NutriSource Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

NutriSource dry dog food gets the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.

The NutriSource dog food product line includes ten kibbles… nine claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and one for adult maintenance (Weight Management recipe).

  • NutriSource Lamb Meal and Rice
  • NutriSource Adult Chicken and Rice
  • NutriSource Senior Chicken and Rice
  • NutriSource Performance Chicken and Rice
  • NutriSource Large Breed Lamb Meal and Rice
  • NutriSource Large Breed Adult Chicken and Rice
  • NutriSource Large Breed Puppy Chicken and Rice
  • NutriSource Super Performance Chicken and Rice
  • NutriSource Weight Management Chicken and Rice (3 stars)
  • NutriSource Small and Medium Breed Puppy Chicken and Rice

NutriSource Adult Chicken and Rice dry dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

NutriSource Adult Chicken and Rice Formula

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 29% | Fat = 18% | Carbs = 45%

Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), white rice, oatmeal, fish meal (a source of fish oil), beet pulp dried, turkey and chicken flavor, flax seeds, dried egg product, dried brewers yeast, potassium chloride, salt, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, cobalt proteinate, selenium yeast), vitamins (vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), glucosamine hydrochloride, choline chloride, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), chondroitin sulfate, Yucca schidigera extract, calcium iodate, rosemary extract, yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtillis fermentation product

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis26%16%NA
Dry Matter Basis29%18%45%
Calorie Weighted Basis25%37%39%

The first ingredient in this dog food lists 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 account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.

Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The fourth 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.

The fifth ingredient lists chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The sixth item mentions white rice… a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.

The seventh ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber and B-vitamins. And it’s also gluten-free.

Fish meal is another high-protein meat concentrate.

Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.

Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.

What’s more, the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals.

But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, the chemical does not have to be reported to consumers.

We find no public assurances from the company this product is ethoxyquin-free.

Without knowing more, and based upon this fish meal’s location on the list of ingredients, we would expect to find only a trace of ethoxyquin in this product.

Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

After the turkey and chicken flavors, we find flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

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 have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.

With three notable exceptions…

First, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

Next, this dog 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, the recipe contains 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.

NutriSource Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Nutrisource dry dog food appears to be an above-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 29%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 45%.

Due to its apparent reduced meat content, the Weight Management recipe has been downgraded to our next lower category.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.

Average protein. Average fat. And average carbs… as compared to a typical dry dog food.

If we ignore the fact one product (Large Breed Puppy) still contains corn gluten meal to boost its protein percentage, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

NutriSource dry dog food is a grain-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of chicken or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

Those looking for a quality wet food from the same company may want to check out our review of NutriSoure 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 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

03/19/2010 Original review
07/12/2010 Updated (menadione removed)
09/09/2010 Updated (upgraded to 4 stars)
09/07/2011 Updated (recipe changes)
09/07/2011 Last Update

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


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  • sandy

    Kara,

    Sounds like your dog could use Performance!! My indoor, not active dogs eat regular adult formula!!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Kara… Unfortunately, due to the biological uniqueness of each pet, I cannot provide customized reviews and product comparisons for each reader. For more help, please check out my reviews and visit our FAQ page. Look for the topic, “Help Me Choose a Dog Food”. Or check back for a possible response from one of our other readers. Wish I could be more help.

  • Kara

    I’m highly considering switching my dog to Nutri Source, but I do not know whether to get Adult Chicken and Rice or the Performance Chicken and Rice. My dog jogs between 4 and 5 miles every morning, plays chuck-it or frisbee daily (10-15 minutes), 1 to 1.5 hour walks every evening, swims occasionally, and is about to start working cattle a few days a month…. Any suggestions as to which formula to feed him?

  • Meagan

    My 6 month old lab puppy is doing very well on the lamb and rice formula. She loves to eat and her poops are firm and easy to pick up.

  • Pingback: Anyone hear of Nurti Source food - Chihuahua Forum : Chihuahua Breed Dog Forums

  • Meagan

    Thanks Mike!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    OK, Meagan… All done. My report on NutriSource dry has been updated. Hope this helps.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Meagan… It appears NutriSource has made a number of notable recipe changes to this product line. I’ll try to update this review soon. Thanks for the tip.

