Is Drtims Heirloom Ancient Fish & Grains a good dog food?
We score it 48/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe achieves a final score of 48 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list added +5.9 points. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6. Additionally, the processing format deducted -6.7 and the carbohydrate content contributed -2.9.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe48
- Nutritionalmedium99
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited0
The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.
Why you might choose it
- Meat makes up an estimated 37% of the dry matter (46% as fed).
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 32%
- Fat
- 18%
- Fibre
- 4%
- Ash
- 8.50%
- Moisture
- 10%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 0.50%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 2.30%
- Calcium
- 1.30%
- Phosphorus
- 1%
Energy: 368 kcal/100g
Dry matter basis
- Protein
- 35.60%
- Fat
- 20%
- Fibre
- 4.40%
- Ash
- 9.40%
- Carbohydrates
- 30.60%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin E supplement; L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate; niacin supplement; d-calcium pantothenate; riboflavin supplement; biotin; vitamin B12 supplement; thiamine mononitrate; vitamin A supplement; pyridoxine hydrochloride; vitamin D3 supplement; folic acid; ferrous sulfate; zinc sulfate; zinc proteinate; iron proteinate; manganese sulfate; copper sulfate; manganese proteinate; copper proteinate; sodium selenite; calcium iodate; choline chloride; L-Lysine; DL-Methionine; L-carnitine
Technological additives
mixed tocopherols (a preservative)
Feeding guide
Feed twice daily (half the daily amount per feeding). Adjust for activity level, environment and age. Puppies, pregnant and lactating bitches may need 75% more; senior dogs may need 25% less. 405 kcal/cup (110 g). Suggested: 5 lbs=1/2 cup, 10 lbs=3/4 cup, 15 lbs=1 1/8 cups, 20 lbs=1 1/4 cups, 30 lbs=1 3/4 cups, 40 lbs=2 1/4 cups, 50 lbs=2 5/8 cups, 60 lbs=3 cups, 70 lbs=3 3/8 cups, 80 lbs=3 3/4 cups, 90 lbs=4 cups, 100 lbs=4 1/4 cups, +25 lbs=5/8 cup each.
Reviews
Trustpilot: 4.6/5 · 298 reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken oil and fat
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists pollock
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists millet
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (16)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pollock | Pollock | meat | good | - | 8.2 |
| 2 | salmon meal | Salmon Protein | meat | good | - | 7.9 |
| 3 | millet | Millet | carb | good | - | 7.7 |
| 4 | quinoa | Quinoa | carb | good | - | 7.4 |
| 5 | spelt | Spelt | carb | medium | - | 7.1 |
| 6 | chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | medium | - | 6.9 |
| 7 | pollock meal | Pollock | meat | good | - | 6.6 |
| 8 | whitefish | White Fish | meat | good | - | 6.4 |
| 9 | catfish meal | Meat Meal | meat | medium | - | 6.1 |
| 10 | egg product | Egg | meat | good | - | 5.9 |
| 11 | dried plain beet pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre | medium | - | 5.6 |
| 12 | natural flavor | Flavor | additive | poor | - | 5.4 |
| 13 | dried porcine plasma | Plasma Protein | meat | medium | - | 5.1 |
| 14 | salmon oil | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 4.8 |
| 15 | dicalcium phosphate | Dicalcium phosphate | supplement | medium | - | 4.6 |
| 16 | chia seeds | Chia Seeds | veg | good | - | 4.3 |
Brand
- Website
- https://drtims.com/
- [email protected]
- Phone
- 1-906-359-0346
- Address
- 2361 US 41 South, Marquette, MI USA 49855
- Contact page
- drtims.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-13
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- drtims.com
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Scored with model v3 on 2026-09-26. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.95 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 24.9% | -0.115 | -2.86 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 14.8% | -0.092 | -1.36 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.0% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.1% | 0.163 | +1.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 5.4% | -0.012 | -0.07 |
| Recipe graded poor | 5.4% | -0.065 | -0.35 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 5.4% | 0.060 | +0.32 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -6.43 | 0.222 | -1.43 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.95 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 24.9% | -0.115 | -2.86 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 14.8% | -0.092 | -1.36 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 5.0% | -0.005 | -0.03 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.1% | 0.163 | +1.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 5.4% | -0.012 | -0.07 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 5.4% | -0.065 | -0.35 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.876 | -0.88 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 5.4% | 0.060 | +0.32 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -6.43 | 0.222 | -1.43 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 48.2
- Final score
- 48/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 32 | 35.4 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 18 | 19.9 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 4 | 4.4 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.3 | 1.4 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 98.1 |
| Phosphorus | 1 | 1.1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.3 | 1.3 (band 1 to 2%) | 88 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 368 | 406.6 | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 100); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Medium confidence: the full five-part analysis is on file; where moisture was not declared it was estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
0/100 · limited — 1 checkable claim: 0 consistent, 1 contradicted.
Contradicted by the label
- "Made without corn, wheat or soy for the sensitive dog" — the declared label says otherwise on grain-free.
10 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Limited: at least one claim contradicts the declared label, or a recent upheld ASA ruling applies.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76% of protein from animal sources (on pack) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| POLLOCK IS THE FIRST INGREDIENT (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| ANTIOXIDANT BENEFITS Phytonutrients and flavonoids from quinoa and chia (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| ANCESTRAL SPELT, MILLET, QUINOA AND CHIA Genetically unchanged grains (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| DIGESTIVE HEALTH Patented BC30 probiotic (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| FOR SENSITIVE SYSTEMS (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports immune health and a natural gut microbiome (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Omega-3 EPA and DHA help reduce inflammation (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made without corn, wheat or soy for the sensitive dog (on pack) | Free-from | contradicted | Manufacturer assertion |
| NOVEL CARBOHYDRATES For sensitive stomachs (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| WILD CAUGHT ALASKAN SALMON Sustainable, traceable (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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