Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated product range consists of six recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 5 stars.
MedalSeries Baked & Coated are rich in protein, probiotics, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and are gently oven-baked to lock in nutrients and coated in savoury bone broth.
Pros
- Low glycemic ingredients
- Quality protein sources
- Contains probiotics
- 80-90% of the protein in MedalSeries diets for dogs comes from animal sources
Cons
- Not budget-friendly
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.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Small Breed Chicken, Duck, and Turkey | 5 | A |
| Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Puppy Turkey, Chicken, and Duck | 5 | G |
| Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Large Breed Whitefish, Chicken and Turkey | 5 | M |
| Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Large Breed Chicken, Duck and Turkey | 5 | M |
| Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Adult Chicken, Duck and Turkey | 5 | M |
| Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Adult Beef, Pork and Lamb | 5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Large Breed Whitefish, Chicken and Turkey was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Large Breed Whitefish, Chicken and Turkey
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned whitefish, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, deboned chicken, chickpeas, lentils, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid), turkey meal, deboned turkey, natural flavor, ground miscanthus grass, chicken bone broth, ground flaxseed, yeast culture, potassium chloride, dried pumpkin, dried carrots, salt, choline chloride, dl-methionine, dried blueberries, dried apples, salmon oil, coconut oil, dried chicory root, taurine, l-carnitine, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, calcium carbonate, vitamin E supplement, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), selenium yeast, turmeric, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, calcium iodate, folic acid, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 30% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 33% | 16% | 43% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 29% | 33% | 38% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is deboned whitefish, a marine or freshwater species native to Canada and the California coast.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient 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.
The fourth ingredient is deboned 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 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The next two ingredients are chickpeas and lentils. Like peas and beans, chickpeas and lentils are a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.
However, they contain 22%-25% protein, a factor that must be considered when evaluating the actual meat content of this dog food.
The seventh ingredient is 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
The ninth ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.2
Turkey is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
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 the product.
This recipe has 10 notable exceptions.
First, 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.
Next 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.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
We also find 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 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.
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
This recipe also contains selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Next coconut oil, a natural oil rich in medium-chain fatty acids.
Medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to improve cognitive function in older dogs. Because of its proven safety as well as its potential to help in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and chronic skin disorders, MCT can be considered a positive addition to this recipe.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are included within dog food as a joint support. They regulate the synthesis of collagen in cartilage and may provide mild anti-inflammatory effects, they may also contribute to the creating cartilage building blocks (glycoaminoglycans and proteoglycans).
However, despite some evidence that a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulphate nutraceuticals improves symptoms associated with joint disease in dogs and cats, strong clinical evidence of efficacy is lacking, and these compounds are understudied (Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine, 2010).
In summary, although further research is needed to confirm the effect of glucosamine and chondroitin in dog foods, we see the addition of them in this product as a positive addition.
Also, 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.
We view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Large Breed Whitefish, Chicken and Turkey looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 34.4%, a fat level of 16.9% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 35.7%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 34.2% and a mean fat level of 18.2%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 54%.
This means this Nulo product line contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrate and above-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
Nulo Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Nulo through January 2026.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Nulo MedalSeries Baked & Coated Dry Dog Food
This product range definitely deserves the 5 stars it has received in our review. Nulo provides an exceptional amount of high-quality food packed with high-quality protein and nutrients.
About
Nulo Pet Food was founded in 2010 by Michael Landa, who was concerned about what he was feeding his black lab, Max. He started what ultimately became the largest pet-care company in California.
The headquarters is located in Austin, Texas, USA. Facilities: Nulo’s manufacturing partners are situated in Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, and Georgia, USA.
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