natural balance dog food vs nutro

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 19, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Nutro Dog Food Review

Is Nutro a good dog food?

In this review The Dog Food Advisor takes a detailed look at Nutro Dog Food and its seven most important sub-brands.

Well also share

Is Nutro Dog Food made in the United States?
Has Nutro been recalled?
Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?

But first

Which Nutro Sub-Brand Is Right for You?

In the following section, youll find Nutros 7 most important product lines. Well share what makes each sub-brand different. So, you can choose the food thats best for your dog.

Natural Choice is Nutros most popular sub-brand. These recipes are for those who prefer a dry kibble thats made with grain.

Protein sourced from chicken, lamb, salmon or venison
26% mean brand protein (near average)
Grain-inclusive, typically rice
19 recipes (ratings vary)

View all Recipe Ratings

Nutro Ultra is for those seeking a grain-inclusive dry food with more meat and better ingredients and a worthy upgrade over the Natural Choice line (above).

Protein trio chicken, lamb and salmon in each recipe
Contains added fruit and veggies
Made with non-GMO ingredients
10 recipes (ratings vary)

View all Recipe Ratings

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet is a grain-free kibble thats made for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.

Contains no chicken
Fewer than 10 ingredients in each recipe
Grain-free. No corn, wheat or barley
5 recipes (ratings vary)

View all Recipe Ratings

Hearty Stews is for those who prefer a chunky-style, grain-free wet dog food. Can be used as a topper over dry kibble.

Chicken, lamb, turkey or beef flavors
Above-average protein, below-average carbs
4 recipes (ratings vary)

View all Recipe Ratings

Premium Loaf is a high-protein (39% to 41%) wet formula thats 100% grain free.

Finely-ground consistency
No corn, wheat or rice
Tasty wet mixer for dry kibble
4 recipes (ratings vary)

View all Recipe Ratings

Limited Ingredient Diet is a grain-free wet recipe thats designed for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.

Finely ground loaf-style wet meal
Limited to 5 key ingredients
Lamb, turkey or fish flavor options
3 recipes (ratings vary)

View all Recipe Ratings

The wet version of the Nutro Ultra dry kibble above. Each recipe is grain-free and offers a wide range of protein sources.

Ready-to-serve meals with resealable lids
Anti-oxidant-rich, fruit and veggie blend
Ideal for diet rotation
14 recipes (ratings vary)

View all Recipe Ratings

Which Nutro Natural Choice Dry Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?

The Nutro Natural Choice product line includes the 19 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

Nutro Natural Choice Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice was 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 fresh 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 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 fourth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

Next, we find brewers rice. Brewers rice is a cereal grain by-product consisting of the small fragments left over after milling whole rice. Aside from the caloric energy it contains, this item is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The sixth 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 seventh ingredient is chicken fat. This item 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.

After the natural flavor, we find rice bran, a healthy by-product of milling whole grain rice. The bran is the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain containing starch, protein, fat as well as vitamins and minerals.

Other Notable Ingredients

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 Nutro product.

With 7 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, we note the inclusion of 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.

In addition, we find chia seed, an edible seed nutritionally similar to flax or sesame. Provided theyre first ground into a meal, chia seeds are rich in both omega-3 fatty acids as well as dietary fiber.

However, chia seeds contain about 17% protein, a factor that must also be considered when judging the amount of meat in this recipe.

We also find coconut in this product. Depending upon the quality of the raw material, coconut is rich in medium chain fatty acids.

Medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to improve cognitive function in older dogs.¹

Because of its proven safety² as well as its potential to help in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and chronic skin disorders, MCT can be considered a positive addition to this recipe.

Additionally, this recipe 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.

We also note the use of 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, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Nutro Natural Choice appears to be an above-average dry dog food.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 52% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 54%.

Which means this Nutro product line contains

Near-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 peas and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Near-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 peas, flax and chia seeds, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Our Rating of Nutro Dog Food

The Dog Food Advisor finds Nutro to be a quality, grain-inclusive kibble. Each Natural Choice recipe uses a blend of fresh meat and meat meals as its dominant sources of animal protein thus earning the brand 4 stars. Ultra dry recipes earn 4.5 stars.

