Nature’s Variety Dog Food (Summary)

by Mike Sagman
Share

The Nature’s Variety brand includes six canine product lines:

A review for each product line can be accessed by clicking one of the above links.

Notes and Updates

06/03/2010 Original article
04/03/2012 Last Update

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


Tagged as:
← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • Shawna

    Toxed2loss’ daughter is an entomologist.. Toxed discusses their flea/bug prevention in the thread linked below — Long sorry.. I can’t find her comment on neem but I do have her email and can send her an email if you’ld like.

    http://healthypets.mercola.com/groups/healthypets/forum/t/119949.aspx?PageIndex=1

  • sandy

    I’d be interesting in reading about the neem oil. One of the ladies at pugvillage uses it.

  • Shawna

    Okay, I wasn’t trying to find this… After attempting to search for the neem post I noticed new articles have been released..

    “Prevention is Always the Best Medicine” of course, caught my attention.

    “Other keys to balanced immune function are to avoid overuse of drugs like antibiotics, steroids, chemical pest repellents and parasite preventives. The more toxins build up in your pet’s body, the less effective the immune system will be.”
    http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/10/18/prevention-is-always-the-best-medicine.aspx

    I do feel, like in Mary Lou’s (Dupree’s) case preventatives are a necessary evil.. Hopefully Dupree’s immune system will be regulated enough to not NEED Comfortis some time in the future…

  • Shawna

    Mary Lou,

    The Comfortis and an essential oil spray used right before a walk would probably offer little Dupree the most benefits!!! IMO :)

    Sandy — do you belong to the forum on Heathy Pets? Toxed2loss is a contributor and a “Toxic Injury Specialist”. She says neem can be toxic if used regularly. Just a heads up. I can’t find her post… grrrr

  • Mary Lou

    Thanks, Sandy ~ I may need to look into those next. We don’t seem to have a problem in our house or yard. I think he sometimes picks up hitchhikers on our walks. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does ~ pure misery.

  • sandy

    I’ve also read on another site that neem oil is another natural remedy for fleas on the dog and can be sprayed on the yard. I’ve used beneficial nematodes in the yard and they are used to control fleas and ants. Didn’t need to put any chemicals on the yard for a whole year and amazingly no ant beds! The mercola natural flea defense is also a combination of oils.

  • Mary Lou

    Hi Gordon ~

    Our poor little guy has flea allergy dermititis. He is so allergic to the saliva. Last week he got bit, which required a trip to the vet. He chewed like crazy and made a terrible hot spot. Anyway ~ I was chatting with Shawna about it, and feeling badly that the vet dermatoligist has him on Comfortis. Shawna made me feel so much better after providing links showing me that Dr. Becker recommends Comfortis to dogs that have flea allergy dermititis. That relieved a lot of my anxiety about using that drug. I now need to find milk thistle.

    I tried the DE in the house, and my vacuum cleaner has never been the same!! : )

  • Gordon

    I haven’t performed my proposed experiments yet, but I’ve decided based on all I’ve read and weighed up, and uncannily or unusually I agree with aimee on some points re DE. As it is dangerous for us to inhale DE due to it’s very high silica content, I can’t see that it would be any less dangerous for dogs to inhale either. And so I won’t be putting anymore of it on their bedding or on their coats either. Not on their coats since I recently treated my TT for a flea allergy between his toes where I didn’t cover with DE. See what I mean? Fleas can burrow anywhere. So I’ve used Comfortis (milk thistle afterwards) for flea control and some tea tree oil to treat his affected toe area where he’d been recently licking and biting.

    I’ll still use DE as an additive to their food for added minerals and worm control to boot, whilst still providing them with conventional dewormers to make certain of better control.

    Whilst I’m not a fan of the use of medically concocted chemicals in any mammal including us, I think conservative use of same in conjunction with natural therapies would work the best. At least, I believe so. I’m still more concerned that a poor diet is the biggest contributor to ailments and diseases and maintain the importance of a close as possible wolf diet for my dogs, being the best medicine and healer of all.

  • Gordon

    Shawna – Thanks for your “dummy” email address. I won’t email you regularly anyway. Only to touch base and chat on occasion, is all.

    I’m not on day shift permanently. In fact today’s day shift is my last for a while before going back to night shift. But I’ve got tomorrow off, then I’m back on night shift from tomorrow night (my time). I’m actually seeking new employment elsewhere in which I’ll be hopefully working only day shifts.

