If you’ve been looking for new dog food, you may have come across the popular brand Nutro. They have received great ratings for their extensive food line. There’s sure to be something for almost any dog among their many products.
We look at the different dog food recipes they have available for purchase. Learn which dogs are best suited to Nutro and which ones may be better off eating other food. We also discuss where to buy Nutro, plus the average price for their products. This way, you can make an informed choice in your potential purchase of their products.
Our team rates dog food based on several factors, including variety, nutritional value, pricing, customer support, and more.
Throughout the many years that Nutro has served its customers, they have built a loyal fan base who swear by their products. They continue to provide pets with food that’s not only delicious but also provides complete nutrition. This makes them well-respected among their peers and beloved by pets and their owners worldwide.
Nutro prides itself on its special dog food formulas. They only use natural, non-GMO ingredients and don’t use artificial colors or flavors. Nutro also avoids using wheat and soy products to reduce the gluten included in the formulations. They also use interesting side ingredients to supplement their nutrient-packed main ingredients.
Nutro is full of awesome ingredients that truly set their formulas apart from the competition. Great ingredients like these help provide your dog with a diet that’s well-rounded and complete.
Nutro dog foods most commonly list chicken as the first ingredient. Deboned chicken is a common ingredient in many dog foods and is highly valued for protein and fat. Nutro isn’t known to include animal by-products in their formulation, meaning no organs such as livers or spleens are included, just pure chicken meat.
Some of the other formulations include lamb meat and salmon. Lamb meat is higher in protein than chicken and lowers in moisture. Salmon is oily meat rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which also comes with a delicious taste that entices even the pickiest of dogs. Salmon is also considered a low-mercury fish, so dogs can eat away happily without their owners worrying about mercury content.
Beef is occasionally included in the ingredients for Nutro dog food products. It’s one of the most protein-dense meats and helps build strong muscles.
Raw chicken is known for its high moisture level, which may water down the nutritional benefits of a certain formulation. To remedy this, some of the chicken in Nutro dog foods is ground up. This way, the protein is concentrated and retains less moisture. Lamb meal is also included in some of the formulas, which heightens the protein and calorie density of the foods where it’s present.
Also derived from chicken meats, chicken fat is a highly soluble fat and is rich in Omega-6 fatty acids. Fats are necessary for a balanced diet for dogs. It helps develop healthy cells and a shiny coat. Dogs also really like the taste of fat, so this gives Nutro dog foods some well-received palatability.
Flaxseed is another nutrient-rich ingredient that frequently appears in human-grade food. This ingredient is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which also contribute to healthy skin and coat. Whole flaxseeds are also a great source of fiber, which aids in digestion. Flaxseed also contains lignans, compounds that aid in cardiovascular health and prevent cancer. The cardiovascular health properties of flaxseed include lowered blood pressure and improved kidney function.
Sweet potatoes are another common ingredient for dog food, including Nutro’s. They’re also a common treat for many dogs, given their nutritional benefits.
First of all, it offers a sweet flavor that dogs love. They also offer lots of dietary fiber and vitamins, including vitamin B2. Since they are rich in complex carbohydrates, they provide an excellent source of energy.
They are also a substitute for grains; many dogs cannot tolerate grains in their diet, so sweet potatoes come to the rescue to give them the carbohydrates they need to stay healthy. It should also be stated that sweet potatoes may cause yeast infections in your dog, so always ask a veterinarian when in doubt about their sensitivities.
Chickpeas are among the safe beans for dogs and have become increasingly popular in dog food formulas. They are a rich source of protein, as well as potassium and magnesium.
They also aid in digestion with a heaping dose of fiber. Chickpeas are also filled with polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are good fats essential for good nutrition.
Nutro has a large variety of products available in their lineup. While we cannot list them all here, for the purpose of this general review, we look at their most popular products.
You’ll find that the formulas within these lines have different flavors for better freedom of choice, plus grain-free recipes for dogs who may have grain sensitivities. Having so much to choose from may be confusing to their new consumers, so we help clarify.
NUTRO™ NATURAL CHOICE™ line is a weight-management line of dry and wet food. The healthy weight recipe is carefully formulated to include healthy nutrients, including antioxidants and omega fatty acids. This particular formula includes non-GMO corn, wheat, or soy. It also includes no artificial flavors or colors. Options include:
NUTRO ULTRA™ line is very similar to the NATURAL CHOICE™ line, with a few ingredients changed. Each recipe is crafted with a signature blend of three high-quality proteins from chicken, lamb, and salmon. They have 15 superfoods like brown rice, flaxseed, sunflower oil, vine-grown tomatoes, sun-ripened blueberries, and more. All ingredients are non-GMO.
NUTRO ULTRA™ formulas come in both wet and dry, widening the options available for dogs to consume. Options include:
The Limited Ingredient Diet line, as its name suggests, aims to keep its main ingredients to a minimum. There are only 10 key ingredients in this formula, making it a great choice for a simple diet. True to its name, the Limited Ingredient line also does away with the added blueberries, carrots, and spinach. Your dog may need a limited ingredient diet if they’re older and cannot process food, as well as they used to, or if they’re prone to allergies from the food they normally eat.
It comes in both wet and dry forms but is more limited than the other two lines. All the dry kibble products are grain-free.
Nutro has various dry kibble formulas in multiple flavors that your pet is sure to love. We’ve compiled our thoughts on what they have to offer for each life stage, as well as how effective their weight management formula is.
Puppyhood is the most important developmental stage of your dog’s life. It’s only right that puppies eat high-quality food, and Nutro has options for every pet parent who wants to give their dog the best they can get.
