natural balance dog food calories per cup

Natural Balance Fat Dogs Review (Dry)

Natural Balance Fat Dogs Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: April 22, 2024

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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.

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5 Best High Calorie Dog Foods (2024)

How to Choose the Best High-Calorie Dog Foods

For dogs that are highly active or that have difficulty maintaining healthy body weight, it is a good idea to consider feeding a diet that is calorie-dense.

The best high-calorie dog foods derive their calories from top-quality ingredients that are included in their most natural form and that are rich in nutritional value.

Many dog foods that are high in calorie content take their calories from fats.

Though healthy fats are an important part of any diet, calories taken primarily from this food group do not help dogs to develop the muscle mass they require to remain highly active.

The average dog owner owns a dog whose weight should remain status quo or that could benefit from some weight loss.

This means that most owners are looking for a dogs diet that helps prevent weight gain not encourages it. However, some dogs are picky eaters and others enjoy performance sports or an active lifestyle and need the extra calories to avoid becoming too thin.

In addition to this, some dogs gain weight easily and need to be kept on a low-calorie diet. For these dogs, it is important to find nutrient-rich food for weight management.

For owners whose dogs fall in this category, it is very important to consult with a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause and together come up with a diet that will be the most beneficial to the dog.

Among the health issues which can lead to weight loss in dogs are:

• Parasites
• Worms
• Dental issues
• Gastrointestinal distress
• Advanced kidney disease
• Cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Allergies
• Stress
• Anxiety

To help dogs that struggle with maintaining healthy body weight, owners should look for high-quality dog food that ideally has a minimum of 30 percent protein and 20 percent fat.

For dogs in desperate need of weight gain, it may be preferable to transition the dog to canned food or to feed a homecooked or raw diet to encourage a hearty appetite for more calorie-rich meals.

Experts agree that dogs that are extremely active do require more food to sustain their energy levels and keep their bodies in good condition.

As a general rule of thumb, these types of dogs require 1.5 to 2.5 times more food than their less active canine counterparts.

When choosing dog food for active canines, look for dog food brands that offer higher amounts of protein and fat as well as complex carbohydrates to fuel activity.

Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Dog Foods With High Calories

Determining how much of the best high-calorie puppy food to feed a dog can be challenging. The best place to start is by selecting a diet that is naturally high in calories.

These types of diets offer a power-packed calorie count packaged in normal-sized meal portions, allowing dogs to get maximum nutrition from servings of average size.

To ascertain precisely how much to feed active or underweight dogs, it is best to use the suggested serving size printed on the bag as a starting point.

This amount can be adjusted until the dogs healthy weight gain goals have been met. For dogs that are poor eaters, free feeding is also an option that may encourage dogs to consume more daily calories.

Dietary Requirements for High-Calorie Dog Foods

The best dog foods with high calories to assist with weight gain contain only the highest quality nutrition obtained from the most reputable sources.

As a general rule of thumb, your dogs food should contain a minimum of 30 percent protein. These proteins should be meats and included in their whole form if possible.

Meat meals offer a concentrated amount of protein that is sufficient quality to fuel the energy levels of very active dogs or dogs in need of weight gain. High-protein dog food should also be high in calories with high-quality fat sources.

Grain-free dog food is a good choice for high-calorie diets because grain-based carbohydrates are high in starch and low in the nutrition that is necessary for weight gain. To help anunderweight dog gain weight, make sure their food is also packed with healthy fats.

However, by-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are not ideal and are best avoided.

Care should be taken for any increase in weight to occur very gradually. Just as with weight loss, any accelerated gain in body mass puts strain on the body and can lead to the development of further health problems in the future.

The most effective way to allow for incremental weight gain is to begin feeding the dog smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.

This slight increase in food amounts will yield the desired rate in a manner that promotes good health.

Carbohydrates can be taken from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. The primary importance is that they are high in fiber and rich in antioxidants to encourage good digestion and a healthy immune system.

Healthy fats are an important component of any excellent quality diet for dogs. These should be taken from animal sources and include such foods as chicken fat and oily fish.

Healthy fats contribute to overall coat and skin health and also help to keep a dogs energy reserves fuelled for performance.

Other helpful supplements which can greatly benefit dogs through their nutrition include prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes, glucosamine, and chondroitin.

Another alternative for dogs in need of weight gain is feeding a high-quality puppy formula that is rich in calories, protein, and optimal fats.

Things to Look for in the Best High-Calorie Dog Foods

Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in high-calorie dog food:

• Whole meat or meat meal proteins heading up the ingredients list
• Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
• Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
• Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
• Contains healthy amounts of omega fatty acids to support coat and skin health
• Formulated to include at least 30 percent protein and 20 percent fat if possible