  • Gordon

    Mike – No probs. The following is a copy of my subsequent reply to you, under that ‘Suggested Raw Dog Food’ thread:-

    “Yeah, no problem Mike. As long as that same message is directed to ‘you know who’ under that Brothers thread who impressed a (IMO) racial connotation as well as presumed character attacks using certain adjectives, of which as you know, sparked my long (and rightful defending) response, of which both his and my response has been deleted and is “toast”, as you said.”

  • Shawna

    Mike S,

    I know you have a ton going on but I have a little issue and it seems to be getting worse… No hurry but wanted to report before it gets really bad..

    Yesterday I was unable to read any of the comments in the “Suggested Raw Dog Foods” thread. Everything else was fine. Today however I find I can’t read comments under “Best Puppy Foods” and “Simply Nourish Dog Food” as well. Thought I would mention before I can’t read any comments :) …

  • Shawna

    Gordon,

    Are you on the day shift on a temporary basis – soon to be back on night shift?

    I decided to create a “dummy” email account myself.. As long as it is not abused I will keep it active. Anybody, please feel free to contact me at ShawnaDFAemail@yahoo.com. I’ve actually been thinking about getting rid of my normal email as it has HORRIBLE editing features (can’t even change font colors or fonts etc).. If I end up liking Yahoo email I’ll set up a “real” account and give any emailing me at the “dummy” account the new info..

    Thanks again Gordon! I enjoy talking with you as well!!

    Mike — I promise to never discredit you or your hard work or defame DFA :) .. Nor will I communicate with others that purposefully do so.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Gordon… This comment is a copy of the one I posted for you today on the Suggested Raw Dog Foods article.

    Unfortunately, I’m certainly no expert on the technical side of WordPress, the most ubiquitous software on the Internet that runs most blogs. So, it can take me more than just one comment to confirm and isolate these issues when they occur.

    After all, there are now over 9,000 visitors daily who collectively visit The Advisor and leave more than 100 comments every 24 hours (only to join the 25,000+ comments already posted).

    In addition, I update dozens of previously reviewed dog foods each month and I try to author at least 3 new reviews each week.

    And then, there’s also my Dog Food Advisor Facebook page with already more than 9,000 followers, too.

    By the way, the problem you recently brought to my attention was initially fixed about 4 weeks ago. But it appears to have returned. And I’m not sure why.

    All of your comments are here. Every one of them.

    But when there are more than 50 comments on any thread, the software does not properly “paginate” those comments onto the correct page.

    So, when you click the topic in the Recent Comments section, it no longer takes you to the correct page that comment is actually located on.

    I’m sorry for this. And I can’t seem to find anyone who knows how to fix this.

    But please understand, I’m still trying.

    Like you and much of my readership, Gordon, I have a full time career to which I’ve dedicated my professional life. And which actually supports me and my family. So, many times, it can look to those less informed that I’m shirking my responsibilities and duties here.

    I’m not looking for sympathy, Gordon. I only share these issues with you in hopes you will understand how many hours I spend trying to keep this blog running.

    What’s more, thanks to the information shared by others, I’m also well aware of the underhanded efforts made by those with pernicious objectives and using “private” emails to discredit my hard work and defame The Dog Food Advisor.

    Trolls are a far too common problem with nearly every website. And the best way to deal with trouble-hungry trolls is to not feed them.

    In any case, please know I’m always here to help everyone be heard. No matter their educational level, their socioeconomic background, their country of residence, raw food, kibble or any other opinion.

    No matter what, I NEVER neglect this website. It’s become my baby. I love working on it. And I wish I could respond to each and every comment. For proof, simply look around for the evidence. It’s there if you look. I’m here as much as I can be. Every day.

    That’s because it’s always my goal to provide a reliable place for all who want to to hang out and to communicate. Even (and especially IF) they disagree.

    I know you “enjoy communicating with smart people like” (Aimee and Shawna). But this website will remain open to all, no matter how smart. Or how rich. Or how educated. As long as those who participate do not violate our basic rules of community and good citizenship.

    However, I will continue to “delete any comment that is abusive, rude, mean-spirited, profane or completely unrelated to the topic itself.”

    Yesterday’s fiasco started when I did not read all the way through one poster’s inappropriate comment. And then, while I slept, the discussion grew into a War of Personal Insults.

    That nasty thread is now toast. And I sincerely apologize for not stopping it sooner.