  • Meagan

    Hey Mike,
    Looking over the Nutrisource website I only see one food with Corn Gluten Meal in it, that would be the Large Breed Puppy formula. Also the Weight Managment is not an ALS food, but a maintenance food. Thanks

  • Rebecca

    Thanks Mike! I’m new to the whole “review the ingredients” thing with dog food. My first pup was fed NutroMax her whole life and did well. Now with pup #2, I want to be sure to feed her the best I can afford :)

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Rebecca… This is not a new development. Corn gluten meal has been a component in 3 of these NutriSource products since before my last review of this line. Please note the following statement taken here from my review:

    “If we ignore the fact that three of the foods still use corn gluten meal to boost their protein percentages, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.”

    When corn gluten is present, it should be considered an inexpensive meat protein substitute. And must never be interpreted as high in quality as meat. Hope this helps.

  • Rebecca

    Per the Nutrisource website, their Large Breed Puppy formula include corn gluten meal. See ingredient list copied directly from their site.
    “Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, white rice, barley, corn gluten meal, oatmeal, beet pulp-dried, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), fish meal (a source of fish oil), natural turkey and chicken flavor, flax seeds, sunflower oil, dried egg product, dried brewers yeast, kelp meal, potassium chloride, salt, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, cobalt proteinate, selenium yeast), DL Methionine, vitamins (vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), taurine, choline chloride, yucca schidigera extract, calcium iodate, rosemary extract, yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtillis fermentation product.”

    I contacted them & was told they put corn gluten in their large breed puppy formula as it is a gentler protein for large breed puppies so they do not grow as fast. I notice here that corn gluten meal is NOT included in the list of ingredients above. That being said, my pup does MUCH better on Nutrisource Large Breed Puppy over Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy.

  • pete

    I feed my 15 week old American pit bull puppy nutri source since he was 5weeks old he gaind weight fast , this food is the best I know I’m giving my dog exactly what he needs to be healthy n strong ..

  • pete

    I feed my 15 week old American pit bull puppy nutri source since he was 5weeks old he gaind weight fast , this food is the best I know I’m giving my dog exactly what he needs to be healthy n strong .. I recommend this food to any one who has a dog …

  • melissa

    Evelyn-

    I do not have a problem with a bit of beet pulp in the food either as it would appear its used to firm stool in the small amounts in the dog food. However, comparing the beet pulp in dog food to cattle is way off. In farm animals, its fed in much higher concentrations to put weight on them, and it does seem to work for most.

    I am not sure about your vets comments as its not really clear, but it would appear that you are saying your vet told you “its just a preservative”..well that is correct, but it certaintly has no place in dog food imo. There are much more natural(and safe) ways to preserve food w/out it.

    Re Tuffy’s letter-their response actually state that THEY do not use ethoxyquin on any of their products-how about the suppliers before it arrives there?? And, if its ethoxyquin free, why not say so on the website?? It seems to be a matter of semantics. I can easily say I do not use Frontline on my dogs, and yet the dogs have Frontline on them…because Hubby put it there : )

  • Evelyn Mulhall

    I am a 1rst time reader/responder to ANY site. I just talked to my vet. The preservative ethoxquin is just that. I feel ok w/feeding my 11 month old puppy this food. He has been on it since he was 2 1/2 months old and LOVES the taste and is looking GREAT. As far as beet pulp, I know quite a bit about this product as well. I raised beef cattle to show the steers @ the different 4-H fairs & state fairs and always got GRAND CHAMPION. My secret part of the feed was BEET PULP. I do not believe it would be any risk to any animal, unless of course they had an alergy. I am lucky I came across this new dog food. I use to use a different brand but “Chipper” just did not like the taste, that was the main reason I thought I would try a different food, SUCCESS!

  • Kathy

    This is in response to Julie’s comments. The sign off at the end of the e-mail has nothing to do with the content of the e-mail. It is simply a corporate requirement should the e-mail be received by an unintended recipient.
    The answer is that Tuffy’s Pet Foods do not use ethoxiquin in any of their foods.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Shameless… I’m not sure if Tuffy’s manufactures this particular product. However, my response to Debbie was my understanding at the time I wrote it. Yet based on the information presented here, my post was obviously incorrect.

