-ingredient or novel-protein formulas for dogs and cats. It supplies high-quality amino acids and energy and can help pets with sensitivities to common proteins, but it is relatively rich in fat (so may be unsuitable for low‑fat or pancreatitis-prone animals), can still trigger allergies in some pets, and requires proper cooking/processing and handling to avoid bacterial contamination.
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03
Carrot
Carrot is used in pet foods as a vegetable ingredient providing fiber, moisture, texture and antioxidant nutrients such as beta‑carotene (a provitamin A), vitamin K, vitamin C and potassium, contributing to palatability and digestive bulk. Cooked carrots are more digestible and release more beta‑carotene, but cats cannot efficiently convert beta‑carotene to active vitamin A so carrots are more nutritionally useful for dogs than as a primary vitamin A source for cats; they should be fed in moderation due to natural sugars and should be offered in appropriately sized pieces to avoid choking.
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04
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is used in pet foods primarily as a fiber-rich carbohydrate and moisture source that can help regulate digestion and firm up loose stools or add bulk for softer stools, and it provides beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) plus small amounts of vitamins and minerals for dogs and cats. It is safe and beneficial when plain cooked or canned (not spiced or sweetened pie filling), should be fed in moderation as a supplement rather than a primary food, and introduced gradually since large amounts can cause gastrointestinal upset or interfere with absorption of some medications.
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05
Green Pea
Green peas are used in pet foods as a plant-based source of protein, starch and both soluble and insoluble fiber, often serving as a carbohydrate ingredient and binder that adds energy, texture and satiety. They supply fermentable fiber and modest vitamins and minerals that can support gut health, but their protein is less bioavailable than animal sources (important for obligate-carnivore cats), may contribute excess carbohydrate if overused, and high pea-heavy or grain-free formulations have been scrutinized—though not definitively proven—as a potential factor in canine dilated cardiomyopathy, so peas are best included in moderated, properly balanced and processed complete diets.

Nutritional Breakdown

How to read As Fed versus Dry Matter As fed shows the numbers straight off the label, water included. Dry matter removes the water so you can compare a wet food and a dry food fairly.
As Fed
Crude Protein (min)
10.00%
Low High
Crude Fat (min)
6.00%
Low High
Crude Fiber (max)
2.00%
Low High
Moisture (max)
78.00%
Low High
1445
kcal / Kg
123
kcal / 3 oz pouch
365
kcal / 9 oz pouch
High
Calorie density category
What is calorie density How many calories the food packs per unit. Denser foods mean smaller portions for the same calories.

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Product Details & Brand

Product Specs

Lifestage All Life Stages
Breed size All Breed Sizes
Texture Chunks In Broth
Processing method Gently Cooked
Food type Wet

AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy
What is AAFCO Association of American Feed Control Officials. It sets the nutritional adequacy standards US pet foods are measured against.

Complete & balanced Yes
AAFCO life stages All Life Stages, Large Breed Growth (70+ lbs)
Substantiation Formulation
Holistic Health Extension Gently Cooked recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrition profiles for all life stages including the growth of large-size dogs 70lb or more as an adult.

Brand

Health Extension is the flagship brand of Health Extension Pet Care, offering holistic dog and cat foods made with premium proteins and whole-food ingredients. The brand targets pet owners seeking natural, grain-inclusive, and grain-free options without artificial additives.

Price tier $$$$

Manufacturer

Company name Health Extension Pet Care
Founded 1963
Headquarters Hauppauge, New York, USA
Manufacturing type In House
Manufacturing country United States
Manufacturing region New York
Manufacturing oversight

Health Extension Pet Care oversees manufacturing in facilities that comply with FDA and AAFCO standards. Each batch undergoes quality assurance and safety checks, and foods are made in the USA using high-quality ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers.

Manufacturing details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing.

Recall History

No recalls on record

No recall is listed for Health Extension Gently Cooked Grain Free Salmon Recipe Wet Dog Food.

Source: FDA animal food recall listings back to January 2019 · Checked daily, last on Aug 31, 2026

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KibbleLab food report
GREAT BOWL.
8.3 /10 Grade A
Gently Cooked Grain Free Salmon Recipe Wet Dog Food
Health Extension · kibblelab.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

Has Health Extension ever been recalled?

We have no recalls on record for Health Extension. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

How does KibbleLab rate foods?

Our scores are based on ingredient composition, nutritional profile, AAFCO compliance, and health considerations. We don't penalize by-products, grains, or synthetic preservatives. Brands cannot pay for higher scores.

Is KibbleLab a substitute for veterinary advice?

No. KibbleLab provides data-driven food analysis, not medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes, especially for pets with health conditions.

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

KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through product links. No one can pay for a higher score, or to change what we recommend for your pet.

Product data sourced from manufacturer websites, AAFCO statements, and FDA recall listings. Last verified dates reflect our most recent data check. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.