Nutro Dog Food Review – Nutro Dog Food Ratings & Recalls

Updated: October 13th, 2022

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Providing high-quality and nutritious food to your pooch is something that ranks high on every dog owner’s priority list. Being a dog owner myself, I purchased many different dog food formulas until I came across Nutro and decided to stick with it. In this honest Nutro dog food review, I will take a look at Nutro’s product lines, recall history, best dog foods, and much more!

Headquartered in Tennessee USA, Nutro is a subsidiary of Mars Incorporated.

The company was established in 1926, meaning they have been in the dog food industry for nearly a century. Clearly, they came a long way (before the acquisition by Mars in 2007).

Today, the brand caters to dogs as well as cats. One dog product that has become quite a hit and is synonymous with this brand is Greenies dog treats.

Nutro enjoys a nice reputation among pet parents, mostly because they have adopted the method of educating you as a parent on the nutritional needs of your dogs.

Nutro also provides you comparative literature on ingredients that highlight the quality of their dog food over other competing brands. Actually, this has become their mode of advertising as opposed to mainstream media.

If you haven’t yet tried any Nutro dog foods, continue reading my Nutro dog food reviews to find out what you (and your pup) have been missing. Stay with me till the end of this article to find out everything Nutro products have to offer to your dog!

Is Nutro A Good Dog Food?

Over the past few years, I’ve been seeing a good number of you continue to ask, “Is Nutro a good dog food?”

Well, the simple answer is yes, and here’s why.

To begin with, Nutro food company adheres to rigorous standards of procuring fresh produce with non-GMO ingredients as well as thoroughly testing the finished product to ensure it is safe for consumption and meets high nutritional standards.

Next, top on the list of natural ingredients in Nutro dog food recipes are real animal proteins such as pasteurized lamb, farm-grown chicken, venison, and salmon, all of which ensure lean muscle development and maintenance in your dog.

Nutro also takes pride in having a wide range of dog food recipes that satisfy different palates as well as the individual dietary needs of your pup.

This dog food brand has several product lines and many different recipes formulated to cater to the nutritional needs of all dogs regardless of their age, size, or breed.

You’ll be able to find different types of Nutro dog food for puppies, adult, and senior dogs. But that’s not all—this brand also manufactures both kibble and wet dog food formulated specifically to meet the nutritional needs of toy, small, and large breeds.

Besides natural and wholesome recipes that will keep our pup’s tummy full regardless of their breed and size, Nutro also caters to special needs diets like hypoallergenic dog foods with limited ingredients.

Also, if your pooch is getting a little too chubby, Nutro has a recipe that can remedy that. As for those with a mutt that is gluten-sensitive, a selection of Nutro grain-free dog food options will do the magic for you.

Here’s a brief video by Chewy summing up what to expect from Nutro’s range of pet foods:

It’s worth noting that all Nutro dog food recipes are 100% complete and balanced and formulated to meet the nutritional needs of a life stage that’s printed on the label.

Each can of wet food or bag of kibble contains all the nutrients established by AAFCO and is completely healthy and safe for dogs to eat daily, over a long period of time.

Nutro is in many ways one of those best-kept secrets dog parents are yet to know about, and you will see why this is so in the Nutro brand dog food reviews below.

Top 5 Best Nutro Dog Food: Reviews

In light of the enticing ads all around us from new and old dog food brands, ingredients should definitely speak more loudly than those bright-colored, attractive dog food packages.

Below, I will review Nutro’s top five dog food recipes and take a closer look at the quality of the ingredients, nutritional value, and palatability. Armed with all the facts and information, you won’t have trouble finding the best Nutro product for your pooch.

1. Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

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This dog food recipe for large breeds manages to deliver on a balanced diet that caters to the unique dietary needs of a large dog. Farm-raised chicken is simply delicious for most hounds and is an animal protein that supports healthy muscle growth, even for larger dogs.

Nutro strikes the right balance in this recipe by using low-fat carbohydrates such as whole-grain brown rice and whole-grain sorghum to form a highly tasty but also digestible meal that is easy on your pup’s stomach and digestive tract.

Bone and joint strength, as well as proper skeletal development, is essential for large breeds. This recipe ensures this is taken care of through a generous presence of chondroitin and glucosamine sourced from chicken meal.

