Rating: 
Nature’s Recipe dry dog food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.
The Nature’s Recipe product line includes eleven dry dog foods. We found only limited AAFCO nutritional adequacy information for these foods on the Nature’s Recipe website.
This fact makes it impossible to report life stage recommendations for the product line.
- Nature’s Recipe Puppy
- Nature’s Recipe Adult
- Nature’s Recipe Senior
- Nature’s Recipe Toy Breed
- Nature’s Recipe Large Breed
- Nature’s Recipe Terrier Breed
- Nature’s Recipe Large Breed Puppy
- Nature’s Recipe Easy to Digest Lamb
- Nature’s Recipe Easy to Digest Fish Meal
- Nature’s Recipe Easy to Digest Chicken Meal
- Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin and Coat Venison
- Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin and Coat Vegetarian (2 stars)
Nature’s Recipe Large Breed Chicken and Oatmeal Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Nature's Recipe Large Breed Chicken and Oatmeal
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, oatmeal, pearled barley, brown rice, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), chicken, brewers yeast, dicalcium phosphate, tomato pomace, salt, animal digest, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, chicory, alfalfa nutrient concentrate, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), inositol, niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, beta-carotene, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, iron proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), l-carnitine, glucosamine hydrochloride, choline chloride, chondroitin sulfate, Yyucca schidigera, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
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 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 third 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. This is a quality grain ingredient.
The next item lists brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fifth ingredient lists poultry fat. Poultry fat is obtained from rendering… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. However, we would have preferred a single-species item (like chicken fat).
The sixth ingredient is 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 occupy a lower position on the list.
The next item 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, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.
The eighth ingredient is dicalcium phosphate… used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
The ninth 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.
Animal digest is a (generic) chemically decomposed concoction of unspecified body parts… from unspecified animals. Animal digest is usually sprayed onto the surface of a dry kibble to improve its taste.
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 three notable exceptions…
First, chicory root is naturally rich in a substance called 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.
Next, 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.
And lastly, this Nature’s Recipe product also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Nature’s Recipe Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Nature’s Recipe dry dog food looks to be an average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself 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 24%, a fat level of 13% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 54%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 24% and a mean fat level of 12%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 56% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a modest amount of meat.
However, it’s unfortunate the company chose to include menadione in its recipes. Without this controversial supplement, we may have considered awarding this brand a higher rating.
Bottom line?
Nature’s Recipe is a grain-based dry kibble using only a modest amount of various named meat meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand three stars.
Recommended.
Those looking for a wet food from the same company may want to check out our review of Nature’s Recipe 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
06/07/2010 Original review
01/07/2011 Review updated
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.