Pet Food Sherpa Editorial | Last Updated September 14, 2023

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Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Trout & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food

Company info

Company HQ

Austin, Texas

Parent company

Nulo Pet Food

Product info

Age Range: Senior

Food Form Dry Senior Dog Food

Cost per day: $0.13

Primary proteins

Deboned Trout
Turkey Meal
Salmon Meal
Deboned Turkey

Ingredients

Deboned Trout, Turkey Meal, Salmon Meal, Yellow Peas, Sweet Potato, Chickpeas, Deboned Turkey, Pea Fiber, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid), Lentils, Natural Flavor, Yeast Culture, Dried Chicory Root, Dried Tomatoes, Dried Carrots, Dried Blueberries, Dried Apples, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, L-Carnitine, Choline Chloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Iron Proteinate, Niacin, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Sodium Selenite, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract.

Breed sizes

Toy

Small

Medium

Large

Giant

Compare Prices To Find The Lowest Price

24-lb bag

4.5-lb bag

$77.99 +Shipping (Free )

Free Shipping On Orders $49+

Free Shipping On Orders $25+

$12.21 +Shipping ($5 )

Free Shipping On Orders $49+

Overall Score

68%

Read customer reviews

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 47%

? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 68%

? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 100%

? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 71%

? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 86%

? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 40%

? Based on the variety of sizes available. Size Variety 83%

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: 30%

Fat: 12%

Fiber: 5%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 43%

Dry Matter Analysis

Protein: 33.33%

Fat: 13.33%

Fiber: 5.56%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 47.78%

Calorie Weighted Basis

Protein: 29.37%

Fat: 28.53%

Carb: 42.1%

Our Review

Pros

Rich in protein
Low carbohydrate content
To our knowledge, Nulo has never had a product recall
Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
Affordable

Cons

Low in moisture
Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
Some dogs may be allergic to fish

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Nulo since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Since 2011 Nulo has never been recalled.

Ingredient Review

Our review of Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Trout & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Deboned Trout. Deboned trout is meat from any species of fish in the trout family, with all the bones removed. In pet food, deboned trout can be an excellent source of protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids.

The second ingredient is Turkey Meal. The turkey meal in pet food is typically a byproduct of turkey meat production. Turkey meal is high in protein, and is easy for pets to digest. It is a good source of B vitamins and amino acids to support your pet’s overall well-being.

The third ingredient is Salmon Meal. Salmon meal is ground flesh from any fish in the salmon family, and in pet food, salmon meal might also include other parts of the fish including skin and organs. Salmon meal can be a good source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.

The fourth ingredient is Yellow Peas. Yellow peas are a grain-free, gluten-free source of protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. In pet food, yellow peas serve as an energy source as well as a supplementary source of vitamins and minerals.

The fifth ingredient is Sweet Potato. The sweet potato is a root vegetable that offers vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. In pet food, sweet potato is sometimes used as a source of grain-free carbohydrate.

When we analyzed the ingredients in Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Trout & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from fish based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per lb

Product Price

$3.25

Market Price avg.

$3.81

% From the Avg

-15%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$0.21

Market Price avg.

$0.32

% From the Avg

-33%

Price per day

Product Price

$0.13

Market Price avg.

$0.19

% From the Avg

-33%

Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Trout & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dry senior dog food.

Nutritional Analysis

As opposed to formulas intended for growth (puppy) and maintenance (adult), there are no special label requirements or legal definitions for “senior” diets. Senior diets are actually only required to meet the same nutritional needs as for adult diets. This means that there can be a lot of variation and interpretation by different food companies on what makes up a senior diet. Senior diets can have varying amounts of protein, fat, carbs, phosphorus, sodium, and fiber.

The assumptions that all senior pets need low protein, low fat and carbs, low phosphorus and sodium, and high fiber across the board are incorrect. The need for higher or lower levels of these nutrients varies greatly from dog to dog. That’s why it’s very important for senior pets for their pet parents to work with their veterinarian to decide what type of diet is most appropriate. For many young senior pets, the adult diets they’ve been on may be just fine to continue.

With that in mind, we’ve compared Nulo Freestyle Senior Grain-Free Trout & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food to the other 107 dry senior dog food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

Product info

33.33%

All Products avg.

28.59%

% From the Avg

+17%

DM Fat

Product info

13.33%

All Products avg.

13.47%

% From the Avg

-1%

DM Fiber

Product info

5.56%

All Products avg.

5.49%

% From the Avg

+1%

DM Carb

Product info

47.78%

All Products avg.

51.73%

% From the Avg

-8%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a fish based food that’s high in protein with moderate fat and moderate carbohydrate content relative to other dry senior 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.

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