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Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup

Written by

Ma. Leonor Dollisen

Reviewed by

Updated on:

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Nutro Dog Food Review

The Nutro Natural Choice Company believes that all dogs deserve the best. Nutro follows a “pets first” nutritional philosophy and its products are developed with leading-edge knowledge and expertise from experts in the pet industry.

The brand uses only the healthiest natural ingredients in each of its dog food formulas based on a single belief—that natural foods are healthier, safer, and tastier for dogs.

Nutro pet foods are an example of the best that nature has to offer, featuring premium ingredients like real animal proteins and whole grains and fiber.

You won’t find any by-products or artificial additives in this dog food brand or in any of its products, and you can rest assured that each recipe has been carefully formulated to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.

For our comprehensive Nutro Dog Food Review, read on.

Who Makes Nutro Dog Food?

The Nutro brand of dog food is currently owned by Mars, Inc., as of 2007. The company was founded in 1926 when John Saleem purchased a dog food company and called it Nutro Products.

The company was run as a family-owned business in California, only selling their products locally until it expanded in 1976. In 1985, they introduced the Nutro MAX line of products.

In 2007, the company was acquired by Mars, Inc. and the company headquarters were moved to Tennessee.

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Nutro Dog Food Review

1. Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice

Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup 1

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Whole Grain Sorghum, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal

Protein: 20.0% min

Fat: 12.0% min

Fiber: 3.5% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: Adult, Large – Giant Breeds

This kibble is specially formulated for large breed adult pooches. It is made with chicken raised in a sustainable farm for a high-quality source of protein. Chicken is not only nutritious, it also has a meaty flavor that dogs just love.

With chicken as the main protein, this Natural Choice dog food for large breed dogs provides all the  essential amino acids that help promote strong muscles, aid in tissue repair, and help support a healthy immune system. Lamb meal also provides an additional source of protein and flavor.

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Whole brown rice is the main source of carbohydrates in this chicken recipe. It is highly digestible and full of nutrients and is a good source of energy-giving carbs for your big pup.

Peas, whole grain sorghum, and sweet potatoes are additional sources of carbs, fiber and other nutrients. Dried beet pulp provides extra fiber for healthy digestion. A healthy gut helps the body absorb more nutrients.

2. L.I.D. Large Breed Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe

Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup 2

First 5 ingredients:

Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas, Dried Potatoes, Dried Sweet Potatoes

Protein: 20.0% min

Fat: 14.0% min

Fiber: 3.5% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: Adult, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

This Limited Ingredient food is a high-quality and nutritional recipe designed for adult dogs. It features lean, protein-rich fresh meat (lamb) as the main ingredient and lentils as the primary carbohydrate.

Because this Nutro limited formula does not contain grains, it is also highly digestible for most dogs and a solid choice for dogs that suffer from food allergies and sensitivities. This recipe is all-natural, made with premium-quality ingredients that will help to keep your dog healthy and happy.

Plus, it contains a balance of healthy fats to promote a healthy skin and coat as well as an ideal protein-fat ratio to promote a healthy weight in your pup.

In addition to being a highly-concentrated source of energy, chicken fat is also nutrient-rich and full of natural chicken flavor. There is also a supplementary source of fat – soybean oil – which is a much lower quality ingredient and a potential allergen.

As for the supplements, essential vitamins and chelated minerals are present to ensure your dog gets maximum nutritional value from his meal.

3. Ultra Large Breed Adult

Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup 3

First 5 ingredients:

Deboned Lamb, Lamb Meal, Chickpeas, Dried Potatoes, Dried Sweet Potatoes

Protein: 22.0% min

Fat: 13.0% min

Fiber: 4.0% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: Adult, Large – Giant Breeds

This recipe is another of the best dog foods made by the brand. It features food with a superfood blend of high-quality animal proteins, antioxidant rich produce, whole grains, and healthy fats.

Farm-raised chicken, salmon meal, and lamb meal provide good sources of protein and essential amino acids that help dogs build strong muscles. This combination of three lean animal proteins ensure an extra flavorful meal in every serving of this formula.

It is worth noting that this dog food formula has helped dogs with skin issues. Many dogs who have itchy skin as a result of food allergies have found relief since being switched to this formula. Others have reported healthier and shinier coats, which they credit to this recipe. 

The recipe has a unique blend of 15 superfoods for maximum nutritional value. This includes highly nutritious plant-based ingredients such as grains, flaxseed, dried coconut, kale, and blueberries among others. These foods are rich in antioxidants that help promote a strong immune system.

Enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin, the formulation helps keep your dogs’ joints healthy. This dry dog food also has sunflower oil to help support skin and coat health. It has taurine for a healthy heart and vision.

nutro dog food review

4. Puppy Tender Beef, Pea & Carrot Recipe Bites in Gravy

Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup 4

First 5 ingredients:

Beef, Chicken Broth, Pork Broth, Peas, Chicken

Protein: 8.0% min

Fat: 3.0% min

Fiber: 1.5% max

Moisture: 82.0% max

Food Type: Wet, Stew

Best for: Puppy, All Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

This Nutro Puppy recipe in gravy is a wet dog food specially developed for the nutritional needs of growing puppies. This puppy recipe is made of real beef that ensures a flavor-packed meal that small to large breed puppies will love.

