Rating: 
Nature’s Logic Dry Dog Food receives the Advisor’s highest rating of 5 stars.
The Nature’s Logic product line includes five dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Nature’s Logic Canine Beef Formula
- Nature’s Logic Canine Lamb Formula
- Nature’s Logic Canine Chicken Formula
- Nature’s Logic Canine Venison Formula
- Nature’s Logic Canine Duck and Salmon Formula
Nature’s Logic Canine Chicken Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Nature's Logic Canine Chicken
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, millet, chicken fat, montmorillonite, brewers yeast, flaxseed, dried egg product, spray dried chicken liver, pumpkin seed, porcine plasma, kelp, natural flavoring, cottage cheese, suncured alfalfa meal, egg shell meal, chicory root, tomato powder, almonds, spray dried cod liver oil, apple powder, blueberry powder, apricot powder, carrot powder, pumpkin powder, cranberry powder, broccoli powder, spinach powder, parsley, artichoke, rosemary, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium bifidium fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, dried pineapple extract, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, dried Trichoderma longibrachtium fermentation extract, mixed tocopherols
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is millet, a gluten-free grain harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber as well as other essential minerals.
The third 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 fourth item is montmorillonite, a naturally occurring clay compound rich in many trace minerals. Montmorillonite has been approved for use in USDA Organic Certified products.
Reported benefits include the binding of certain mold-based toxins and even controlling diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The fifth ingredient is 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, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.
The sixth ingredient is 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 seventh ingredient is dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The eighth item lists spray dried chicken liver, a powder mixed with animal plasma and used as a coating for the kibble.
The ninth ingredient is porcine plasma. Plasma is what remains of blood after the blood cells themselves have been removed. Plasma can be considered a nutritious addition.
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 two notable exceptions…
First, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, although we find no mention of supplemental vitamins or minerals on the ingredients panel, we are reassured to see a detailed list of naturally included nutrients (for each recipe) on the company’s website.1
Nature’s Logic Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by the ingredients alone, this Nature’s Logic Dry Dog Food looks like an above-average kibble.
But ingredient quality alone cannot tell the full story. It’s still vital to estimate the meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 38%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 36%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 36% and an average fat level of 18%. Together, these figures suggest an overall carbohydrate content of 38% for the full product line.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs as compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this is the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Nature’s Logic Dog Food is a meat-based kibble using a generous amount of named meat meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a comparable wet food from the same company may want to read our review of Nature’s Logic 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 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 brand? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
06/19/2010 Original review
01/19/2011 Review updated
11/23/2011 Review updated
- Nature’s Logic, 6/19/2010 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.