Natural Planet Organics (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

Natural Planet Organics dog food gets the Advisor’s second-highest tier rating of 4 stars.

The Natural Planet Organics product line includes just one dry dog food, a product claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.

Natural Planet Organics All Life Stages Formula

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 26% | Fat = 16% | Carbs = 51%

Ingredients: Organic chicken, chicken meal, organic brown rice, organic oats, organic barley, natural flavors, organic flaxseed, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), calcium carbonate, organic sunflower oil, potassium chloride, tomato pomace, brewers yeast, salt, proteinated minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, cobalt proteinate, manganese proteinate, selenium yeast), blueberries, choline chloride, organic alfalfa, organic peas, organic sunflower seeds, organic pumpkin seeds, organic carrots, organic broccoli, yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtillis), vitamins (vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), chicory extract, lecithin, taurine, preserved with mixed tocopherols, sage, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), Yucca schidigera extract, garlic, calcium iodate, rosemary extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis23%14%NA
Dry Matter Basis26%16%51%
Calorie Weighted Basis22%33%45%

The first item in this dog food is organic 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 chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third item is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient includes oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

The fifth ingredient lists barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index, barley can help support more stable blood sugar levels.

After the natural flavors, we find organic flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

The eighth ingredient lists 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 includes 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 four notable exceptions…

First, garlic can be a controversial item. Although most experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.1

However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic — especially when used in small amounts (as it likely is here).

Next, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and 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.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.

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

What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Thirdly, chicory extract is rich in 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 Planet Organics Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Since Natural Planet Organics contains a notable number of quality organic ingredients, we feel compelled to grant the product favored status when determining a final rating.

That’s because organic ingredients are produced under remarkably strict government standards… standards which greatly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.

Just the same, we still need to evaluate the product’s protein, fat and carbohydrate content.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 26%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 51%.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 61%.

Below-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.

With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Natural Planet Organics is a grain-based organic kibble utilizing a modest amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been 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 analyze each product, please 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 qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

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

Notes and Updates

03/20/2010 Original review
10/20/2010 Review updated
07/18/2012 Last Update

  1. Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
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  • Kayla

    I was feeding my puppy (Chocolate lab/Golden retriever mix) organix puppy food, recently switched to this since the only store that carried organix was closed and puppy was out of food. He seems to be switching just fine. last night his stools were a little soft, and he did have a bit of gas for a couple days, but I was told a little pumpkin puree should help alleviate that. so far I think we are satisfied. will re-post in a couple months to leave a more credible review. 

  • DarcyTheDog

    I recently began feeding Natural Planet Organics brand to both my cat and dog after pretty much exhausting other brands to try. Neither of them were eating much due to stress the first day after a recent cross country move, so when I saw this at the local supermarket, I decided to try it.  My 15 year old border collie x austrailian sheperd x lab mix who is fed homemade and wet foods, as well as having kibble always available, has been eating this so well, I haven’t had to go through all of the other meal preparations. Her coat is shiny, her stools are solid, she has no gas, and she is relishing munching something solid again!

  • Dnystrand

    I have an English Bulldog, by the way, with a unique set of food allergies. Hence these 2 as my final choices…..

  • Dnystrand

    Does anyone have any actual experience or opinion about this particular dog food? I’m trying to choose between this and Annamaet Encore, but there aren’t very many actual comments pertaining to this particular brand.

  • Cheryl & Pepper

    I was given a bag of this food by my vet to look at. I usually post on the BB Grain free small breed canned area.
    Is anyone using this particular food now and if so what are your impressions about it? My 8 1/2 y.o. mini schnauzer is currently on Fromm’s Gold Senior,but is experiencing extreme thirst. Spoke to Fromm’s and they haven’t had any customers (or so they say) calling in with this problem.
    Ingredients look o.k., although the yeast scares me.
    Thanks for the help.

    Cheryl & Pepper

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    Hi Bonnie,

    This food contains 26% protein. The average protein content for all the kibbles in the DFA database is about 28%.

    And the minimum required by AAFCO to meet the adult maintenance nutrient profile is only 18% dry matter.

    So, considering these stats alone, your dog should be fine. Hope this helps.

  • Toxed2loss

    Hi Bonnie,
    It’s interesting that you think he wasn’t eating because of the fish oil… Did you try serving is regular food without fish oil?

    Grains are going to cause more problems than the gluten free carbs, with the exception of potatoes. His itchy skin can be a symptom of more than just yeast, or allergies. That’s not to say those aren’t a possibility. It’s just that many people over look the obvious environmental factors. We all get rid of toxins through our skin, and it does itch when we sweat them out. So consider what kinds of toxins that may be in his diet and environment that he could be expressing through his skin.
    What brand of food were you feeding?
    Worming Meds are poisons, have you used worm Meds?
    Typical Flea and tick treatments are pesticides. Pesticides are poisons. Have you used pesticides?
    Fragrances contain pesticides and other toxic substances. Do you use fragranced products?

    Many people are unaware that all of us, our pets included, are poisoned by 3 different methods: ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin. So anything that we eat, or drink, or inhale, or put on, or get on our skin, that is toxic, accumulates in the body, and the body is effected by it. The body also tries to get rid of it. One of those ways is through the skin. It will cause itching.

    Here are some More toxins that are common that pet owners don’t think about: MSG – this food had several sources, natural flavor, citric acid, yeast. MSG is an excitatory neuro-toxin. It’s addictive, which is why your pup will eat it.

    Fluoride in water, and the chemicals they use to “treat” water at city plants. Both are neurotoxins.

    Cleaning chemicals, newsprint, laundry products, fertilizers, and yard chemicals, fragrance emitters, hand lotion & anti-bacterial soap (what ever we use our pets lick off us and ingest.)

    Just some food for thought. There are more. I wouldn’t feed this food. But then, I’m really picky. If nothing else, I’d switch from fish oil to astaxanthin. Less smell. Hope that helps!

  • Bonnie

    Dog Food Advisor:  My dog A.J. (border collie/springer spaniel was recently put on this food for troubles eating.. he wouldn’t eat.   Rep at the pet sgtore recommended this food after she heard his history. He came from Arizona and is being treated for Valley Fever.  I had tried grain free because he was itching a lot but she indicated he may have yeast skin issues and the potato, pea, etc. carbpohydates would not be good for him.  She said this food has high quality grains that she did not think would present any problems.

    My question is – is he getting enough protein with this food? 

    BTW I think the reason he was not eating was that he did not like the smell of gthe omega oil I was putting on his food – Fish Oil!

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    wally,

    Not sure how old this list is, but here it is.

    http://bigdogshugepaws.com/nutrition

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    Hi Wally,

    All life stages implies the product is OK for all dogs of any age.

    However, large breeds are unique in their predisposition to skeletal deformities.

    The biggest causative factors for skeletal dysplasias (as they are known) is commonly overfeeding, genetics and calcium-phosphorus imbalances.

    For this reason, you may want to search for dog food that have been specifically designed for large breed puppies (like Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy).

    Once your large breed stops growing and becomes an adult, you should be able to safely switch to a regular 4 or 5-star product.

    Hope this helps.

  • wally

    It says all life stages what about large breed puppy?