  • Gordon

    You’re welcome Shawna. Nice to hear from (read from) you again.

    I’m only on here for a short time as I’m working day shift again tomorrow (my time) and so will need my sleep, as it’s about 11pm here as I write this. I wouldn’t mind talking to you on occasion via email outside of DFA, if you’d ever like? Let me know and I’ll post a temporary email address on here where you can email me and then I can give you an actual proper email of mine, that we can communicate via from time to time. I too, tried to find another good dog related blog out there, and it’s not easy.

    aimee – I haven’t conducted my proposed experiments yet, lol. I too think that it won’t make much of a difference standing on wet or dry glass. Anyway, I extend the same offer of occasional communication outside of DFA with you as well, if you like. Let me know, and I will post another temporary email if not the same one, depending on if and when you respond at the same time as Shawna?

    I enjoy communicating with smart people like both of you, even though we don’t agree all the time (And we don’t agree at all aimee, as we’re at the opposite ends of the dog food spectrum, lol)

  • Shawna

    Hi aimee,

    Just found something interesting — maybe the reason DE works is not why we all (myself included) have believed. Info may not be accurate but another possible avenue to research.

    “Both silica gel and diatomaceous earth are forms of amorphous silica, and they both kill insects by desiccation,
    not by absorbing water, but by absorbing the oily or waxy outer cuticle layer by direct contact. When the thin
    (about 1/u) waterproof layer of the epicuticle is lost, the insect loses water, then dies. Abrasive damage to the
    cuticle also leads to water loss in some cases, but the effectiveness of silica as an insecticide often depends on
    the amount of oil it can absorb. The ability to absorb oil or wax from an insect, is often, but not necessarily,
    related to surface area of the silica (Ebeling 1961). Silica gel has the advantage of a much larger surface area
    than diatomaceous earth, but the latter is more abrasive. Whether the one or the other is used depends on the
    target insect and conditions (Ebeling 1971).” http://www.freshwaterorganics.com/DE%20Pest%20Control.pdf

    Still not sure, however, how digested DE could “absorb” the oily or waxy layer?? Please do share if anyone finds any data!

  • aimee

    Hi Shawna!!

    Great to see you back here!

    Gordon, How Are your feet after your experiment? : ) I’d think wet or dry there wouldn’t be much difference in the cutting ability of glass or DE.

    My stumbling block is that I read DE’s primary mode of killing insects is by dehydrating them as DE wicks the moisture out of the victim after getting through the cuticle.

    So how can it work it a wet environment? Also when I think how tough the cuticle is on a roundworm I’m not sure DE could do much.

    For those who have used DE have you seen the roundworms pass in the stool as you would when using a conventional dewormer?

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Shawna… So glad you’re back. We’ve all missed your insightful posts.

    By the way, there are many times I wish I could thank (by name) each and every one of our DFA regulars. For all of you have certainly made a difference to others and deserve recognition for your hard work.

    However, I’m so afraid I might accidentally leave someone out, it’s probably better to simply say “thank you” to all of you as a group.

  • Shawna

    Hi and thank you to many!!

    After my last post I went about finding another blog that might be a better fit for me.. I failed. There are several out there but most, that I found, were newsletter style without any reader feedback. Not what I’m looking for.. You have a good thing here Mike. Thank you!

    Thank you very much to those that emailed me directly and those with supportive comments on DFA. Your support and kind words make it easy to come back :) .. I actually would have posted this a little sooner but a private consultation took up a chunk of my free time and family things took up the rest.

    Gordon, your comments are very much appreciated!! Your explanation of my feelings to Nigel is spot on!! In addition to what you wrote, I was/am upset with myself for letting things get under my skin and more so for acting on it. I stand by my posts but could have communicated things better.

    I will do my best to work on my short comings and hope others can do the same as this blog Mike has created is really really a good thing!!!

    Yes Gordon, you have always been nice to me :) We don’t agree on every topic (enzymes in the raw diet ;) ) but we remain friends despite our minor differences of opinion. It wouldn’t be any fun if everyone agreed on everything would it..!!??? :) Also GREAT find on the DE.. I really want to pursue this more..

    Thanks again for the wonderful support I received both on and off DFA!!!!!

  • http://brotherscomplete.com Richard Darlington

    Michlm

    We have found, by feedback from many customers, and with our own 4 dogs that, for whatever reasons, Brothers seems to go further than another kibble with equal or similar calories (I’ll forego a long explanation detailing the reasons I think are responsible for that).

