Rating: 
Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food (dry) receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.
Currently, the Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula line includes just one dry product.
Now, before we begin…
Please be aware that we recognize the need for some dog owners to provide (for whatever reason) a completely meat-free diet.
However, we also respect a dog’s natural carnivorous bias. For this reason, the highest rating awarded any vegetarian dog food found on this website may not exceed three stars.
Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Brown rice, oatmeal, cracked pearled barley, peas, potato protein, canola oil, potatoes, tomato pomace, vegetable flavoring, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, flaxseed, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine, natural mixed tocopherols, spinach, parsley flakes, cranberries, l-lysine, l-carnitine, yucca schidigera extract, kelp, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B-1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, d-calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B-6), vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B-2), vitamin D-2 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first three ingredients in this dog food are all healthy grains… brown rice, oatmeal and pearled barley.
The fourth item is a pea product. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates and (like all legumes) loaded with natural fiber.
The fifth ingredient is potato protein… the dried residue left over after removing the starchy part of a potato. This product contains over 80% vegetable protein… and therefore is a significant source of the protein found in this dog food.
The next item is canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a rather vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.1
Next, we find potatoes. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes can be another quality source of digestible carbohydrates and additional nutrients.
Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product left over after the processing of tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as a cheap filler laden with the pesticides found on the skin of the tomato before processing.
This dog food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to proteins. This process can make them easier to absorb than non-chelated minerals. Chelated minerals are usually found in better quality dog foods.
Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula… the Bottom Line
Even with no meat, this Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food is still formulated with quality plant-based ingredients.
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 20%, a fat level of 9% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 63%.
Very low protein and unusually high carbohydrates… no surprise for any dog food built to be meat-free.
The nutrient gauges suggest Natural Balance Vegetarian Formula to be an average dry dog food.
By the way, because of its low protein content, this product barely meets industry standards2 for adult dogs. It should never be fed to puppies… or pregnant or lactating females.
If it is your desire to feed your dog a meat-free diet, then Natural Balance Vegetarian’s acceptable three-star rating justifies a more serious look.
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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- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005), retrieved 12/05/2009 ↩
- American Association of Feed Control Officials ↩
