Rating: 
Nutro Max Dog Food (canned formula) formula earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Nutro Max Dog Food line includes eight canned products… two for puppies, five for adults, one for seniors and one for weight control.
- Nutro Max Dog Food Puppy
- Nutro Max Dog Food Large Breed Puppy
- Nutro Max Dog Food Large Breed Adult
- Nutro Max Dog Food Adult Chicken, Lamb and Rice Dinner
- Nutro Max Dog Food Adult Chicken, Rice and Turkey Dinner
- Nutro Max Dog Food Adult Adult Beef and Rice Dinner
- Nutro Max Dog Food Senior Chicken and Rice Dinner
- Nutro Max Dog Food Weight Control
Nutro Max Dog Food Adult Beef and Rice Dinner was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Nutro Max Adult Beef and Rice Dinner
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: beef broth, beef, chicken, beef liver, chicken liver, ground rice, rice bran, egg product, sunflower oil, guar gum, natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, salt, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, carrageenan, sodium ascorbate (source of vitamin C), ferrous sulfate, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), sodium selenite, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, potassium iodide, biotin, riboflavin supplement.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The next two ingredients are beef and chicken. Like most meats, beef and chicken are naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life. Both are quality meat ingredients.
The next two items are beef liver and chicken liver. So long as they’re not over-weighted in this dog food, liver can be considered a beneficial component.
The sixth ingredient is ground rice. In a good grade (an unknown factor here), rice can be a quality ingredient. It’s gluten-free, hypoallergenic and easy to digest.
The seventh item is rice bran… a by-product of rice milling. Though not as nutritionally complete as whole grain rice, brans are still unusually rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
Though they are both decent quality cereal grains, there’s a bigger issue to consider here.
You see, if you were to combine both ingredients, the rice would (rightfully) occupy a higher position on the list… probably nudging out one (or more) of the prior meat items.
And this could significantly alter the estimated meat content of the finished product… something to keep in mind.
Be aware… the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb.
Nutro Max Dog Food… the Bottom Line
On the surface, this Nutro Max Canned Dog Food looks to be a noticeably better product than its sibling… Nutro Max Dry.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 30% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 26%.
The nutrient gauges suggest the Nutro Max Dog Food line to be an above-average canned product… and the listed ingredients plus the absence of any critical Red Flag items both seem to support that finding.
Earning a solid four-star rating, Nutro Max Canned Dog Food is certainly worth a serious look.
Highly recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
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