natural balance dog food issues

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Food Review (Dry)

The Natural Balance Limited Ingredient product line includes the 21 dry dog foods listed below.

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

Recipe and Label Analysis

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Reserve Grain Free Sweet Potato and Venisonwas selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

The second ingredient is venison. Although it is a quality item, raw venison 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 third ingredient is potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

The next ingredient is potato protein, the dry residue remaining after removing the starchy part of a potato.

Even though pea and potato proteins contain over 80% protein, these ingredients would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

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

The fifth ingredient is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. Thats because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.

Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of essential omega-3 fatty acids.

In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

The next item is brewers yeast, which can be a controversial ingredient. 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.

After the natural flavor, we find dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.

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 6 notable exceptions

First, we find flaxseed, 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.

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.

Additionally, we note the use of dried potato products, the dried residue of the potato processing industry primarily consisting of potato pieces, peelings and culls.

With the exception of perhaps its caloric content and a small amount of protein, potato products are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.¹

This recipe also includes 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.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

Next, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.

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 Limited Ingredient looks like an average dry dog food.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 11% and estimated carbohydrates of about 59%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 25% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 54% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.

Which means this Natural Balance product line contains

Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry kibbles.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the pea and potato proteins, brewers yeast and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a recipe containing a moderate amount of meat.

Natural Balance Dog Food

Welcome to the premier of WDJs new monthly food review column! We have been reviewing dry dog foods in our February issue for three years running, and each year weve run into the same problem: We hear about all kinds of great new or newly reformulated foods following publication of our article.

In order to keep up with the arrival of superior new foods on the market, well be taking an in-depth look at dry dog foods in every issue. Well repeat our selection criteria in each installment, so newcomers know why we like what we like in a dog food, and pan what we dont. However, for our most exhaustive discussion of dry foods, please refer to the February 2000 issue.

We selected Natural Balance as a Top Dry Food in our February 2000 issue, but the food was recently reformulated and bears almost no resemblance to its former self. This incarnation is very impressive. The food now has three major protein sources chicken (appearing first on the list of ingredients), duck (number third), and lamb meal (fourth), providing a nice complement of amino acids. The makers have also omitted corn, soy, wheat, eggs, white rice, dairy products, and sunflower oil from the food, in an effort to avoid many ingredients that allergic dogs have problems with.

Like many companies jumping on the nutraceutical bandwagon, NB has included glucosamine (beneficial for arthritic conditions) and extra vitamin C (for general immune health) in the food. However, without any information as to the amount present in the food, there is no way to say whether the inclusion is at all beneficial.

We sure wish all dog food makers would include the date of manufacture on all foods; like most companies, Natural Balance includes a Best Used By date, which doesnt give you any idea of how old the food already is when you buy it. We also wish all food makers would include a figure for the kilocalories per cup of food, rather than just the suggested feeding amounts (a few commendable manufacturers include both).

Also With This ArticleClick here to view WDJs Approved Dry Food Dog List

-By Nancy Kerns

F.D.A. Names 16 Brands of Dog Food That May Be Linked to Canine Heart Disease

The Food and Drug Administration identified 16 brands of dog food that had been linked to heart disease in dogs, according to a report the agency published on Thursday.

In the report, the F.D.A. named for the first time the pet food brands most frequently associated with adverse events. In descending order of most incidents of heart disease, the brands are Acana, Zignature, Taste of the Wild, 4Health, Earthborn Holistic, Blue Buffalo, Natures Domain, Fromm, Merrick, California Natural, Natural Balance, Orijen, Natures Variety, NutriSource, Nutro and Rachael Ray Nutrish.

The heart condition examined in the report, canine dilated cardiomyopathy, often results in heart failure and is believed to have a genetic component, according to the report. The disease usually affects large breeds, but the F.D.A. said it knew of smaller dogs that had also been afflicted.

The disease was most frequently reported to the F.D.A. in golden retrievers, but the report noted that breed-specific social media groups and activities raised awareness of the issue in these communities of golden retriever owners, who perhaps disproportionately notified the F.D.A. of their dogs diagnoses.

Most of the dog foods listed are usually labeled grain-free and contain a large proportion of peas, lentils, legume seeds or potatoes, according to the report. Many of the dogs researched in the investigation did not have a genetic predisposition to the condition, the F.D.A. said.

The Pet Food Institute said in a statement that it was committed to the health of pets and take seriously the responsibility to make safe, complete and balanced food for our dogs and cats.

This is a complex issue with many factors requiring scientific evaluation, the statement said.

Midwestern Pet Foods, which owns the Earthborn Holistic brand, said in a statement that the F.D.A. had not yet provided scientific findings connecting nutrition and canine dilated cardiomyopathy. With the report, the company said, the F.D.A. is simply attempting to gain more information as part of its evaluation process.

The report only touches upon the genetic or congenital prevalence of the disease, the company said on Sunday, hinting that the disease may have a nutritional component without suggesting a nutritional solution.

Using an abbreviation for the disease, the F.D.A. said in its report that it was using a range of science-based investigative tools as it strives to learn more about this emergence of D.C.M. and its potential link to certain diets or ingredients. The agency added, We understand the concern that pet owners have about these reports: The illnesses can be severe, even fatal, and many cases report eating grain-free labeled pet food.

In July 2018, the study began investigating diagnosed cases of the disease that had been reported to the F.D.A. The agency started receiving reports of dilated cardiomyopathy in cats and dogs in 2014. Since that year, 560 dogs with the heart condition have been reported to the F.D.A., of which 119 have died, according to the report.

The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates there are 77 million pet dogs in the United States, most of which are not developing dilated cardiomyopathy, the F.D.A. said in a statement. The number of dogs affected with heart disease may not seem like a lot, John de Jong, president of the veterinary association, said on Saturday, but the F.D.A. found a trend and was informing consumers of it.

The F.D.A. has a responsibility that if it is more than five or 10 isolated cases, that is something to be reported, Dr. de Jong said.

It is not five million dogs; its still a small amount, he added. I would also caution the consumer not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Cardiomyopathy affects dogs by thinning the left ventricle of the heart, the last place blood rests before the heart pumps it out, Dr. de Jong explained. That weakens the heart, which means fluid can enter a dogs lungs, causing a cough or illness. The disease can be treated with medication if caught early, he said.

Dr. de Jong said the trend of not having grain in a dogs diet might be a culprit.

The whole grain-free thing is a popular myth, Dr. de Jong said. If they look at the dogs relatives in the wild, like coyotes, wolves and hyenas, they live on their prey. Those animals they prey on are typically herbivores, so they are ingesting grains anyway.

Over all, the best thing a dog owner can do is consult with a veterinarian, Dr. de Jong said.

It is not an overwhelming amount of cases out there, he said. We do know it exists and we know it is a fully high correlation; some of those diets may suffice.

If it aint broke you dont have to fix it.