Here are well-regarded premium pet‑food brands known for using high‑quality animal proteins (grouped by style). Short notes explain why each is considered protein‑forward — I’ve included sources so you can check ingredient lists, guaranteed analysis, or company claims.

Dry kibble / high‑meat inclusion

• Orijen (Champion Petfoods) — “Biologically Appropriate” recipes with very high animal‑ingredient percentages and whole‑prey (meat, organs, bone) ingredients. (orijenpetfoods.com)
• Acana (Champion Petfoods) — sister brand to Orijen with multiple “highest protein” recipes that list fresh or raw animal ingredients up front. (acana.com)
• Merrick — recipes that use deboned meat as first ingredient and emphasize high levels of animal‑sourced protein. (petsmart.com)
• Fromm — family‑owned, small‑batch recipes that list named meats/eggs and advertise “high‑quality proteins.” (frommfamily.com)
• Wellness CORE — protein‑focused line (grain‑free and grain‑inclusive) that emphasizes deboned poultry and meat meals as concentrated protein sources. (petsmart.com)
• Taste of the Wild — meat‑forward kibble formulas with named game or fish proteins and relatively high crude‑protein recipes. (See product pages for specific recipes/analysis.) (thesprucepets.com)

Air‑dried / freeze‑dried / raw‑inspired (very meat‑dense)

• ZiwiPeak — air‑dried recipes that advertise very high percentages of meat/organs/bone (often >90% meat + organ content). (ziwipetfood.com.au)
• Stella & Chewy’s — freeze‑dried / raw meals and toppers with very high meat content (many recipes list meat/organs/bone first). (petco.com)
• Instinct (Nature’s Variety) — raw/freeze‑dried “Raw Boost” toppers and frozen raw options that add concentrated meat/organs to meals. (instinctpetfood.com)

Fresh / human‑grade / subscription meal delivery

• The Farmer’s Dog — vet‑formulated fresh, human‑grade meals built around named proteins (chicken, beef, turkey, pork) and delivered refrigerated. (thesprucepets.com)
• Nom Nom — fresh, vet‑formulated human‑grade meals with transparent ingredient lists and named proteins. (thesprucepets.com)
• PetPlate (and similar services: Ollie, Spot & Tango, PetPlate) — cooked, human‑grade fresh meals with meat first in the ingredient list. (petplate.com)

Other premium options / toppers

• Farmina (N&D) — Italian brand with high animal‑protein lines (N&D Prime / Quinoa) that emphasize >90% protein from animal sources in some formulas. (farmina.com)
• The Honest Kitchen — human‑grade dehydrated foods and toppers that use recognizable whole‑food proteins (dehydrated meats) rather than rendered meals. (nypost.com)

How to judge “high‑quality protein” (quick checklist)

• Named animal proteins as the first ingredient(s): look for “chicken,” “beef,” “salmon,” etc., not vague terms like “meat” or “animal protein.” (Ingredient order is by weight before cooking.) (aafco.org)
• Percent animal ingredient / crude protein: many premium recipes show a high % of animal ingredients or list high crude‑protein on the guaranteed analysis (remember “as‑fed” vs dry‑matter comparisons). (orijenpetfoods.com)
• Whole‑prey/organs vs empty fillers: formulas that include organ meat and bone (or advertise “wholeprey”) more closely mirror natural amino‑acid profiles. (orijenpetfoods.com)
• Understand “meat” vs “meal”: meat meals (e.g., chicken meal) are rendered, concentrated protein sources and can provide more protein per weight than fresh meat in kibble; quality depends on source and processing. By‑products and meals are not automatically “bad,” but transparency and named sources matter. (dogster.com)
• Look for an AAFCO “complete and balanced” statement (or feeding‑trial proof) so the product supplies required nutrients, not just protein. (petmd.com)

A few practical notes

• “Premium” branding and high protein % don’t guarantee suitability — some dogs need lower protein or special diets for health reasons. Check with your veterinarian if your pet has allergies, kidney disease, pancreatitis, or other medical issues.
• If you switch foods, transition slowly over 7–10 days to avoid GI upset.
• For picky eaters or to add protein without switching the base diet, consider high‑protein toppers (freeze‑dried, canned, or fresh toppers) from the same premium brands above. (thesprucepets.com)

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow this list to dog or cat‑specific brands only, or to a price range; or
• Compare 2–3 specific recipes (ingredient list + guaranteed analysis) side‑by‑side for a particular life stage (puppy, adult, senior) — tell me the brand/recipes and I’ll pull the label details and pros/cons.