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The short answer: Dave's wins by 1 point (B/79 vs B/78). Dave's Naturally Healthy is grain-inclusive (barley, oats, brown rice) and avoids the pea-protein concentration of Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural's grain-free formula. Earthborn counters with triple-named-meat-meal density (turkey, chicken, whitefish) at the top of the panel. The 1-point margin reflects how close these B-tier formulas are; the structural decision is grain-inclusive vs grain-free.

The scores

Dave's Pet Food Naturally Healthy Adult Dry: B (79/100) — Chicken Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Oats, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat.

Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural Grain-Free: B (78/100) — Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Peas, Pea Protein.

How the ingredients compare

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

Dave's: Chicken Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Oats, Ground Brown Rice, Chicken Fat

Earthborn Holistic: Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Peas, Pea Protein

The 1-point gap (Dave's wins by 1 point) shows where the v15 rubric weights ingredient breadth, protein density, and supplement depth differently.

Where Dave's pulls ahead

Grain-inclusive carbohydrate base: Dave's uses ground barley, ground oats, and ground brown rice — quality whole grains supplying fiber, B-vitamins, and digestible carbohydrate without the legume-protein density that the FDA called out in its 2018–2024 DCM investigation. Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural is grain-free with peas and pea protein in the top five. Shop on Amazon →

Turmeric inclusion: Dave's adds turmeric (curcumin) for anti-inflammatory and oxidative-stress support — uncommon at this price tier. Earthborn does not carry turmeric.

Whole chicken in the top six: Dave's lists fresh chicken at #6 in addition to chicken meal at #1. Earthborn Primitive Natural leads with three meal-form proteins back-to-back without a fresh whole-meat inclusion, which is a panel-optics trade-off.

Where Earthborn Holistic holds its own

Triple named meat meals: Turkey meal, chicken meal, and whitefish meal in positions 1–3 give Earthborn Primitive Natural a higher post-cook protein density than Dave's. Meal-form proteins deliver roughly 3x the protein-per-pound of fresh meat post-rendering. Shop on Amazon →

Marine fish meal at #3: Whitefish meal in the top three supplies marine EPA/DHA at the ingredient level, not just as supplemental oil. Dave's carries salmon at #12 and flaxseed for the omega-3 contribution — shallower marine source.

Grain-free option for grain-sensitive dogs: For dogs with confirmed grain sensitivities or owners who specifically prefer grain-free formulations (despite FDA DCM caveats), Earthborn Primitive Natural is the cleaner grain-free option at this price point.

The bottom line

Dave's Naturally Healthy edges Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural by 1 point (B/79 vs B/78). Dave's wins on grain-inclusive formulation (avoiding pea-protein density concerns), turmeric inclusion, and whole-chicken inclusion at #6. Earthborn wins on triple meat-meal density at the top of the panel and marine fish meal at #3 for ingredient-level EPA/DHA. The 1-point margin reflects how close these family-segment B-tier kibbles are — pick on grain-inclusive vs grain-free preference.