Each ingredient in every tray of this serves a precise purpose. Beef provides high-quality protein to help young pups develop strong and lean muscles.

It also gives a rich meaty flavor that helps stimulate the appetite of growing puppies. Dried egg product is included as an added source of protein.

This tasty wet food served in gravy gets another layer of flavor from chicken, chicken broth, pork broth, and chicken liver.

Made with non-GMO ingredients, this puppy food has peas and carrots that are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. Your puppy gets only highly nutritious meals served in yummy gravy.

These little puppy meals are served in convenient trays. No need to transfer to a bowl. Simply peel the lid and serve to pups.

5. Ultra Senior Dry Food

Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup 5

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Sorghum, Whole Grain Oatmeal, Whole Grain Brown Rice

Protein: 26.0% min

Fat: 13.0% min

Fiber: 4.0% max

Moisture: 10.0% max

Food Type: Dry

Best for: Senior, All Breedsz

This senior recipe dry dog food provides complete and balanced nutrition in every meal. Made with a combination of 3 types of protein and a unique superfood blend, this dog food is nutrient-dense and packed with flavor to keep your seniors happy and excited for mealtimes.

This Ultra formula for elder pups has the perfect balance of protein, fat, and carbs for your aging canine. In addition, this product is formulated with Omega fatty acids to help support joint, skin and coat health.

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Made with fresh and meat meals, this recipe is 26% protein. Dried egg product and pea protein also provide additional sources of protein. The combination of chicken, lamb, and salmon makes this food highly palatable to senior dogs. 

Naturally sourced glucosamine and chondroitin are included to help your dog build healthy cartilage essential for joint health. The right blend of fibers from whole ingredients encourages an optimal digestion condition for better absorption of nutrients. These are highly beneficial for adult canines aged 5 years and older.

This dry dog food for senior pooches has a unique blend of superfoods. This includes coconut, chia seeds, blueberries, carrots, kale, spinach, and pumpkin among others. These ingredients are rich in antioxidants that help support a stronger immune system.

6. Hearty Stew Tender Chicken, Carrot & Pea Stew

Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup 6

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken, Pork Broth, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots

Protein: 9.0% min

Fat: 3.0% min

Fiber: 1.0% max

Moisture: 82.0% max

Food Type: Wet, Chunks in Gravy

Best for: Adult, Large Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

This is a canned dog food formula that is meaty, tasty, full of nutrients, and free from grains. The non-GMO ingredients are sourced from Nutro’s trusted network of US farmers and suppliers.

Made with farm-raised chicken, this hearty stew has high-quality protein to help your dog build lean and strong muscles.

Both chicken and chicken liver make the meaty pieces of this stew extra tasty. The rich sauce gets even more flavor from pork broth and chicken broth, boasting natural flavor. 

It has carrots and peas that are rich in nutrients as well. Every serving of this chicken stew provides complete and balanced nutrition to your dog.

This product seems to be gentle on sensitive tummies. The dogs are able to keep this food down without upsetting their stomachs. Dogs who were previously vomiting or were constipated are doing well on this food.

7. Ultra Grain-Free Trio Protein Chicken, Lamb & Whitefish Pate

Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup 7

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Lamb, Whitefish

Protein: 8.0% min

Fat: 5.0% min

Fiber: 1.5% max

Moisture: 78.0% max

Food Type: Wet, Pâté

Best for: Adult, Large Breeds

Special Diet: Grain-free

This is a superfood-packed canned food formulated for adult dogs. Made with visibly real and natural ingredients, this smooth pate provides complete and balanced nutrition with every tray. It can be served on its own or as a kibble-topper.

Real chicken, lamb, and whitefish are used as the main protein sources of this recipe. The three animal proteins are not only high-quality sources of protein, but they also make this pate highly palatable for dogs. The flavor is made even richer by adding chicken broth and chicken liver to the recipe.

The formulation has antioxidant-rich superfoods such as spinach, carrots, tomatoes, dried blueberries, and coconut among others. Antioxidants help build a strong immune system. These superfoods are also rich in vitamins and minerals.

No chicken by-products are used in this recipe. However, this canned food does contain carrageenan. Some experts claim that carrageenan could potentially contribute to certain conditions in dogs.

Served in convenient trays, Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Trio Protein is great for traveling or going on hikes with your best buddy. Simply peel the lid back and serve. No need to transfer to a bowl.

8. Max Adult Farm-Raised Chicken Recipe 

Nutro Dog Food Review: 10 Power-Packed Choices for Every Pup 8

First 5 ingredients:

Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Sorghum, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Barley, Chicken

Protein: 20.0% min

Fat: 14.0% min

Fiber: 4.0% max

Moisture: 10.0% max