Rating: 
Nature’s Variety Prairie Dog Food (canned) receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Nature’s Variety Prairie product line includes eleven canned dog foods… four designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and seven for both growth and maintenance.
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Beef Recipe
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Lamb Recipe
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Chicken Recipe
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Venison Recipe
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Beef Stew
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Lamb Stew
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Chicken Stew
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Beef and Bison Stew
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Turkey and Duck Stew
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Salmon and Wild Rice Stew
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Pork and Sweet Potato Stew
Nature’s Variety Prairie Homestyle Turkey and Duck Stew Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Nature's Variety Prairie Homestyle Turkey and Duck Stew
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Turkey broth, turkey, turkey liver, chicken, duck, egg whites, brown rice, potato starch, sweet potatoes, peas, spinach, oat fiber, flaxseed, guar gum, red peppers, natural flavor, sodium phosphate, menhaden fish oil, vitamins (choline chloride, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, riboflavin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), dried kelp, parsley, potassium chloride, sunflower oil, garlic powder, taurine, calcium carbonate, flaxseed oil, tricalcium phosphate, salt, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, ethylenediamine dihydriodide), sage, rosemary, artichokes, cranberries, pumpkin, tomato, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, kale
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The second ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1
Like most meats, turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life. This is a quality ingredient.
The third ingredient is turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, turkey liver is a beneficial component.
The next two items are duck and chicken. Like turkey, duck and chicken are additional sources of quality animal protein and essential amino acids.
The sixth ingredient includes egg whites. Egg whites are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The seventh item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The eighth item lists potato starch… a starchy powder extracted from the cell walls of potatoes. Potato starch is most likely used here to thicken the broth into a gravy.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other healthy items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have a major effect on the overall quality of this product.
Garlic is a controversial item. In rare cases, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2
Most of the professional literature we surveyed did not provide any conclusive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Although we see no reason to be overly concerned, we do feel it is a mistake to include such controversial ingredients in any dog food product.
We also note this food 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.
Nature’s Variety Prairie Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging from the quality of its ingredients, Nature’s Variety Prairie canned dog food looks like an easy winner.
However, no dog food review can be considered complete without checking out the reported nutrient percentages.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 40%, a fat level of 23% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 30%.
Featuring a brand average of 36% protein, fat clocks in at around 21% for the group.
Moderate protein. Moderate fat. And average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical canned dog food).
This is the profile of a wet product containing a generous amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Nature’s Variety Prairie is primarily a meat-based canned dog food using a significant amount of assorted meats as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand a solid four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a product with a still higher meat content may wish to check out our review of the company’s 5-star flagship… Nature’s Variety Instinct Canned Dog Food.
Or maybe our review of Nature’s Variety Prairie Dry Dog Food… an excellent kibble.
See a recap of all the product lines made by this company when you visit our summary page… Nature’s Variety Dog Food Reviews.
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 a specific health benefit 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
11/01/2009 Original review
05/11/2010 Review updated using more typical example; brand re-rated from three to four stars
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition ↩
- 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) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.