Best For Puppies, Adults & Seniors – CanineJournal.com

• Nutro is a brand that uses all-natural, non-GMO ingredients to manufacture healthy food for dogs.
• They use random sampling to ensure that no GMOs have been sourced from any of their partners.
• Has a variety of products available for dogs, including food for every life stage, flavored dog treats, and even trays for proper food portioning.
• One of the highest-quality brands in the Mars Petcare portfolio, especially since they don’t include artificial preservatives or artificial colors in their formulation. Instead, they focus on natural ingredients that are responsibly sourced from places they trust all over the world.
• Been making pet food for over 90 years.
• Healthy Weight formulas are exceptionally well-crafted and a great choice for owners with overweight dogs.
• Puppies benefit significantly from the high amounts of protein needed for growth in puppy formulas.
• Adult dogs who have sensitivities to many ingredients commonly found in other dog food brands also do well with Nutro’s Limited Ingredient line.
• The wet foods are helpful for dogs who struggle chewing their kibble and picky eaters.

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.

Deboned Real Meat

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.

Real Meat Meal

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.

Chicken Fat

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

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

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

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. 

Nutro produces various products for different life stages and breed sizes in three lines:

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 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.

Puppy Formulas

Here are some of the most common questions we get from our readers about Nutro.

How Much Does Nutro Cost?

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.

Has There Been Any Nutro Food Recall?

There have been some instances of recalled Nutro products. There were also some market withdrawals, which are technically not recalled, but still, merit a mention.

While there are a few instances of recalls in Nutro’s history, their haste in rectifying the situation has kept them in the good graces of many of their customers. Having a brand be accountable for mistakes made during production is a great indicator of integrity — which is important to all consumers.

Where Can I Buy Nutro Pet Food?

Nutro products are found in most major pet product retailers and pet specialty stores. They are available worldwide, though shipping costs and taxes may inflate the price in other countries.

Nutro is also open to distributors who wish to sell Nutro products in other countries and have a list of contact information for several countries available on their website. If not in the US, your country may already have Nutro distributors, so be sure to check before opting for more costly international orders.

Who Owns Nutro Dog Food?

John Saleem first started the Nutro Natural Choice Company in 1926 as Nutro Products, a dog food company purchased from a British businessman. They continued as a family-owned business in California and expanded beyond the state in 1976. Their ownership changed in the 70s and changed again when they were bought in 2017.

At present, the Nutro brand is owned by Mars Incorporated, an American multinational manufacturer of candy and pet food. They are headquartered in Virginia and are also the home of Whiskas, Pedigree, and other pet food brands.

Does Nutro Have Any Controversial Ingredients?

While Nutro’s products are full of great ingredients, they also have their fair share of ingredients that aren’t so great. Pet parents should equip themselves with this knowledge to better assess if Nutro is right for their dog.

Nutro dog foods include ingredients not present in other formulations, such as dried beet pulp, dried blueberries, and dried spinach. Dogs with sensitive stomachs may not find high levels of fiber acceptable. Dogs who are allergic to chicken may also have to stick with another brand since Nutro highly features chicken in their products.