Is Bixbi Rawbble or Instinct Raw Boost better for dogs?

They tie at A/90. Bixbi Rawbble Beef wins on 100% freeze-dried format with no extruded kibble at all, single-protein whole-prey simplicity (98% one-animal beef), and no FDA-DCM-watchlist legumes anywhere in the formula. Instinct Raw Boost wins on raw-coated kibble convenience at kibble-format pricing, two named animal proteins in the lead position, and wider retail distribution.

What is the difference between freeze-dried and raw-coated kibble?

Freeze-dried (Bixbi Rawbble) is 100% minimally-processed raw nutrition with all moisture removed under vacuum at sub-freezing temperatures — no extrusion, no high-heat damage, just rehydrate-and-feed. Raw-coated kibble (Instinct Raw Boost) is mostly conventional extruded kibble (cooked at 220–250°F) with freeze-dried raw pieces sprayed onto the kibble as a coating. The freeze-dried pieces preserve raw nutrition; the kibble base still goes through extrusion. For owners specifically avoiding extrusion entirely, only freeze-dried qualifies.

Why does Instinct Raw Boost include peas and tapioca if they are on the FDA DCM watchlist?

Peas at #3 and tapioca at #4 supply the grain-free carbohydrate structure that Instinct uses to bind the extruded kibble base. The FDA's 2018–2024 grain-free DCM investigation specifically flagged pulse legumes in primary positions. Instinct's structural mitigation is high named-animal-protein density (chicken at #1, chicken meal at #2) plus the freeze-dried raw piece coating, which together support taurine availability — the leading mechanistic hypothesis on grain-free DCM. For DCM-predisposed breeds, talk with your vet. If you want to avoid the legume carbohydrate structure entirely, Bixbi Rawbble has no peas, lentils, or chickpeas anywhere on the panel.

Bixbi Rawbble vs Instinct: Which Dog Food Is Better?

Disclosure: KibbleIQ is reader-supported. When you buy through affiliate links on this page (such as “Shop on Amazon” buttons), we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our rankings are not influenced by commissions — we score every product using our published methodology before any commercial relationship is considered.

The short answer: Tie at A (90/100). Two A-tier brands argue for raw-style nutrition through opposite production approaches. Bixbi Rawbble is 100% freeze-dried whole-prey beef — no extruded kibble at all, just minimally-processed raw nutrition in shelf-stable form. Instinct Raw Boost coats extruded kibble with freeze-dried raw chicken pieces — standard kibble base plus a raw-piece coating. Same destination, different routes.

The scores

Bixbi Rawbble Freeze-Dried Beef Recipe: A (90/100) — Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Bone, Dried Pumpkin.

Instinct Raw Boost Original Grain-Free Chicken Recipe: A (90/100) — Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Tapioca, Chicken Fat.

How the ingredients compare

The top-five ingredients reveal the formulation split between these two brands:

Bixbi Rawbble: Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Bone, Dried Pumpkin

Instinct: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Tapioca, Chicken Fat

Both formulas earn the same v15 score, but the ingredient lineups tell different stories about how they got there — that is where the actual pick decision lives.

Where Bixbi Rawbble pulls ahead

100% freeze-dried (no extruded base): Bixbi Rawbble doesn’t include any extruded kibble at all — the entire formula is freeze-dried whole-prey beef plus a small produce and supplement layer. Instinct Raw Boost is mostly extruded kibble (~95% of the bag) with freeze-dried raw pieces (~5%) as a coating. For owners specifically wanting to avoid the high-heat extrusion process, only Bixbi qualifies. Shop on Amazon →

Single-protein whole-prey simplicity: 98% pasture-fed beef including muscle, liver, kidney, and bone. Instinct Raw Boost uses chicken muscle, chicken meal, peas, tapioca, and chicken fat — multi-ingredient grain-free formulation rather than single-protein whole-prey.

No legume carbohydrate base: Bixbi has no peas, lentils, chickpeas, or other FDA-DCM-watchlist legumes anywhere on the panel. Instinct Raw Boost has peas at #3 and tapioca at #4 in primary supporting positions — structures the FDA specifically flagged.

Where Instinct holds its own

Raw-coated kibble convenience: Instinct Raw Boost delivers raw-style nutrition in a kibble-format bag at a kibble-format price point — meaningfully less expensive per meal than 100% freeze-dried. For owners attracted to raw feeding but constrained by budget, Raw Boost is the compromise format. Shop on Amazon →

Two named animal proteins in the lead: Chicken at #1 and chicken meal at #2 supply moisture-included protein density plus concentrated post-render protein. Bixbi’s beef variant is single-animal (beef plus beef organs).

Wider retail distribution: Instinct is carried at most major pet retailers and online. Bixbi Rawbble is primarily available at Petco, Chewy, Amazon, and select natural-pet stores. For store-pickup convenience, Instinct has the distribution edge.

The bottom line

Bixbi Rawbble Beef and Instinct Raw Boost both earn A/90 but argue for raw-style nutrition through opposite production approaches. Bixbi is 100% freeze-dried whole-prey — no extruded base, no legumes, single-protein simplicity. Instinct is raw-coated kibble — standard extruded base plus freeze-dried raw pieces, with kibble-format price advantages. For owners specifically avoiding extruded kibble entirely, Bixbi. For owners attracted to raw-style nutrition but needing kibble-format convenience and pricing, Instinct.

Bixbi Rawbble vs Instinct: Which Is Better for Your Dog?

The scores

How the ingredients compare

Where Bixbi Rawbble pulls ahead

Where Instinct holds its own

The bottom line

Compare Them Yourself