Rating: 
Natural Balance Alpha Dog Food gets the Advisor’s second-highest rating of 4 stars.
The Natural Balance Alpha Dog product line lists three kibbles… each formulation claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Natural Balance Alpha Dog Lamb, Chicken Meal and Rabbit
- Natural Balance Alpha Dog Chicken, Turkey Meal and Duck
- Natural Balance Alpha Dog Trout, Salmon Meal and Whitefish
Natural Balance Alpha Dog Chicken, Turkey Meal and Duck was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Natural Balance Alpha Dog Chicken, Turkey Meal and Duck
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, potatoes, chicken meal, garbanzo beans, peas, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, natural flavor, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), duck, alfalfa meal, potato starch, beet pulp, dried egg, salmon oil, vegetable pomace (carrot, celery, beet, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach), calcium carbonate, salt, potassium chloride, cranberries, blueberries, apples, zucchini, dried kelp, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid), inulin, minerals (zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), l-carnitine, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), Yucca schidigera extract, dl-methionine, l-lysine, iron amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, mixed tocopherols and citric acid (preservatives)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 12% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 13% | 50% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 26% | 28% | 46% |
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 account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The third ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The fourth ingredient includes garbanzo beans… also known as chickpeas. Like peas, bean and lentils, the chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume family of vegetables.
Garbanzos contain about 22% protein which must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The fifth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein which (like garbanzos) must also be considered when judging the protein in this dog food.
The sixth ingredient is turkey meal… like chicken meal previously discussed, another protein rich meat concentrate.
The seventh ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.
Following the natural flavor, we find 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The tenth ingredient lists duck. This is another moisture rich raw meat item. After cooking, this item would probably account for less protein in the finished product.
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 affect the overall rating of this product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, beet pulp can be considered 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.
Next, we note the inclusion of inulin… a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
And lastly, this 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.
Natural Balance Alpha Dog
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Natural Balance Alpha Dog looks 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 13% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 50% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Below-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even accounting for the protein-boosting effect of the garbanzo beans and the peas, this still looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Natural Balance Alpha Dog is a grain-free kibble using a moderate amount of chicken meal or fish as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
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 specific health benefits 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.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
03/01/2011 Original review
03/02/2011 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.