This formula contains all the essential vitamins and minerals that ensure a strong immune system and support your dog’s overall health. While eating this Nutro recipe, your pooch will also receive suitable levels of omega 3 & 6 fatty acids that support healthy skin and coat.

Overall, the Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Recipe is an excellent choice if you want to feed a completely natural and non-GMO food to your dog.

2. Nutro Ultra Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food

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Nutro Ultra dog food reviews on popular online pet stores sort of reveal what the craze surrounding this recipe is all about. What is refreshing about the Nutro Ultra line of dog food is the blending of ingredients and the nutritional benefits.

The main source of protein and the first ingredient, chicken, is reinforced with chicken meal, lamb meal, and salmon meal to create adequate levels of protein. With a minimum of 26% crude protein, this tasty kibble will keep your small dog energized throughout the day and support lean and strong muscles.

You are probably aware that small dog breeds have a smaller stomach, and hence their food needs to be regulated to avoid issues such as constipation. Nutro Ultra Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food packs a punch in a single kibble, ensuring that your pooch gets all essential nutrients from every bite.

A unique blend of superfoods like kale, coconut, chia, and blueberries—just to name a few—not only make this recipe tasty but also balanced and rich with immunity boosters, antioxidants, amino acids, fiber, and essential vitamins.

Formulated with sunflower oil and whole flaxseed, this formula contains ideal levels of omega 3 & 6 fatty acids that will keep your dog’s skin healthy and their coat shiny.

Made without artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or cheap fillers, this high-quality dog food has everything small breed dogs need to stay healthy and to thrive.

3. Nutro Ultra Weight Management Dry Dog Food

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Nutro Ultra Weight Management Dry Dog Food will be of great help if your pooch needs to shed a few pounds. Remember, an overweight pooch can develop several obesity-related health problems like diabetes or hip dysplasia, the latter of which happens when the weight puts too much pressure on a dog’s joints.

The best way to keep your dog’s weight in check is to put them on a weight-control diet and keep your dog exercised. I would recommend that you consult your vet in order to decide on the appropriate diet.

When it comes to Nutro Ultra Weight Management Dry Dog Food, it has chicken as the main ingredient but also contains chicken meal, lamb meal, and salmon meal. They are all excellent sources of protein that will build lean and strong muscles while keeping your dog energized and supporting weight loss.

Nutro included dried coconut, chia seeds, dried kale, and other superfoods in this recipe to make it tasty and nutritionally balanced while maintaining low calories and without compromising the taste and nutrients that are vital to your pooch.

Generally, this diet will work for most dogs that need to trim some pounds. But as mentioned earlier, talk with your vet to make sure this is the best choice based on your fur-buddy’s weight management needs.

While this recipe is formulated to have fewer calories to support weight loss and weight maintenance, it is still a highly palatable food. Your pooch no longer has to struggle while being on a diet; now they can lose pounds while eating crunchy and tasty Nutro dog food.

4. Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Large Breed Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food

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It’s unfortunate if you have a pup that suffers from grain-related allergies or stomach issues such as constipation. But you probably know that your pooch is better off with a healthy dog recipe that is 100% grain-free.

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Large Breed Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food is an amazing option for large breed dogs with food sensitivities.

Made with 10 ingredients, plus all the essential vitamins and minerals and other nutrients, this recipe will fulfill your dog’s dietary needs without triggering their food sensitivities.

Deboned lamb and lamb meal are the first two ingredients and only meat protein sources in this formula. While lamb isn’t exactly a novel protein, it’s still a good option if your pooch has trouble digesting chicken.

The carbs in this recipe have been replaced by legumes and potatoes, both great alternatives to grains. What’s more, these carbs are adequate sources of energy and are rich in fiber, which promotes easier digestion.

Formulated to meet the nutritional needs of large and giant adult dogs without causing digestive problems or itchy skin, this recipe ensures that your pooch gets exactly the nutrients they need from every bite.

And if your pooch is allergic to lamb, Nutro offers other limited ingredient recipes that feature venison, duck, and salmon as tasty novel proteins.

5. Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Dry Dog Food

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If you want to start your new puppy on the right track, the Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Dry Dog Food is the way to go! Formulated to meet the nutritional needs of growing pups, this delicious kibble is great for all puppies up to one year of age.

