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Natural Balance Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons
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Natural Balance Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons
Written by: Sarah PsaradelisReview Summary
Our Final Verdict
We give Natural Balance dog food a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Natural Balance is a brand of dog food that was first created in Burbank in California back in 1989 by Dick Van Patten. This company aims to produce high-quality pet foods that meet your dogs nutritional requirements and consists of high-quality meats and proteins.
The health of your pet is Natural Balances top priority, and they seem to keep up to these standards when it comes to the quality of their dog food. This brand sells a range of different dog foods under several different categories and offers dry, wet, and freeze-dried dog foods. They are also one of the few dog food brands that offer vegetarian-based dog foods.
If you are interested in learning more about what Natural Balance pet foods have to offer your dog, then this article will tell you everything you need to know!
At a Glance: The Best Natural Balance Dog Food Recipes:
Natural Balance Dog Food Reviewed
Who makes Natural Balance Dog Food and where is it produced?
The Natural Balance brand is currently owned by The J.M. Smucker Company. This company is also well-known for owning some other popular brands of pet products. Natural Balance was previously merged in 2013 with Del Monte Pet Foods, but they were owned by J.M. Smucker Company only 1 year later. They started as a small company based in California but have now expanded with the main headquarters being located in Burbank with facilities in both California and South Carolina. Natural Balance dog foods ingredient sourcing is not specified; however, they do say that their dog foods ingredients are manufactured in the United States.
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Which Types of Dogs is Natural Balance Best Suited For?
Natural Balance dog food has six categories for its formulas which include limited ingredient (L.I.D), delectable delights, vegetarian, targeted nutrition, original ultra, and platefulls recipes. They also produce wet (canned), dry, and freeze-dried dog foods which gives you the option of choosing between the different textures and ingredients you want to feed your dog.
This brand of dog food will be suitable for all dog breeds and life stages because they have a recipe for every dogincluding recipes for puppies under 1 year of age. The freeze-dried recipes seem to be the best for dogs with allergies because they contain a single source of protein. Most of the foods contain limited ingredients which makes it easy for you to determine if the food has the right ingredients according to any allergies or food sensitivities your dog might have.
Since Natural balance also has a vegetarian dog food recipe available, which is rare, and you can purchase dog foods from this brand that contains the same essential nutrients as their meat-based recipes if it is advised by a veterinarian to feeding your dog a meat-free diet.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
Natural Balance dog foods seem to have decent ingredients for the money you pay. Most of the recipes from this brand have limited ingredients and are grain-free, however, the ingredients will vary depending on the recipe you choose.
The foods contain a good number of essential vitamins and minerals that are ideal for dogs, such as vitamin E, zinc, and iron in the form of amino acids. High-quality proteins are the main ingredients in the recipes and some recipes include flaxseed for coat and skin nourishment.
Proteins are the main ingredient in most of Natural Balances recipes and the limited ingredient recipes do not contain any soy, grains, or gluten. All of Natural Balances recipes are made without artificial colors and preservatives.
The only controversial ingredient found in some of the Natural Balance dog food recipes is canola oil and tomato pomace, which are under debate as to whether they should be included in dog food.
A Quick Look at Natural Balance Dog Food
Pros
- High-quality meats are the first ingredients
- The recipes are formulated with good scientific principles
- Each food has over 20 different flavors to choose from
- Their dog foods are divided into six different categories
- Vegetarian dog food recipes available
Cons
- More expensive than your average dog food
- Has had a few recalls for salmonella contamination
Recall History
The Natural Balance brand seems to take the safety and quality of their pet foods seriously, and the recipes undergo various testing procedures to make sure they meet the standards. This brand also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee because they run tests on each batch of dog food before it can be bought. Although Natural Balance is careful with the food they produce for consumers, there are a few recalls associated with the Natural Balance brand.
- In March 2007 there was a report from AVMA for several Natural Balances canned foods because there was a concern over possible melamine contamination. Both wet and dry dog foods were recalled.
- 4 months after this recall, in July 2007, the FDA recalled four cans of food for possible botulinum contamination.
- The FDA recalled certain patches of the sweet potato and chicken dry food because there was a concern over salmonella contamination in June of 2010.
