Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food
Company info
Company HQ
San Francisco, California
Parent company
J.M. Smucker CompanyProduct info
Primary proteins
- Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Dried Egg
Ingredients
Breed sizes
Toy
Small
Medium
Large
Giant
Compare Prices To Find The Lowest Price
Estimated Nutrient Content
To understand the nutrient content of pet food, we visualize its macronutrient composition in three ways. In the charts below, you’ll see a guaranteed analysis on an as-fed basis, a dry matter analysis, and a breakdown of the food’s macronutrients on a calorie-weighted basis.
Remember that all of these values are estimates based on the guaranteed analysis published by the company, and the food’s actual nutrient values may be slightly different.
Guaranteed Analysis
Protein: 27%
Fat: 15%
Fiber: 5%
Moisture: 10%
Ash: 0%
Carb: 43%
Dry Matter Analysis
Protein: 30%
Fat: 16.67%
Fiber: 5.56%
Ash: 8%
Carb: 47.78%
Calorie Weighted Basis
Protein: 25.37%
Fat: 34.23%
Carb: 40.4%
Our Review
- Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
- Made with fiber-rich flaxseed
- Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
- Affordable
- A good source of omega-3 fatty acids
- Low protein content
- High in carbohydrates
- Low in moisture
- Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
- The brand has had multiple recalls over recent years
- Some dogs may be allergic to fish
Recall History
The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Natural Balance since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.
| Date: | 06/18/2010 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Product Description: | Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food |
| Recall Reason: | Salmonella |
| Date: | 05/04/2012 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Product Description: | Dog Food |
| Recall Reason: | Salmonella |
| Date: | 07/03/2020 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Product Description: | Ultra Premium Chicken & Liver Paté Formula |
| Recall Reason: | Due to elevated levels of choline chloride |
| Date: | 05/20/2021 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Natural Balance Pet Foods |
| Product Description: | L.I.D. Green Pea & Chicken Dry Cat Formula |
| Recall Reason: | Potential Salmonella Contamination |
Ingredient Review
Our review of Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.
The first ingredient is Chicken. Chicken is meat from the domesticated bird of the same name. In pet food, chicken is used as a primary protein source.
The second ingredient is Peas. Pea is a general term to describe whole, split, or milled peas, which are a grain-free, gluten-free source of protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. In pet food, pea products serve as an energy source as well as a supplementary source of vitamins and minerals.
The third ingredient is Chicken Meal. In pet food, chicken meal is often listed as a source of protein. Chicken meal is produced by baking and grinding chicken meat and skin. As a dry form of animal protein, it is most often found in kibble and treats.
The fourth ingredient is Lentils. Lentils are legumes. In pet food, lentils are a source of protein, fiber, and nutrients including a number of essential vitamins and minerals.
The fifth ingredient is Chicken Fat. Chicken fat is a good source of omega-6 fatty acids including linoleic acid. In pet food, chicken fat also adds flavor, improves consistency, and serves as a source of the animal fat pets need for overall wellbeing.
When we analyzed the ingredients in Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.
Price Analysis
Price per lb
Product Price
$3.16
Market Price avg.
$3.59
% From the Avg
-12%
Price per 100 kcal
Product Price
$0.19
Market Price avg.
$0.23
% From the Avg
-15%
Price per day
Product Price
$0.12
Market Price avg.
$0.14
% From the Avg
-17%
Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dry dog food.
Nutritional Analysis
Your adult dog needs a balance of macro and micronutrients to thrive. A food formulated for adult maintenance or all life stages is made to meet these needs. While there can be a lot of variation in actual calorie density, adult dog foods are generally intended to provide for basic calorie needs of the average active dog. In addition to satisfying their energy needs, these foods provide the protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, and other nutrients your adult dog needs to survive. Again, not all adult foods are the same, so you may have to search around for the right fit for your dog.
With that in mind, we’ve compared Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Formula Dry Dog Food to the other 1525 dry dog food recipes in our database:
DM Protein
Product info
30%
All Products avg.
30.04%
% From the Avg
-0%
DM Fat
Product info
16.67%
All Products avg.
16.01%
% From the Avg
+4%
DM Fiber
Product info
5.56%
All Products avg.
5.36%
% From the Avg
+4%
DM Carb
Product info
47.78%
All Products avg.
47.71%
% From the Avg
+0%
Analysis Overview
Overall, this is a meat based food that’s moderate in protein with moderate fat and moderate carbohydrate content relative to other dry dog foods.
Disclaimer and Disclosure
At Pet Food Sherpa, our primary goal is to provide pet owners like you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about pet nutrition. As such, we do not accept gifts or incentives as motivation to include certain products in our reviews.
We do, however, participate in affiliate marketing programs and we partner with select brands to fund our site. We choose the products we review carefully and review them thoroughly before publishing a review or accepting any form of payment.
Proceeds from this program and our partners enable us to continue providing high-quality content to our readers. Read more about how we’re funded here.
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