Natural Balance Ultra (Dry)

Rating:

Natural Balance Ultra dry dog food receives the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.

The Natural Balance Ultra product line lists three dry dog foods… two designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and one for adult maintenance (Reduced Calorie Formula).

• Natural Balance Original Ultra Premium Formula
• Natural Balance Original Ultra Premium Small Breed
• Natural Balance Ultra Reduced Calorie Formula (3 stars)

Natural Balance Original Ultra Premium Formula dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

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.

Which brings us to brown rice… the second and (more likely) the dominant ingredient in this recipe.

Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The third ingredient is lamb meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh lamb.

The fourth ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, fiber and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.

The fifth 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 sixth item lists potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.

The seventh ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The eighth ingredient is 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 ninth ingredient lists duck meal… another protein-rich meat concentrate.

The tenth ingredient is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

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 five notable exceptions…

First, canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.

Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.¹

However, plant-based oils (like canola) are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

Next, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.

Thirdly, we find salmon meal… yet one more animal-based high protein concentrate.

We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears² to be ethoxyquin-free.

Next, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.

And finally, this recipe 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 Ultra Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Natural Balance Ultra looks to be an above-average kibble.

But ingredient quality alone 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 26%, a fat level of 14% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 52%.

Excluding the lower-rated Reduced Calorie food, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 14%.

Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate serving of 49% for the overall product line.

Near-average protein. Near average fat. And above-average carbs… as compared to a typical dry dog food.

Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing an average amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Natural Balance Ultra Dog Food is a grain-based dry kibble using a moderate amount of species-specific meat meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for the wet version of this product line may wish to visit our review of Natural Balance Ultra canned dog food.

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.

Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

01/08/2010 Original review
08/15/2010 Review updated
08/15/2010 Review updated (ethoxyquin-free)
05/11/2011 Review updated (new formula)

The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.

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