- In May 2012, another recall for this brand from the FDA was issued for another salmonella contamination that affected most of the dry dog food recipes.
Reviews of the 3 Best Natural Balance Dog Food Recipes
Lets look at some of Natural Balances most popular dog food recipes and see what they have to offer your dog.
1. Natural Balance Salmon and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
This dog food is a limited ingredient and grain-free dog food that has salmon as the main ingredient and protein source. It also includes potatoes as a grain-free fiber source for digestive health. It is formulated for dogs with sensitive stomachs, allergies, and irritable skin with a balance of nutrients to support your dogs immunity.
This is a great recipe for dogs who should not be eating grains, soy, or gluten as advised by a veterinarian due to health issues, and like all Natural Balance dog food recipes, this food does not contain any artificial colors or flavors.
It has a moderate level of protein at 24% with a good fat content of 10%, with 4.5% of fiber which is mainly from the sweet potato. The guaranteed analysis falls within the ideal percentages for an adult dog.
Pros
- Salmon as the main ingredient
- Free from artificial colors and flavors
- Rich in omega fatty acids
2. Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula Dry Dog Food
This is a meat-free dog food recipe that replaces common meat-based protein sources with barley and peas. The food is also free of soy, dairy, and gluten which may be ideal for dogs that have allergies to these ingredients and need a vegetarian diet. It is a dry kibble that is made with limited ingredients, but there is also a canned formula for the same food available.
Brown rice is the main ingredient in this food, followed by grains and canola oil. This food only just meets the AAFCOs minimum daily recommended protein percentage at a low 18%. The low protein content is mainly due to brown rice and grains being the main ingredients. This is popular dog food for owners who want to feed their dog a vegetarian-based diet, but make sure you clear it with your dogs veterinarian.
Pros
- Ideal for dogs who cannot eat meat-based ingredients due to health reasons
- Contains all the essential nutrients a dog would get from meat-based foods
- Available in a wet and dry formula
Cons
- Very low protein content
- Feeding a vegetarian diet needs to be discussed with a veterinarian first
3. Natural Balance Chicken and Sweet Potato Shreds Wet Dog Food
This is a canned dog food with meaty shreds that form a complete and balanced dog food for all dogs, including puppies and adults. This food does not contain grains and has a limited number of ingredients which makes it better suited for dogs who need a grain-free diet for health reasons.
The recipe is highly digestible for maximum nutrient absorption and contains added vitamins and minerals to help support your dogs immune system. This food has a protein content of 11% per tub which comes from chicken as the main ingredient followed by sweet potatoes which are a good source of fiber.
Pros
- Ideal for both puppies and adults
- Highly digestible ingredients
- Contains added vitamins and minerals for immune support
What Other Users Are Saying
- HerePup Natural Balance carries out nine tests on every batch of dog food and shares the results, so you can always be confident your pet is safe.
- Pet Food Guru- Natural Balance has full confidence in the quality of its ingredients, and the company wants dog owners to feel that way.
- Amazon As pet owners, we always double-check with Amazon reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read them by clicking here.
Conclusion
Natural Balance dog foods aim to provide dogs with complete and balanced nutrition from carefully tested ingredients. They have different categories of dog food available to appeal to the different needs of dogs, whether its a grain-free, limited-ingredient, or vegetarian diet. This dog food brand offers three different types of dog foods, which include wet, dry, and freeze-dried foods.
Overall, Natural Balance seems to be a good brand of dog food for most dogs, with mostly positive reviews from customers.
Featured Image Credit: Chewy
Natural Balance Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons
Our Final Verdict
We give Natural Balance dog fooda rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Introduction
Natural Balance was started in 1989 by actor Dick Van Patten and is now owned by J.M. Smucker Company and is a subsidiary of Big Heart Pet Brands. The companys motto is Food for a lifetime, and it promotes itself as providing the finest food you can buy for your pet.
This review of Natural Balance dog food will provide insight into the company, its different formulas, and an overview of common ingredients. Our goal is to provide you with enough information so you can buy food for your pet with confidence.