    By the way, I’ve been following (with much interest) this conversation about Blue Buffalo since it started a few days ago. And I must say, I’ve found it to be most revealing. Your personal history as a BB team member as well as the research of others has shed much light on the background and standards of this company.

    And it clearly demonstrates why I focus on labels only. I’ll respectfully leave the research regarding manufacturing practices and the source of the raw materials to folks far more knowledgeable than this writer. Thanks for sharing what you know.

  • ShamelessRawFoodie

    Mike – According to The Whole Dog Journal, February 2011,
    http://www.soggypaws.com/Documents/wdj_feb11.pdf
    - Blue Buffalo uses Tuffy’s Pet Foods to manufacture some of their products.

    If the WDJ information is accurate, then part of what Debbie wrote on this NutriSource thread (5/19/11) seems valid “Someone told me that Nutrisource and Blue Buffalo are made by the same company. . .”

    You responded to Debbie “What you heard is not true. NutriSource is owned by Tuffy’s Pet Foods of Perham, MN and Blue Buffalo is an independent manufacturer.”

    ??? Does Tuffy’s manufacture for Blue Buffalo???

  • http://dogfoodadvisor.com Julie

    Hi Mike…I emailed the company asking if their fish meal or any of their ingredients contain ethoxyquin and they sent the following response. Notice the disclaimer at the end ???? When I found out this is the company that makes Tuffys I crossed them right off my list of prospective foods for my new 3 month old.

    Hi Julia,

    We do not use ethoxyquin on any of our products.

    Genie Buer
    Sales Dept.
    http://www.nutrisourcedogfood.com
    http://www.naturalplanetorganics.com
    IMPORTANT MESSAGE: The information in this electronic mail message and any attached files is confidential and may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, delete this message. You must not use or disseminate this information as it is proprietary property of KLN Enterprises, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Access to this message by anyone else is unauthorized. Communications on or through KLN Enterprises, Inc. or its subsidiaries’ computer systems may be monitored or recorded to secure effective system operation and for other lawful purposes. The contents of this email do not necessarily represent the views or policies of KLN Enterprises, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Thank you.

  • June

    I prefer EVO dog food it’s a much better product.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Debbie… What you heard is not true. NutriSource is owned by Tuffy’s Pet Foods of Perham, MN and Blue Buffalo is an independent manufacturer.

  • Debbie

    Someone told me that Nutrisource and Blue Buffalo are made by the same company and contains the same kibble. Is this true? I’m trying to find a very good reasonably priced low fat dry dog food and I’m limited to the brands I can find in my area.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Marilyn… The Senior product apparently contains more meat. Unfortunately, I cannot provide customized product comparisons for each reader. For more help, please check out my reviews and visit our FAQ page. Look for the topic, “Help Me Choose a Dog Food”. Or check back for a possible response from one of our other readers.

  • Marilyn

    I have been feeding NutriSource Weight Management to my 7-year old boxer for over a year now. He used to suffer from Boxer’s Colitis which would last for several days. Now that he is on NutriSource, he hardly ever gets Colitis and when he does, it doesn’t last for more than a day. I am thinking of switching my two 12-year old Cocker Spaniels to NutriSource. It seems to be a superior product. I am debating between Weight Management and Senior Chicken and Rice. What is the main difference between the two?

  • Cathy

    Kerri,
    Do an internet search on Pumpkin and Anal Glands. My dog has never had this problem, but others have told me pumpkin helped their dog. A little pumpkin has a lot of fiber. Organic pumpkin is about $2 per can. You can freeze it in ice cube trays and pop out a cube daily into your dog’s bowl.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Char… Based upon ingredient quality and meat content, this does look like a very good puppy food.

  • char Manlikck

    Hi,
    I was wondering if Nutri Source puppy dry food be good for our 3.7 pound Maltese Poodle. We got some samples from our groomer and the puppy does like it. She is now eating Pro Pac and likes that. She will be 1 year old the 15th of April. Would really like to hear from you. Thank you very much.
    Char

  • Angela

    Hi, I previously had a shepherd/husky mix that was VERY very picky with food. I had tried all kinds of other foods, wet and dry, and then i was recommended this food. He liked it better than anything else i tried so i stuck with it. Unfortunately i had to put him down last spring. Now i have a four year old purebred German Shepherd that i adopted last summer. When i got him the food he had been on was Pedigree. I tried to gradually switch him over to this food and he picked out most of this food from the bowl first and then finally ate the Pedigree that was left. I was glad to see that he liked this food so much. When i first got him his coat was rough and after being on this food his coat is shiny and soft. I highly recommend this food!

