Farmina N&D Pumpkin Dog Food Review (Dry)

Farmina N&D Pumpkin product range is made up of 18 recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.

N&D Pumpkin is a premium grain-free product line. It is nutritionally rich, high in fiber, vitamin A, and iron, and contains above-average protein levels with quality meats sourced as the top ingredient.

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

Farmina N&D Pumpkin Chicken and Pomegranate Adult Mini was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is 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 second ingredient is dehydrated chicken. Dehydrated chicken is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh chicken.

Plus (unlike chicken meal) dehydrated chicken is never exposed to high temperatures during processing, so it preserves more of the meat’s natural nutrients.

The third ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is chicken fat. This item 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 fifth 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 sixth ingredient is pork fat, a product from rendering pig meat.

Commonly known as lard, pork fat can add significant flavor to a dog food. And it can be high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.

Although it may not sound very appetizing, pork fat (in moderate amounts) is actually an acceptable pet food ingredient.

After natural flavors we find dehydrated pork. Dehydrated pork is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh pork.

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 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 Farmina product.

With nine notable exceptions.

First, we find pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

Next is herring oil, which is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

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

Next, we note the use of alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa is high in protein (18%) and fiber, it’s uncommon to see it used in dog food. This hay-family ingredient is more commonly associated with horse feeds.

In addition, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.

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 includes yeast extract, which is the common name for a broad group of products made by removing the cell wall from the yeast organism.

A significant number of these ingredients are added as specialized nutritional supplements while others are used as flavor enhancers.

However, the glutamic acid (and its chemical cousin, monosodium glutamate, or MSG) found in a minority of yeast extracts can be controversial.

That’s because even though the Food and Drug Administration designated these food additives to be safe decades ago, the agency continues to receive reports of adverse effects.

So, detractors still object to the use of yeast extract and other glutamic acid derivatives and blame them for everything from Alzheimer’s (in humans) to obesity.

In any case, since the label reveals little about the actual type of yeast extract included in any recipe, it’s impossible for us to judge the quality of this ingredient.

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.

We also note the inclusion of 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.

Fructooligosaccharides are included here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine and deliver digestive health benefits.

And lastly, this food also incorporates 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.

Nutrient Analysis

According to its ingredients alone, Farmina N&D Pumpkin Chicken and Pomegranate Adult Mini Dog Food appears to be an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 34.2%, a fat level of 20.7% and estimated carbohydrates of about 34%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 33.8% and a mean fat level of 21.3%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34.1% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 63%.

Which means this Farmina product line contains…

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical kibble.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the alfalfa meal and brewers yeast, this still looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing a significant amount of meat.

Farmina Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Farmina through February 2026.

No recalls noted.

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

Our Rating of Famina N&D Pumpkin Dry Dog Food

Farmina N&D Pumpkin dry range is certainly worthy of the 5 stars the brand has earned in our review. With its premium quality ingredients and above-average protein levels. Farmina only formulates its dog food with natural, non-GMO ingredients.

Highly Recommended

About

Francesco Russo founded the Russo Mangimi company in 1965 specializing in animal nutrition.  In 1999, the company’s focus shifted to the pet food industry with a new perspective of developing foods based on scientific studies focused on the well-being of pets.

The Mangimi company started to collaborate with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation.

Mangima manufacturing facilities are based in Europe and Farmina foods are mostly sourced from Italy.  Some ingredients are sourced from Europe and New Zealand.

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