    The feeding recommendations on the bag are just recommendations based on industry standards but I think if you were to start at 4 1/2 cups a day with your 150 lb girl and then adjust from there based on her activity level I think you would be fine.

    Definitely try the Allergy formula and see how it goes. There are digestive enzymes and encapsulated probiotics in the Brothers already and if it resolves the problem in a few days or a week then just stay the course. However, in extreme cases it is sometimes advisable to add some more of each at mealtime to increase the positive bacteria count in the colon more quickly.

  • Mike P

    Michlm I feed my 70lb boxer exactly 2 cups of Brothers a day. I top the food with many different canned food. Maybe topping would stretch out the quantity of Brothers you would use for your IW? My nephew is thinking about Brothers for his 185lb Bull Mastif for poop controll.He likes the results I’m getting . Let us know what you decide.

  • Mike P

    Hi Michelle.sorry for the mix up with the name thing. After your sardine and egg suggestion ( what Jubilee will have for breakfast tomorrow)could you say what other gently cooked meats you feed? What RMB do you use for your big lab? We use thick femor bones from the local meat locker. She can’t splinter those and chops on it forever. I like your ideas.

  • sandy

    Michlm,

    There’s also Canidae Single Grain Protein Plus which uses just rice (brown and white) but is has more meat sources. And then there’s Natures Select Lamb and Rice which uses brown rice and millet and has some chicken. http://naturalpetfooddelivery.com/htmls/about_natural_pet_foods.html I’ve had good luck with using the Salmon & Sweet Potato formula from the same brand on some dogs with sensitive tummies. It is salmon, brown rice, sweet potato and pumpkin. My friend with an IBS dog has transitioned to this from RX food successfully. She also uses probiotics on her dog. Taste of the Wild has a just lamb formula but it is potato based, not rice.

  • monkey

    Michlm, Richard claims that customer’s dogs aren’t needing to eat as much as other foods, so the calories listed may not directly reflect how much you would need to feed. I haven’t tried the food yet but maybe some others can let you know what they have experienced.

    I do have experience with feeding different “listed calculated calories” between some kibbles though. I don’t know exactly why it is though.

  • Michlm

    Yes, me again, I saw the dog food feeding guide on this website and punched in the numbers with Brothers Allergy formula and California Natural formula calories/cup. The California Natural calculation stated to feed my dog 6.07 cups a day–I feed her 7. The Brothers allergy formula calculation stated to feed my dog 6.76 cups/day…so I would need just as much food with the Brothers brand as I do with how I am feeding her now. According to California Natural, I feed her almost a cup too much.

  • Michlm

    I see that you have a beef/bison, fish, turkey/chicken formulas, I was hoping you would have a lamb formula as that is what my dogs have been eating. I am quite interested in the allergy formula and have sent an email for a free sample!

  • Michlm

    Hello Richard–You guessed correctly! She weighs 150 and stands 35 and a half inches at the shoulder. Like I said before, perhaps with a higher quality food she would eat less. The price is still high and I would have to buy online, which I am not fond of. Is there a way that the pet specialty store I use could stock it?

  • http://brotherscomplete.com Richard Darlington

    Michlm

    What does your dog weigh that eats 7 cups a day? I know the IW can be very tall on it’s hind legs but 5 cups of Brothers a day would likely be plenty for a 150 lb dog.

  • Michlm

    I did check out the Brothers dog food—like what I saw–am not too sure about all the added stuff like alfalfa and such–tried food with that stuff in it and was wondering if that could’ve been part of the problem. I am having chest pain at the cost for a 25 pound bag! My IW eats 7 cups of food a day and at that rate I would probably have to buy 3 bags a month! I do understand that sometimes you get what you pay for too. It sounds like a lot of people feed their dogs this brand and give it high marks.

  • Michlm

    I am the one with the IW and have changed my name so as not to cause confusion. :)

  • Michelle

    Hi Mike P. No Dude, that is some other girl named Michelle. I don’t have an Irish Wolfhound. I have 2 dogs, a Lab and a Springer Spaniel. And my Lab is my pic. Anyway, glad to hear that Jubilee is doing so well on Brothers. And with less waste too…that’s awesome! Also, you know I always give my dogs added protein like eggs, sardines, gently cooked meats, and some veggies thrown in for color. lol And don’t forget the fish/salmon oil! Also I have taken Gordon’s advice and give rmb’s….. :)

  • Michelle

    Oh, and to Mike S—I took the IW to the vet and he did a whole work up on her—cost a small fortune—and he found nothing out of the ordinary so I assume it’s the food.