A Quick Guide to Nutro's Sub-Brands

Still not sure which Nutro sub-brand is right for you? This short video from Chewy can help. The grain-free dry recipe mentioned in the video is no longer available. And Wholesome Essentials has been renamed as Nutro Natural Choice.

Who Makes Nutro Dog Food?

The Nutro Company was founded in 1933 and was acquired by Mars Petcare in 2007. Its offices are located in Franklin, Tennessee.

Dry foods are produced at 2 company-owned facilities one in Henderson, North Carolina and the other in Victorville, California. Wet recipes are manufactured at Nutro facilities in Columbus, Ohio, Fort Smith, Arkansas and North Sioux City, South Dakota.

Mars also owns the prestigious Waltham Petcare Science Institute in Leicestershire, England.

What Do Others Say About Nutro Dog Food?

As of the time of this update

Chewy customers rate Nutro Dog Food 4.7 out of 5 stars and 97% say they would recommend it to others.

Heres an actual user review

Sample buyer review I really loved this food. Highly nutritious. Great price! I have 4 dogs who took to this food with a great liking after being on diamond brands for quite some time. No digestive upset during transition. They eat less and have less of the need to defecate and that is of well also. ( to put in nice terms). I highly recommend.
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com

Nutro vs. Pure Balance

In this comparison article for Nutro vs Pure Balance, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Nutro and Pure Balance, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.

Throughout this Pure Balance vs Nutro comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Nutro Review Page or Pure Balance Review Page.

Guaranteed Analysis: Pure Balance vs. Nutro

According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.

All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.

Nutro Dog Food vs. Pure Balance Dog Food

Dry Dog Food	Nutro	Pure Balance
Crude Protein	27.0%	29.2%
Crude Fat	15.3%	16.7%
Crude Fiber	4.7%	5.6%

Wet/Canned Dog Food	Nutro	Pure Balance
Crude Protein	42.6%	34.6%
Crude Fat	24.2%	24.6%
Crude Fiber	6.1%	7.2%

Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food

Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.

There is a small difference between the protein content of Pure Balance and Nutro. We can see that Pure Balance guarantees about 2.22% more protein than Nutro. In addition, Nutro wet dog foods also provide more protein than Pure Balance wet foods.

Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food

Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog's body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.

There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fat content of the two brands. With regards to wet dog food, Pure Balance and Nutro also provide roughly the same amount of crude fat.

Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Pure Balance and Nutro also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.

Nutro Cat Food vs. Pure Balance Cat Food

Dry Cat Food	Nutro	Pure Balance
Crude Protein	37.3%	39.9%
Crude Fat	17.2%	17.7%
Crude Fiber	5.9%	5.9%

Wet/Canned Cat Food	Nutro	Pure Balance
Crude Protein	54.8%	42.0%
Crude Fat	23.1%	25.4%
Crude Fiber	5.1%	7.2%

Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food

Cats require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Eleven of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining eleven are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these eleven essential amino acids.

According to our average data, Nutro typically provides less protein than Pure Balance. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands. In addition, Nutro wet cat foods also provide more protein than Pure Balance wet foods.

Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food

There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):

Fats help with the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Reduce inflammation associated with arthritis
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Prevent or reduce the likelihood of certain heart problems.
Aid in the development of the retina and visual cortex.

As you can see, Nutro and Pure Balance guarantee a similar amount of crude fat. For wet cat foods, Pure Balance typically provides a little more fat (about 2.31% more).

Nutro and Pure Balance both provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. For wet cat foods, Pure Balance typically provides a little more fiber (about 2.07% more).

Nutro Pet Food Ingredients vs. Pure Balance Pet Food Ingredients

Nutro and Pure Balance both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:

Pea Protein

Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.

Brewers Rice

Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Nutro.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is considered a controversial ingredient because the animal source is not identified.