At a Glance: The Best Natural Balance Dog Food Recipes
Natural Balance Dog Food Reviewed
Overall View
Even though it started as a small company, Natural Balance is now owned by a large corporation. It believes in providing high-quality, whole-food ingredients and tests its products thoroughly before they hit the shelves. It doesnt use artificial chemicals or by-product meal such as feathers or bones. However, its website does not provide much information about where it sources its ingredients.
Who makes Natural Balance and where is it produced?
Natural Balance is headquartered in Burbank, California, and Diamond Pet Foods manufactures its products. It has facilities in California and South Carolina. The downside is that Natural Balance is not in complete control of the manufacturing process.
On the upside, Natural Balance has its Buy With Confidence program, where every production run is tested, and the results are posted on its website so you know that each bag doesnt contain any toxins. The company also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on its products.
Which types of dogs is Natural Balance best suited for?
It has five lines of dry dog food and three lines of wet/canned food. It produces recipes for small breeds, puppies, adults, multi-dog families, and seniors. There are grain-free recipes, one for healthy digestion, a low-calorie option for weight management, and even a vegetarian formula.
Which types of dogs might do better with a different brand?
Natural Balance doesnt have any recipes for dogs with health conditions. For instance, it doesnt have a formula geared toward bladder health, such as Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Weight Management + Urinary Care, or geared toward brain/neurological health, like Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Neurocare.
Primary Ingredients in Natural Balance Dog Food
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredients Diets: These formulas are designed to reduce the number of ingredients within the recipe. Natural Balance wants to keep this recipe clean and simple. There are limited animal protein sources, and it includes ingredients to support healthy skin and coat, digestion, bones, and overall well-being. There are several flavors, such as fish, venison, chicken, duck, lamb, and bison. There are grain-free options that use potato or sweet potato as the main ingredient, or if grains are included, it is a meat protein followed by brown rice.
- Natural Balance Original Ultra: This formula is offered as dry or wet dog food and is focused on whole-body health. The main ingredients are meat, peas, and potatoes, with grain-free options. The goal is to provide premium meat protein and help support joints, bones, muscles, and brain health. Antioxidants are added for a healthy immune system. We noticed that the Ultra formula has more fruits and vegetables than the L.I.D.
- Natural Balance Fat Dogs: This dry food is formulated for overweight dogs to provide optimal nutrition with fewer calories. It has chicken, salmon, and garbanzo beans as the main protein source, with some vegetables but no whole fruits just added vitamins and minerals. It has a high fiber content to support healthy digestion while still offering plenty of flavor. The Fat Dogs recipe is not grain-free.
- Natural Balance Synergy: Synergy is another dry food formula that helps support your dogs digestive system. There is plenty of fiber and protein in the form of chicken, chicken meal, barley, flaxseed, and psyllium seed husks. Prebiotics promotes gut health, which, in turn, improves the stool quality. This formula is not grain-free.
- Natural Balance Vegetarian: The main ingredients for this formula are brown rice, oat groats, and potatoes. Thus, it is not a grain-free option. It is offered as dry or canned and contains no meat or dairy products. It is high in fiber and provides the same essential nutrients as the formulas with meat.
A Quick Look at Natural Balance Dog Food
Calorie Breakdown:
- Offers a digestive health formula
- Simple ingredients
- High-quality protein
- No artificial ingredients
- Variety of recipes
- Dry food and wet food
- Grain-free options
- Formulas to cover all life-spans
- Every production is tested
- Not many options for health issues
- Do not own its own manufacturing plant
Overview of Ingredients
Protein
Natural Balance uses high-quality meat and non-meat proteins such as fish, legumes, and whole grains. Natural Balance uses whole meat, which has a lower protein content than a meat meal. However, its Ultra food has 27% crude protein, which meets nutritional levels established by the AAFCO.
Fats
Chicken fat is a popular fat additive, along with fish and canola oil. Crude fat in Natural Balance L.I.D. averages about 10%, and the Ultra formula averages 15%.
Carbohydrates
Some recipes use whole grains, but Natural Balance also has grain-free ones. There are plenty of carbohydrates in each recipe due to potatoes and many other complex carbohydrates that provide well-rounded nutrition. The Ultra line has more vegetables in its recipe.