Like most other Nutro recipes, this one also has chicken as the main ingredient. Chicken meal, a concentrated form of chicken, is the protein-packed second ingredient that supports the growth and development of lean and strong muscles.

While this isn’t a grain-free puppy food, the whole-grain barley, brewers rice, and whole-grain brown rice are all easily digestible carbs that can help regulate your pup’s bowel movement.

Chia seed, dried pumpkin, dried kale, and dried spinach are natural sources of essential vitamins and minerals that can boost your pup’s immune system and improve their overall health. This formula also contains DHA that supports brain and eye development, and omega 3 & 6 fatty acids that promote healthy skin and coat.

Made without chicken byproducts, corn, soy, or other cheap fillers, this recipe has everything a developing puppy needs to grow into a healthy and happy adult dog.

Based on Dog Food Advisor Nutro dog food ratings, this puppy food received the highest rating. And that is just another bit of solid proof of Nutro’s commitment to making the healthiest and tastiest dog food for pooches around the world.

Has Nutro Dog Food Has Been Recalled?

Yes, Nutro cat and dog products have been recalled several times for many different reasons. Below, you will find the list of the most recent Nutro recalls and the reasons behind them:

December 2015

MARS Petcare has issued a voluntary recall of Nutro Chewy Treats with Real Apple due to potential mold. From the recall report, it appears that the market withdrawal (technically not a recall) was issued only for products sold by PetSmart.

September 2009

On September 30, 2009, Nutro Products, Inc. issued a voluntary recall for selected varieties of dry dog food and dry cat food because melted plastic pieces had been found in the production line.

Nutro identified the source of melted plastic to be a worker’s plastic hat, which had accidentally found its way into the manufacturing process. After extensive investigation, the company believed that none of the melted plastic pieces ended up in the finished product.

However, they decided to recall all the potentially affected products to be on the safe side.

March 2007

In March 2007, Nutro pet foods were included in a huge melamine pet food recall initiated by Menu Foods. At that time, Menu Foods manufactured several Nutro products that ended up being recalled due to contaminated ingredients imported from China.

Nutro Natural Choice, Nutro Ultra, and Nutro Max canned and dry dog and cat foods were recalled because of the potential melamine contamination.

FAQs About Nutro Dog Food Rating

Is Nutro A Good Dog Food Brand?

The Dog Food Advisor and customer reviews on Chewy and Amazon find Nutro to be a good-quality dog food brand. Each Nutro dog food recipe uses fresh meat or named meat meals as the main ingredients and also includes wholesome grains, healthy vegetables, and fruits.

Is Nutro Dog Food Bad For Dogs?

At this time, there is no evidence that Nutro dog food is in any way bad for dogs. In fact, all Nutro recipes are complete and balanced and contain meat as the main ingredient. That said, Nutro dog food has a three star-rating on Consumer Affairs, and some reviews state this food may be difficult for some dogs to digest and can cause stomach problems.

Is Nutro Dog Food Made In China?

No, all Nutro dog foods are manufactured in the USA from ingredients sourced from around the world. Nutro only purchases ingredients from trusted and vetted suppliers, promising non-GMO and only clean and natural ingredients.

The two Nutro dry pet food manufacturing plants are located in Victorville, California, and Lebanon, Tennessee. On the other hand, Nutro has can and tray production facilities in Fort Smith, Arkansas; Columbus, Ohio; and North Sioux City, South Dakota.

Conclusion

Dogs, just like humans, have what they cherish and what they loathe where taste and smell are concerned. Your dog definitely has their own individual preferences and, for now, you can relax knowing that Nutro understands that.

The brand has gone to great lengths and has succeeded in producing three dog food lines, namely Nutro Ultra, Natural Choice, and Limited Ingredient Diet, that cover almost anything that a dog needs nutritionally.

Even if you haven’t used or come across this brand before, my Nutro dog review has all the information you need if you wish to give Nutro a try. You now know they have excellently crafted dog recipes that your large, medium, or small breed dog, as well as your new puppy, are likely to love.

Try Nutro foods today! Chances are you won’t be turning back once your dog gets a taste.