  • Kayson

    Hi Kerri,
    My Beagle was having some pretty nasty anal gland problems, we switched him to the Nutri Source Lamb Meal and Rice and he has been doing much better. I don’t think his was as severe as what you mention above, but the higher fiber definitely seemed to help.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Kerri… I doubt you could “cure” a stubborn anal gland infection with any dog food. However, foods higher in fiber content are believed by some to help control anal sac issues. In any case, since I’m not a veterinarian, I cannot provide specific health advice or product recommendations. Please see our FAQ page and our reviews for more information. Or check back for a possible response from one of our other readers.

  • kERRI

    Hi there!

    I changed my lab to this food–he has IBS and a suspected food allergy. However, we have been dealing with a wicked anal gland infection for the past few months that wont quit…i am worried that he will need surgery!

    Any thoughts on this problem? Thanks

  • Faith McAllister

    I have 3 large dogs: Boxer(7yrs), Bullboxer(8yrs), and a Boxer/English Mastiff mix(5yrs). We used to feed them all Pro Plan, which is an excellent food that they enjoy eating. The quality of the food is fantastic and really shows! However, the price just kept hiking up higher and higher…it’s over $50 a bag for 34.5lbs now in our area–and requires a 45 mile roundtrip drive. = ( I’d heard about how wonderful Nutri Source is and have researched the ingredients, which stack up wonderfully. Also, it’s available in our area and costs considerably less than the Pro Plan. I got a small bag to try on my babies (one is a VERY picky eater) and am delighted to say that it has passed our test! All 3 of my dogs LOVE this food! I was afraid they only liked it at first while it was mixed in with their current food, but when we had weaned the old food out, they still ate the new food very enthusiastically. Oh, they love the Nutri Source treats too…We are SO changed to Nutri Source. = )

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Michelle… After reading your comment, I returned to the NutriSource website and cannot find menadione in the four products I randomly checked. You can find NutriSource Grain Free products in the “Products” drop down list on their website.

  • Michelle

    I went online to look for the nutrisource products to buy, but they list menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity) as one of the ingredients. I thought that was a big no no! Anyway, I found the list of ingredients on petfooddirect.com and also on dogfooddirect.com. I couldn’t find the nutrisource grain free dog food you reviewed here on your website. Could you clear this up for me? Thank you!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Bre… Brewers yeast is a by-product of the beer making process. It contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients. Fans claim yeast repels fleas and supports a dog’s 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.

  • Bre

    I just bought this product however I didnt see that there was yeast untill we brought it home. Is there yeast still in the food and is it a concern??? I have a bullmastiff puppy. We bought the grain free for large breeds.
    Thanks

  • JaydaP

    I don’t see many comments regarding lamb and rice Nutirsource foods. Which would be best or better (chicken or lamb)? I have my bully breed pit on Diamond Extreme Athlete Adult food and I’m taking her off of it gradually with Nutrisource lamb and rice. Taking her off of it because she is sooooo gassy and poops about 5 times a day or more and she really clears the room. I can’t take her to my friend’s houses because of the gas. So, I’m hoping the new food will help her. She loves what she’s on but there has got to be something that can be done about all the gas.

  • Gloria

    I am happy to be able to feed my two shih tzu’ with Nutrisource,good quality dog food is super expensive here in Costa Rica, and I was able to find Nutrisource 18 pound bag for about $35, my female shih tzu use to have very bad skin allergies, now her coat is looking shiny and healthy and also my 3 year old male coat is beautiful. Thank you Nutrisource for exporting this wonderful product to C.R. ***** Rating

  • dog lover

    I just wanted to say that I have a boxer and when I got her she was on regular puppy chow and not doing well with it, I changed her to Nutra Source (the same food that I fed my chihuahau) and she has done great! No more itching and her feces is not as smelly, and the gas is gone! I love this food and tell everyone with dogs that I know to use this food!!

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