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The short answer: Tie at B (78/100). Chicken Soup for the Soul wins on protein breadth (four named meats in the top four positions) and four named probiotic strains. 4Health Salmon & Potato wins on a marine fish protein lead (salmon + ocean fish meal), grain-free formulation for owners avoiding cereal grains, and Tractor Supply's exclusive-channel value pricing. Both share Diamond Pet Foods manufacturing heritage.

The scores

Chicken Soup for the Soul Classic Adult Dry: B (78/100) — Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley.

4Health Salmon & Potato Grain-Free: B (78/100) — Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas.

How the ingredients compare

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

Chicken Soup: Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley

4Health: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas

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 Chicken Soup pulls ahead

Four named meats in the top four positions: Chicken Soup's top four ingredients are all animal protein sources (chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal) before any grain or legume. 4Health Salmon & Potato leads with salmon and ocean fish meal but then transitions to potato and sweet potato. Shop on Amazon →

Four named probiotic strains: Chicken Soup includes Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, L. plantarum, and Enterococcus faecium. 4Health's probiotic stack is shallower.

Grain-inclusive formulation: Owners specifically avoiding grain-free kibble (often due to FDA DCM-investigation concerns about legume-heavy grain-free formulas) prefer Chicken Soup's barley-and-rice base over 4Health Salmon & Potato's potato-and-pea base.

Where 4Health holds its own

Marine fish protein lead: Salmon at #1 and ocean fish meal at #2 deliver directly usable EPA/DHA marine omega-3s at the top of the panel. Chicken Soup carries salmon further down the panel as a supporting protein rather than the lead. Shop on Amazon →

Grain-free option for grain-sensitive dogs: For owners whose dogs have suspected grain allergies or sensitivities, 4Health Salmon & Potato offers a clean grain-free option at a Tractor Supply price point.

Tractor Supply exclusive distribution and value: 4Health is a Tractor Supply private-label brand manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods. The Tractor Supply exclusive-channel positioning produces some of the most aggressive per-pound pricing in the quality-tier dry kibble segment.

The bottom line

Tie at B (78/100). Chicken Soup for the Soul wins on grain-inclusive formulation, protein breadth (four named meats), and probiotic depth (four named strains). 4Health Salmon & Potato wins on marine fish lead with directly usable EPA/DHA, grain-free formulation for grain-sensitive dogs, and Tractor Supply's exclusive-channel value pricing. For owners wanting clean grain-inclusive formulation with broad protein and probiotic depth, Chicken Soup. For owners specifically wanting grain-free with a marine fish protein lead at a Tractor Supply price, 4Health Salmon & Potato.