Iron Oxide

Iron oxide is an FDA approved natural food coloring agent. It's commonly found in rusting metal and provides a reddish-brown color.

We believe food colorants are unnecessary ingredients in pet food. Other than potential harm, food colorants do not provide any nutritional value. These type of ingredients are used only to make the food look appealing to humans.

Pork Plasma

Pork plasma is the colorless fluid part of a pig's blood. It may sound disgusting, but it's actually very nutritious for pets. Regardless of the nutritional aspects, consumers are shocked by this ingredient, which is why pork plasma is considered a controversial ingredient.

Whole Wheat

Whole wheat is one type of whole grain and contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is regarded as an inexpensive and low-quality filler in pet food. However, wheat does provide plant-based protein and makes pet food more affordable for consumers. It's important to note that plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.

Wheat Gluten

Wheat gluten is the main protein of wheat. Although wheat gluten is mostly protein, wheat gluten is considered controversial because it significantly boosts the protein content of the product. This is undesirable because plant based protein does not provide the same amino acid profile as meat based protein.

Animal Plasma

Animal plasma can be a nutritious addition to pet food, however, the source should be specified. In this case, the animal source is not specified and therefore we cannot determine which animal was used to obtain the plasma.

Caramel Color

Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.

Tomato Pomace

Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.

Vegetable Oil

Specific vegetable oils are typically positive ingredients; however, this ingredient does not specify which vegetable(s) were used to produce the oil.

Without this information, it is impossible for us to make any specific statements. With any fat source, it is important to know the omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio, a property which cannot be determined with this ingredient. Thus, we have marked vegetable oil as a controversial ingredient.

Feeding Oatmeal

According to AAFCO, feeding oatmeal "is obtained in the manufacture of rolled oat groats or rolled oats". It contains "broken oat groats, oat groat chips, and floury portions of the oat groats." In other words, feeding oatmeal is an inexpensive by-products of rolled oat processing.

Dried Corn Syrup

Corn syrup is made from corn starch and it's typically used as a thickener, sweetener, and humectant (keeps the product moist). It's considered controversial because it can raise a pet's blood sugar to unhealthy levels. Of course this concern may be nullified if the syrup is used in very small quantities.

Powdered Cellulose

Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.

Dried Tomato Pomace

Dried tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.

Pea Protein Isolate

Pea protein isolate is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein isolate is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.

Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)

Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Pure Balance.

Canola Oil

Garlic Powder

Garlic powder in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.

Pea Protein Concentrate

Pea protein concentrate is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein concentrate is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.

Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)

Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats.

Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)

Poultry fat is a by-product of poultry tissue rendering. Poultry fat is a controversial ingredient because the specific protein is not specified. Such ingredients are typically low-quality in comparison to named poultry fats (e.g. chicken fat, turkey fat).

We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.

Nutro and Pure Balance both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."

Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Pure Balance.

Added Color

The ingredient "added color" is ambiguous and may include various artificial dyes. Most artificial dyes have been linked to various chronic diseases.

Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex

Menadione sodium bisulfate complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."

Product Safety: Recall History of Nutro & Pure Balance?

Nutro has been recalled 4 times.

Sept. 30, 2009: small pieces of melted plastic
Dec. 13, 2015: Mold
May 21, 2009: incorrect levels of zinc and potassium
March 16, 2007: Melamine

According to our records, Pure Balance has never been recalled.

Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!

Where To Buy Nutro Pet Foods

You can purchase Nutro pet foods from the following stores:

77 Recipes In-Stock Today

44 Recipes In-Stock Today

65 Recipes In-Stock Today

Where To Buy Pure Balance Pet Foods

You can purchase Pure Balance pet food products from these retailers:

Type Of Pet Foods Available

Product	Nutro	Pure Balance
Dry Dog Food	56 Recipes	7 Recipes
Wet Dog Food	45 Recipes	15 Recipes
Dog Treats	12 Treats	None
Dry Cat Food	11 Recipes	5 Recipes
Wet Cat Food	41 Recipes	4 Recipes
Cat Treats	None	3 Treats