Rating: 
Nature’s Variety Prairie receives the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.
The Nature’s Variety Prairie product line includes 11 canned dog foods, 4 claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and 7 for growth and maintenance.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Nature’s Variety Homestyle Beef Stew
- Nature’s Variety Homestyle Lamb Stew
- Nature’s Variety Homestyle Chicken Stew
- Nature’s Variety Venison Recipe with Millet
- Nature’s Variety Lamb Recipe with Oatmeal
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Beef Recipe with Barley
- Nature’s Variety Homestyle Beef and Bison Stew
- Nature’s Variety Homestyle Turkey and Duck Stew
- Nature’s Variety Homestyle Salmon and Wild Rice Stew
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Chicken Recipe with Brown Rice
- Nature’s Variety Homestyle Pork and Sweet Potato Stew
Nature’s Variety Homestyle Turkey and Duck Stew was selected to represent the other products 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, ground flaxseeds, montmorillonite clay, 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, potassium chloride, parsley, 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
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 38% | 23% | 32% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 44% | 26% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food they are a common addition component 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
Turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The third ingredient is turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The next two items are chicken and duck which are additional sources of quality animal protein and essential amino acid
The sixth ingredient is egg whites. Eggs are highly digestible and an excellent source of usable protein.
The seventh ingredient 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 eighth item is potato starch. Potato starch is a gluten-free carbohydrate used more for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.
The ninth item is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
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, we find montmorillonite clay, a naturally occurring 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).
Next, we find menhaden fish oil. Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. Their oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids, two high quality fats boasting the highest bio-availability to both dogs and humans.
What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as is typical with deeper water species.
Thirdly, 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.2
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).
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.
Nature’s Variety Prairie Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Nature’s Variety Prairie looks to be an above-average canned dog food.
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 38%, a fat level of 23% and estimated carbohydrates of about 32%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 39% and a mean fat level of 22%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 31% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a canned product containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Nature’s Variety Prairie is a meat-based canned product using a moderate amount of assorted meats as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a product with a still higher meat content may wish to check out our review of Nature’s Variety Instinct canned dog food.
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.
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Notes and Updates
11/01/2009 Original review
05/11/2010 Review updated with more typical example
04/21/2012 Last Update
- 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) ↩
