Natural Balance Health Protection Dog Food Review (Dry)

The Natural Balance Health Protection dry product range consists of five recipes, each of which has received the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 5 stars.

This Natural Balance dry range is formulated to support the overall health of your pup. With highly digestible proteins, each recipe contains brown rice and pumpkin to provide healthy fibre.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Natural Balance Health Protection Real Salmon, Brown Rice and Pumpkin Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish, not only high in protein but also in omega-3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is menhaden fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. They’re rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deepwater species.

This item is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.¹

The third 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 fourth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

The fifth ingredient is sorghum. Sorghum (milo) is a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.

Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.

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

The seventh ingredient is pearled barley. Cracked Pearled Barley is produced when the seed hull and bran is removed from barley grain. Fiber is distributed throughout the barley grain, rather than being contained within the hull meaning that Cracked Pearled Barley is still a source of fiber. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The eighth ingredient is peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The ninth ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.

From here the list goes on to include several 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 the product.

This recipe has six notable exceptions.

First, flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flaxseeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Next, chicory root. Chicory is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

This food also contains chelated minerals, which have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Next, taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.

Lastly, salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. 

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Natural Balance Health Protection Real Salmon, Brown Rice and Pumpkin Recipe looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27.7%, a fat level of 14.1% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 44.8%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 28.2% and a mean fat level of 14.6%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 43.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 52%.

This means that the Natural Balance Health Protection Dry range contains near-average protein, above-average carbohydrates, and below-average fat, when compared to typical dry dog food.

Natural Balance Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Natural Balance through December 2025.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Natural Balance Health Protection Dry Dog Food

Natural Balance Health Protection is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meat as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Highly Recommended

About

Natural Balance Pet Foods was co-founded by actor Dick Van Patten and his friend Joey Herrick in 1989. Natural Balance has changed ownership several times. It is currently owned by Nexus Capital Management.

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