Controversial Ingredients
Canola oil is highly debated whether it should be present. Critics say it isnt as heart-healthy compared to other oils such as fish oil or coconut oil.Tomato pomace adds fiber, though lesser brands will use it as a filler. It is a common ingredient in many dog foods.
Recalls of Natural Balance Dog Food
Natural Balance has had two recalls: one in 2010 and the other in 2012. Both were related to possible salmonella contamination and were voluntary recalls. No recalls have occurred since 2012.
Reviews of the 3 Best Natural Balance Dog Food Recipes
Lets look closer at three of the Natural Balance dog food formulas:
1. Natural Balance Original Ultra Dry Dog Food
Original Ultra is a grain-free dry dog food that helps support brain health, immune function, and strong bones. It is fortified with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. It doesnt contain corn, soy, wheat, or artificial colors or flavors.
The primary protein ingredients are chicken, peas, chicken meal, and lentils, and the formula has 27% protein. Fat shows up as chicken fat and fish oil, with a total of 15%, and the fiber amount is 5%. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables in this recipe.
The downside is that it contains tomato pomace, a debatable ingredient, especially if used as a filler. It also has dried egg.
- High in protein
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Meets nutritional levels
- Veggies and fruit
- Fiber for the digestive system
- Contains tomato pomace
- Dried egg, a possible allergen
2. Natural Balance LimitedIngredient Diets Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
The Limited Ingredients Diet is formulated as an alternative to limit the number of ingredients within a recipe. This is nice for dogs who suffer from allergies because there is one meat source, it is grain-free, and there is no dried egg. This formula has chicken, chicken meal, and sweet potato as the main ingredients. The peas and garbanzo beans are full of fiber to promote a healthy digestive system.
Natural Balance believes that its dog food should be nutritious and full of flavor so your dog enjoys mealtime. The analysis of the ingredients shows 21% protein, 10% fat, and 5% fiber, which is enough to meet the nutritional standards. The downside of this premium dog food is the price. Natural Balance does not use preservatives or artificial ingredients in its products.
- Ideal nutrition for dogs with allergies
- Minimal ingredients
- Grain-free
- Plenty of protein
- Tasty
- Preservative free
3. Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Diet Dry Puppy Food
Natural Balance Dry Puppy Food is a nutritious puppy food made from lamb and brown rice. Lamb is an excellent source of protein to help develop muscles, and brown rice provides the needed fiber for a healthy digestive tract. This formula includes all the essential vitamins and minerals that a growing puppy needs, and it doesnt contain corn, wheat, soy, or artificial colors or flavors.
Natural Balance performs nine safety tests on every batch of food before it is sold to consumers. This ensures that it is safe and full of premium ingredients for your puppy. You can go to its website and view the results of each test so you can feel confident that it is safe. On the downside, this recipe contains tomato pomace and canola oil.
- Whole grains
- Full of nutrients
- High-quality protein
- Plenty of fiber
- Well-balanced
- No artificial ingredients
- Contains tomato pomace and canola oil
What Other Users Are Saying
Heres what other reviewers are saying about Natural Balance dog food:
- Labrador Training H.Q.:It rates Natural Balance dog food a five out of five stars and states, This is a great choice for dog food and should be considered for all dogs as a top choice for everyday nutrition.
- Dog Food Guide:This site rates the Natural Balance Wild Pursuit a 4.5 out of five stars, stating, The Formula is rich in animal protein and contains plenty of natural sources for key nutrients.
Conclusion
Natural Balance is a company that provides nutritious dog food in a variety of flavors. You can find dry or wet food, and many of its formulas cater to all life stages, or you can find specific recipes for puppies, seniors, and weight management. Its Limited Ingredient Diets are ideal for dogs with sensitive digestive systems or allergies.
The Natural Balance Ultra line is focused on whole-body nutrition and is an excellent option for healthy, active dogs. The only downside to Natural Balance is that it doesnt own its manufacturing plant, though it has qualified microbiologists and chemists who test each batch of food to ensure that it is safe to feed your dog. Natural Balance is a great option when looking for premium dog food for your dog.
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