What's actually in Fromm Puppy?
We analyzed Fromm Gold Puppy, the company's flagship puppy formulation. The first five ingredients are chicken, chicken meal, chicken broth, oatmeal, and pearled barley.
Chicken (fresh, ~80% moisture) provides the wet-weight protein anchor. Chicken meal (concentrated, roughly 3× denser than fresh chicken) in position two meaningfully raises the actual animal-protein contribution measured post-cooking. Chicken broth in position three is the palatability and moisture feature — broths boost kibble acceptance and add naturally occurring glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen from the cooking process.
The carb base is grain-inclusive and whole-food-forward: oatmeal (#4), pearled barley (#5), brown rice (#7), whole oats (#12), whole barley (#15). This is a deliberate grain-inclusive strategy — Fromm avoids corn, wheat, and soy, and uses slow-digesting whole grains as the carbohydrate backbone. For puppies without grain sensitivities this is arguably nutritionally superior to grain-free legume-heavy alternatives.
Menhaden fish meal sits in position six and is the DHA source. Menhaden is an oily forage fish rich in omega-3s, and puppies need DHA during the first 12 months for brain and retinal development. Fromm's choice to include menhaden fish meal (concentrated, not just oil) is a ingredient-quality signal. Shop on Amazon →
The good stuff
Protein diversity is exceptional for a mainstream puppy formula. Beyond the chicken triad (chicken + chicken meal + chicken broth), the formula includes menhaden fish meal, duck, lamb, chicken liver, and dried egg product — six distinct animal protein sources. Different proteins contribute different amino acid profiles, and cross-sourcing is insurance against any single source being limiting in lysine, methionine, threonine, or tryptophan.
Supplemental taurine is listed in the ingredient deck. The FDA's ongoing DCM investigation has flagged that some grain-free legume-heavy diets may interfere with taurine metabolism in susceptible breeds. Grain-inclusive formulas like Fromm Puppy are not implicated in that pattern, and Fromm's decision to add supplemental taurine regardless is a belt-and-suspenders move worth crediting.
Chicken cartilage appears in the ingredient list — an uncommon addition that provides naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin for joint development. Combined with the menhaden-derived omega-3s, the joint-support stack is legitimate for large-breed puppies at developmental risk for hip and elbow dysplasia.
Four-strain probiotic blend (Lactobacillus casei, L. reuteri, L. acidophilus, L. plantarum) supports microbiome development during the critical 0-6 month window when gut colonization shapes lifelong immune and digestive health.
The not-so-good stuff
Cheese as an ingredient (position 17). Cheese is a palatability enhancer with some protein and calcium contribution, but for puppies with dairy sensitivities it is a risk vector. The inclusion is small and most puppies tolerate it fine, but owners should watch for GI signs during the first two weeks of feeding.
Tomato pomace (position 9). Tomato pomace is the skins, seeds, and pulp left over after tomato processing. It is an acceptable fiber source and provides some antioxidants, but some ingredient purists flag it as a byproduct filler. In Fromm's case, it appears far enough down the deck that its caloric contribution is minor.
Large-breed puppy considerations. Fromm Gold Puppy is formulated as an all-breed puppy food. Giant-breed puppies (projected adult weight 100+ lb) need calcium controlled below 1.8% dry matter and a specific Ca:P ratio for orthopedic development. Fromm publishes a dedicated Large Breed Puppy Gold formula — owners of Great Danes, Mastiffs, and Newfoundlands should switch to that variant rather than feed the standard Gold Puppy.
How it compares
Fromm Gold Puppy's A/90 grade places it in the top tier of our puppy rankings alongside Orijen Puppy (A/90), Acana Puppy (A/90), and Nulo Puppy (A/90). Fromm is unusual in that group because it is grain-inclusive — the other three are grain-free.
Against mainstream competitors, Fromm Puppy outscores Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy (B/78) by 12 points, Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy (B/78) by 12, Iams Smart Puppy (B/75) by 15, Hill's Science Diet Puppy (C/58) by 32, and Purina Puppy Chow (D/39) by 51 points. The grain-inclusive whole-food approach is fundamentally different from corn-and-wheat budget puppy formulas.
For the head-to-head vs Fromm's adult formula, see our Fromm Puppy vs Fromm comparison. The Gold Puppy scores six points higher than the adult formula because of chicken broth, menhaden fish meal, supplemental taurine, and chicken cartilage.
Who should choose Fromm Puppy over Fromm adult
Fromm Gold Puppy is the right choice during the 0-12 month developmental window for small and medium-breed puppies — choose Fromm Large Breed Puppy Gold if your dog is projected to exceed 50 lb adult weight. Puppy-formulated DHA from menhaden fish meal, supplemental taurine, and chicken cartilage for joint development are not present in the adult formula and directly support growth. At 12 months (18 months for large breeds), transition to Fromm Gold Adult. Owners who value artisan-tier family-owned brands, grain-inclusive whole-food formulations, and ingredient diversity will find Fromm Puppy worth the premium over budget brands.
The bottom line
Fromm Gold Puppy earns an A grade (90/100) from KibbleIQ — the highest score available to a grain-inclusive puppy food on our rubric. Six animal proteins, menhaden fish meal DHA, supplemental taurine, chicken cartilage joint support, and four-strain probiotics build a formulation that is genuinely different from legume-heavy grain-free alternatives. The cheese inclusion is a small watch-out for dairy-sensitive puppies, and giant-breed owners should use the dedicated Large Breed Puppy Gold formula. For most puppies this is one of the best formulas money can buy. Shop on Amazon →