Rating: 
NutriSource canned dog food gets the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The NutriSource product line includes three canned dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- NutriSource Lamb and Rice Formula Dog Food
- NutriSource Chicken and Rice Formula Dog Food
- NutriSource Chicken, Lamb and Ocean Fish Formula Dog Food
NutriSource Chicken and Rice Formula Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
NutriSource Chicken and Rice Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, ocean fish, pearled barley, brown rice, dried egg, dicalcium phosphate, guar gum, salt, potassium chloride, dried kelp, alfalfa meal, calcium sulfate, lecithin, carrageenen, cranberries, ascorbic acid, choline chloride, betaine, taurine, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, yucca schidigera extract, selenium yeast, manganese proteinate, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 9% | 6% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 41% | 27% | 24% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 51% | 18% |
The first ingredient in this dog food lists chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add needed moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The fourth item is ocean fish. Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The phrase “ocean fish” does little to adequately describe this ingredient. Due to the various kinds of fats contained in sea food, we would prefer to have known the actual fish species.
The fifth ingredient lists 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.
The sixth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The seventh ingredient includes dried egg… 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 ingredient is dicalcium phosphate… likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
The ninth ingredient is guar gum… a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
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 one notable exception…
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
NutriSource Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, NutriSource appears to be a quality 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 41%, a fat level of 27% and estimated carbohydrates of about 24%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 30%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 21% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a wet food containing generous amount of meat.
Bottom line?
NutriSource is a meta-based canned dog food using a significant amount of chicken or lamb as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a quality kibble to go with this canned food may wish to visit our review of NutriSource dry 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 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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
03/20/2010 Original review
10/20/2010 Review updated
10/20/2010 Last Update
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.