35% OFF
Instinct
First Auto-Ship
20% OFF
Instinct
First Auto-Ship w/ Code: PAWDIET20
15% OFF
Instinct
For New Customers w/ Code: AFPAWDIET
Compare Wag To
Compare Instinct To
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Ingredient Reviews
35% OFF
Instinct
First Auto-Ship
20% OFF
Instinct
First Auto-Ship w/ Code: PAWDIET20
15% OFF
Instinct
For New Customers w/ Code: AFPAWDIET
Wag vs. Instinct
In this comparison article for Wag vs Instinct, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Wag and Instinct, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this Instinct vs Wag comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Wag Review Page or Instinct Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Instinct vs. Wag
According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.
All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.
Wag Dog Food vs. Instinct Dog Food
| Dry Dog Food | Wag | Instinct |
| Crude Protein | 39.1% | 36.2% |
| Crude Fat | 16.9% | 24.1% |
| Crude Fiber | 5.7% | 4.4% |
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.
If you look at the average percentages of crude protein, you'll notice that Wag typically guarantees 2.92% more protein. This is a fairly small difference between Wag and Instinct, but still worth mentioning.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Like protein, fats are an essential part of a dog's body. Fats are needed for the proper development and function of the canine body.
The table shows that Wag provides far less fat than Instinct. The difference in fat content is roughly 7.26%.
As you can see, Instinct and Wag guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber.
Wag Pet Food Ingredients vs. Instinct Pet Food Ingredients
Wag and Instinct both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Instinct.
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Instinct.
Product Safety: Recall History of Wag & Instinct?
According to our records, Wag has never been recalled.
Instinct has been recalled 2 times.
- July 24, 2015: Salmonella
- Feb. 15, 2013: Pieces of clear plastic in bag
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
| Dry Dog Food | Wag | Instinct |
| Per Pound | $2.62 | $8.93 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0016 | $0.0044 |
The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.
If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Wag or Instinct, input your pet's weight into our cost analyzer widget.
Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. However, the actual price that you'll pay for Wag or Instinct will depend on your shopping habits.
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Wag and Instinct. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
- 20% Off First Auto-Ship @ PetFlow (Use Code PAWDIET20)
- 35% Off First Auto-Ship @ Chewy (No Code Required)
- 15% Off The Entire Site @ OnlyNaturalPet (Use Code AFPAWDIET)
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Where To Buy Wag Pet Foods
You can purchase Wag pet foods from the following stores:
Where To Buy Instinct Pet Foods
You can purchase Instinct pet food products from these retailers:
Type Of Pet Foods Available
| Product | Wag | Instinct |
| Dry Dog Food | 5 Recipes | 37 Recipes |
| Wet Dog Food | None | 10 Recipes |
| Dog Treats | None | None |
| Dry Cat Food | None | 20 Recipes |
| Wet Cat Food | None | 16 Recipes |
| Cat Treats | None | None |
Top Rated Wag Recipes
Top Rated Instinct Recipes
