Rating: 
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Canned Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.
Currently, the Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets line includes four grain-free canned products… designed for all life stages.
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Duck and Potato
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Fish and Sweet Potato
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Chicken and Sweet Potato
- Natural Balance L.I.D. Venison and Sweet Potato
Natural Balance L.I.D. Duck and Potato was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Duck and Potato Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Duck, duck broth, potatoes, dehydrated potatoes, potato protein, canola oil, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, guar gum, natural smoke flavor, yucca schidigera extract, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, choline chloride, carrageenan, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), sodium selenite, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, calcium iodate, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is duck. Duck is a quality item. It is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”.1
Like most meats, duck is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life. A quality meat ingredient.
The second ingredient includes duck broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The next three items are all quality potato ingredients…
- Potatoes
- Dehydrated potatoes
- Potato protein
Potato protein includes the dry residue remaining after removing the starchy part of a potato. This ingredient contains over 80% protein. So, it must be responsible for at least some of the protein reported in this product.
The sixth item is canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current experts find the negative rumors about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.2
Also, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are often associated with mid to lower-tier products.
Natural Balance L.I.D. Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Canned Dog Food must be commended for its unique design… grain-free and limited in its actual number of ingredients.
Both of these features make it ideal for allergy-prone dogs.
But still, there’s the matter of protein content. Just how much of this food consists of real meat?
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 23%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 51%.
Low protein and high carbs for a canned product.
Based on the nutrient gauges, it appears the word “limited” may not just mean “limited in numbers”. The statistics indicate this product may also be limited in meat content, too.
When compared to other canned dog foods, this Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets product falls squarely in the middle range for overall quality… and earns an acceptable three-star rating.
Recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
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- American Association of Feed Control Officials ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005), retrieved 12/05/2009 ↩
