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Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dog Food Review (Dry)

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Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dog Food Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: March 25, 2024

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All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.

Which Natural Balance Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?

Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dog Food receives the Advisors second-highest tier rating of 3.5stars.

The Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health product line includes the 4 dry dog food listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

Natural Balance Original Ultra All Life Stage Chicken and Barley

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Chicken, chicken meal, pearled barley, oat groats, dried peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), brown rice, carrots, brewers dried yeast, flaxseed, natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, DL-methionine, menhaden fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salt, potassium chloride, taurine, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), thiamine mononitrate, pantothenic acid, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement), spinach, dried tomato pomace, minerals (zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, iron proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), cranberries, blueberries, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, L-tryptophan, kelp, choline chloride, L-threonine, mixed tocopherols (used as a preservative), lactic acid, L-lysine monohydrochloride, yucca schidigera extract, L-Carnitine, citric acid (used as a preservative), rosemary extract, green tea extract, spearmint extract.

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Ingredient Analysis

Natural Balance Original Ultra All Life Stage Chicken and Barley was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is pearled barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The next ingredient is oat groats, a whole grain, minimally processed form of oats. With the exception of their caloric content and the fact theyre also gluten free, oat groats can be considered average in nutritional value.

The fifth ingredient is dried peas. Dried peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus theyre naturally rich in dietary fiber.

However, dried peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The next ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The eighth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The ninth ingredient is brewers dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although its a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

Whats more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Natural Balance product.

With 5 notable exceptions

First , tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, theres probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

In addition, flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

We also note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 26%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 52%.

As a group, Natural Balance features an average protein content of 27% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 50% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.

Which means this Natural Balance product line contains

Near-average protein. near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the pea protein and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Our Rating of Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dog Food

Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meat meal as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3.5stars.

Highly recommended.

Natural Balance Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Natural Balance through April.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Get Free Recall Alerts

Get free dog food recall alerts sent to you by email. Subscribe to The Advisors recall notification list.

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More Natural Balance Brand Reviews

The following Natural Balance dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

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How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?

A Final Word

The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

Natural Balance Fat Dogs Review (Dry)

Natural Balance Fat Dogs Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: April 22, 2024

DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how

All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.

Review of Natural Balance Fat Dogs

Natural Balance Fat Dogs earns the Advisors second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

The Natural Balance Fat Dogs product line includes one dry dog food, a recipe claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

Natural Balance Original Ultra Fat Dogs Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal and Barley

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Chicken meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, dried peas, oat groats, barley, dried plain beet pulp, pea fiber, dehydrated alfalfa meal, oat fiber, pea protein, dried tomato pomace, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, brewers dried yeast, dried eggs, dried carrots, dried spinach, dried parsley, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), niacin, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement), dl-methionine, taurine, choline chloride, inulin, minerals (zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, iron proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), salt, potassium chloride, l-carnitine, l-lysine monohydrochloride, mixed tocopherols (preservative), citric acid (preservative), Yucca schidigera extract, rosemary extract, green tea extract, spearmint extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 10.5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient is salmon meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.¹

The third ingredient includes chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, beans and lentils, chickpeas are a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.

However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fourth ingredient lists dried peas. Dried peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus theyre naturally rich in dietary fiber.

However, dried peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The fifth ingredient includes oat groats, a whole grain, minimally processed form of oats. With the exception of their caloric content and the fact theyre also gluten free, oat groats can be considered average in nutritional value.

The sixth item is barley, a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The next ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The eighth ingredient is pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

The ninth ingredient is alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Natural Balance product.

With 7 notable exceptions

First, we find pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

Next, this food includes tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, theres probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

In addition, brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although its a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

Whats more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Next, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.

We also note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Another note-worthy addition is sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Natural Balance Fat Dogs looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 8% and estimated carbohydrates of about 55%.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 29%.

Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the chickpeas, pea products, alfalfa meal and brewers yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.

Our Rating of Natural Balance Fat Dogs

Natural Balance Fat Dogs is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.

Highly recommended.

Natural Balance Fat Dogs Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Natural Balance through April.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Get Free Recall Alerts

Get free dog food recall alerts sent to you by email. Subscribe to The Advisors recall notification list.

More Natural Balance Brand Reviews

The following Natural Balance dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

Compare This Dog Food

How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?

A Final Word

The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.