The NutriSource product line includes ten kibbles… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- NutriSource Lamb Meal and Rice
- NutriSource Adult Chicken and Rice
- NutriSource Senior Chicken and Rice
- NutriSource Performance Chicken and Rice
- NutriSource Large Breed Lamb Meal and Rice
- NutriSource Large Breed Adult Chicken and Rice
- NutriSource Large Breed Puppy Chicken and Rice
- NutriSource Super Performance Chicken and Rice
- NutriSource Weight Management Chicken and Rice
- NutriSource Small and Medium Breed Puppy Chicken and Rice
NutriSource Adult Chicken and Rice dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
NutriSource Adult Chicken and Rice Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), white rice, oatmeal, fish meal (a source of fish oil), beet pulp, natural flavors, flax seeds, dried egg product, brewers yeast, potassium chloride, salt, proteinated minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, cobalt proteinate, selenium proteinate), yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Bacillus subtillis), vitamins (vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), glucosamine hydrochloride, choline chloride, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), chondroitin sulfate, Yucca schidigera extract, calcium iodate, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably occupy a lower position on the list.
Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The fifth ingredient lists chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
The sixth item mentions white rice… a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.
The seventh ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber and B-vitamins. And it’s also gluten-free.
Fish meal is another high-protein meat concentrate.
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “fish” does little to properly describe this ingredient.
Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.
What’s more, the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals.
But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, the chemical does not have to be reported to consumers.
We find no public assurances from the company this product is ethoxyquin-free.
Without knowing more, and based upon this fish meal’s location on the list of ingredients, we would expect to find at least a trace of ethoxyquin in this product.
Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
After the natural flavors, we find flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
Next, this dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
And lastly, we’re pleased to report the product no longer appears to contain menadione.
NutriSource Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Nutrisource dry dog food appears to be an above-average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 45%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest acarbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs… as compared to a typical dry dog food.
If we ignore the fact that three of the foods still use corn gluten meal to boost their protein percentages, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
NutriSource dry dog food is a grain-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of chicken or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a quality wet food from the same company may want to check out our review of NutriSoure Canned Dog Food.
What’s more, for those on a tight budget, the brand’s notably low price makes it an especially good value.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific health benefit for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
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