Nutro’s puppy kibbles all feature Omega fatty acids. These are great for coat and skin health and provide your pup with compounds like DHA, ARA, and EPA. These compounds are found in mother’s milk and contribute to your puppy’s retinal and cognitive development. Appropriate amounts of calcium also help your pup build strong bones and teeth.
Nutro’s puppy formulas aren’t as extensive as their adult ones. The puppy formulas also only feature the NATURAL CHOICE™ and NUTRO ULTRA™. They also have products specifically made for large breed puppies, though there isn’t a similar option for smaller breeds. While there isn’t a lot as variety goes, Nutro’s offerings for the puppy life stage are enough for most little dogs to grow and thrive.
Nutro has around 30 different formulas for their adult range. These formulas include recipes from the NATURAL CHOICE™, NUTRO ULTRA™, and Limited Ingredient Diet lines. The Nutro adult also features a good variety of flavors, which is great for dogs who may be picky about their dinner. Having this amount of choice in the product allows consumers to tailor their dog’s diet to their needs, which is indispensable in providing complete nutrition.
It’s good to know that Nutro includes options for large breeds, just like in their puppy range. However, they’ve also included some products that cater to smaller breeds, as well as one meant for toy breeds. This gives pet parents the option of trying out their products when they need something specifically made for their dog’s breed size.
Certain special formulations of adult dog foods may have lamb as the main ingredient, which may change the product’s overall flavor and protein profile. However, almost all their formulations still heavily feature deboned chicken and chicken meals. Overall, Nutro’s adult formulas are delicious and provide your dog with wholesome nutrition that keeps them well from the inside out.
Since older dogs can run low on some nutrients and lose the ability to process certain foods, Nutro has created a recipe specifically for them. Fortunately, Nutro does its best to formulate nutritious, easily digestible foods for senior dogs without sacrificing taste.
There are only a few products within their senior range, and the recipes featured are only from the NUTRO ULTRA™ and NATURAL CHOICE™ lines. We certainly would have liked to see a Limited Ingredient product for senior dogs, as many of them have difficulties digesting a complex diet.
Still, the senior formulas retain a high level of Omega fatty acids and vitamins. The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in these recipes are essential to your older dog’s overall health. This is especially true for the boost they provide to the immune system.
The delicious taste of the kibble ensures even the pickiest of senior dogs find Nutro senior dog food enjoyable. Furthermore, the senior formulas also include glucosamine and chondroitin, compounds that keep aging joints healthy.
For dogs who have gotten a bit too chunky, weight management formulas are essential. Obesity can lead to a host of diseases that can seriously harm your dog and reduce its quality of life.
Obese dogs require formulas with fewer fats and sugars to minimize the creation of visceral fat. However, reducting fats and oils means that most weight management formulas lack the flavor that entices pets to eat. Nutro’s Healthy Weight formulas do not share this problem, as pet parents report their dogs enjoy the taste of the weight management formulas.
Nutro offers five Healthy Weight products. These are all dry food, with three products in the NATURAL CHOICE™ line and two in the NUTRO ULTRA™ line. They all feature lower amounts of calories, with the protein and fiber your dog needs to stay satisfied throughout the day.
Fiber also helps your dog’s digestion, which makes nutrient absorption more efficient. Nutro’s Healthy Weight products help your dog lose weight while still supplying them with complete nutrition.
Sometimes your dog just wants something to make their food more palatable. Wet food is the perfect solution to this. Nutro has a few different recipes of wet food that are sure to delight your dog’s taste buds. These are best mixed in with your dog’s regular dry kibble. Wet food also ups the nutritional content of your dog’s dinner.
They offer fillets in various flavors like gravy, pate with toppers, hearty stews, premium loaves, and cuts in gravy. Their wet food comes in all life stages, including puppy, adult, and senior.
You can find these products offered through their NUTRO ULTRA™ and NATURAL CHOICE™ lines only. They come in both grain-free and grain options. These are sure to make any dog’s dinner much yummier, as well as provide your pet with more nutrients than they would have gotten with dry food alone.
Nutro’s products are affordable despite their premium ingredients. Their dry kibble bags come in several sizes, and rough prices are listed too:
The price gets cheaper with the larger sizes, so if you’re looking for more savings, it’s best to buy in bulk. Considering that many pet owners are used to paying $30 for 12 pounds of similar-quality dog food, Nutro certainly offers far more bang for your buck. Bear in mind that the prices may vary depending on the source you buy from.
What Do Others Say About Nutro?
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.
Here’s an actual user review…
Based on the weighted average of their popularity and ratings, here are our 6 most recommended Nutro flavors and recipes.
Is Nutro Dog Food good for large breeds?
Nutro makes a number of dog foods that are safe for large breed adults. However, only certain recipes are designed to help prevent hip dysplasia and are safe for large breed puppies. Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy (chicken or lamb flavor) and Nutro Ultra Large Breed Puppy make safe options for this category. View our best large breed puppy foods here.
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 main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars. Ultra dry recipes earn 4.5 stars.
FAQ
What is the number one healthiest dog food?
While it offers the trendy “grain-free” formulas, it also makes most of its dog foods with grains less likely to cause allergies, such as whole-grain oats and brown rice. Many veterinarians recommend this brand of dog food as one of the top choices among grain-free dog foods.
Why was Nutro dog food discontinued?
- The Farmer’s Dog – Best Overall. …
- Solid Gold Barking at the Moon High-Protein. …
- Nature’s Logic Sardine Meal Feast All Life Stages. …
- K9 Natural Beef Feast Raw Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food. …
- Sojos Wild-Caught Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food.
Is Nutro dog food human grade?
In 2007, some varieties of Nutro canned dog food were recalled for potential melamine contamination. In 2009, some varieties of Nutro dry puppy food were recalled because plastic was found in the manufacturing line.