  • Michelle

    Hello Mike P and Mike S- No, Mike P I do NOT feed either of my dogs people food. The IW has a hard enough time with dog food! I am starting to believe maybe it is something with her breeding perhaps. My other dog, a Bichon, has no problems whatsoever. My vet told me the same thing Mike S–to put her back on what she did fine with–so, with my vet’s advice–I will do that. It is difficult not to freak out over company’s merging and possibly changing the formulas….I admit I did just that! Like most dog lovers I just want the best for my dogs and I thought maybe a higher end dog food would be better. Well, not every dog food works for every dog the same, like I said, my bichon could eat any food withoout issues. I have never heard of Brothers dog food but will research it online. Thanks!

  • Mike P

    Michelle, is this the same dog you give the scrambled eggs and sardines to? I think I would go back to what works JMO. Jusst keep a eye out for any changes and follow the thread for reader comments. Have you given Brothers any thought? Beginning my second bag now after the first one was really great. My dogs poop has been great lol and alot less I might add. She poops like clockwork every evening walk. I went to do my weekly poop pickup in the yard and didn’t find much at all. I would think about Brothers for a bag or two.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Michelle… Proctor and Gamble acquired Natura Pet back on May 5, 2010. And based upon P&G’s history, I can understand your concern. However, in the spirit of fairness to all (including pet food manufacturers), it’s unreasonable and unscientific to assume the merger will automatically produce inferior products.

    In any case, we try our best to intentionally ignore the never-ending barrage of unverifiable rumors and pet food industry politics. And we focus on the only source of information we feel we can reliably trust… government-regulated pet food labels. To see why we ignore almost everything else, you may wish to visit our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews“.

    Of course, I’m not privy to any factual inside information about P&G (or any other company, for that matter). And since so far, I’m not aware of any changes to these recipes. So, if California Natural was working well for you before, you may want to reconsider whether to subject your dog to so many unhappy issues based upon rumors and Internet gossip only.

    By the way, have you considered the possibility that maybe your dog’s issues have nothing to do with her diet?

  • Michelle

    OK–Here it goes, I have a soon-to-be four year old Irish Wolfhound that has a food tolerance issue. I had her on limited diet dog food–California Natural, lamb and rice–which she actually did fine on. I did switch her as I heard that that company sold out to Proctor and Gamble and I was sure the quality would go way down. I have tried Solid Gold, Orijen, Natural Balance, Nature’s Variety, Blue Buffalo and Acana with NO success. She had so much diarrhea I took her for massive tests at vet and they found nothing wrong. I switched foods extremely gradually by the way as I know that that could have caused the problem. This is NOT the first dog I have owned–quite the contrary–owend many in my 40 years but have never had a dog this adversive to so many different foods! Please don’t even mention raw as I have tried that also with the most disastrous of results! Should I just stick her back on California Natural and hope they don’t change the formula? Sorry this is so long!

  • Mary Lou

    I trust Shawna will be back! : )

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    We do miss you, Shawna. Please come back soon.

  • Gordon

    No Nigel, you’re not the reason that Shawna stopped commenting on here. It’s sometimes a collective cause as in the efforts to put well meaning opinions forward, only to have them counteracted in a not so polite and seemingly hostile manner. In other words, when one disagrees it would behoove one to convey such in a style that doesn’t feel like it has a patronising connotation to it. It’s hard to explain what I mean, but anyone can get that inclination of when they’re being patronised and I think Shawna felt she was being such, more often than not, with certain people.

    No me though, hey Shawna? I’m nicer to you :)

  • Nigel

    Gordon,

    That’s a yes that milk thistle & St Marys thistle are 1 and the same thing. I prefer to call it St Marys from the plant. Gosh I hpe Shawna doesn’t not return because of me.

  • Gordon

    melissa – Yeah I understand your need to keep face and maintain that appearance of being cool etc. You’re starting to grow on me. It’s OK if I’m not growing on you. I couldn’t care less :) But please don’t scare away Shawna. I really liked her wealth of knowledge and valuable input she always has to offer.

    “Come back Shawna”, shouts Gordon. lol

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →