Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Food Review (Wet)

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient canned dog food product range consists of 12 recipes with ratings varying from 3 to 4.5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 3 stars.

Grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes, which are limited ingredient and single animal protein for easy digestion and include specially formulated recipes for small breeds.

You will notice that one of the recipes is a vegetarian food so is unrated. This is because our review methodology favors dog foods rich in meat, and judging a plant-based diet against this criteria would always give a low rating. Studies of plant-based diets for dogs are showing some great results, as well as providing preferable options for many dogs with allergies or those wanting to choose more environmentally sustainable options.

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 Limited Ingredient Chicken and Sweet Potato 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 chicken broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.

The third ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The next ingredient includes sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

The fifth ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The sixth ingredient is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. That’s because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.

Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of omega-3 fatty acids.

In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a cat than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

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 Natural Balance product.

With two notable exceptions…

First, this food 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.

Next, taurine an essential amino acid for dogs associated with the healthy function of heart muscle and eye sight, and is crucial for maintaining good health in dogs.

We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Chicken and Sweet Potato canned dog food looks like an average wet product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 26.9%, a fat level of 17.3% and estimated carbohydrates of about 44.2%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 30% and a mean fat level of 22.9%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34.8% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 76%.

Which means this Natural Balance product line contains…

Below-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.

Excluding the Vegetarian recipe, when you consider the protein-boosting effect of potato protein contained in some recipes, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing just a moderate amount of meat.

Natural Balance Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Natural Balance through April 2026.

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

Our Rating of Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient lists both grain-inclusive and grain-free wet dog foods using a moderate amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3 stars.

However, due to their higher fat-to-protein ratios, some recipes may not be suitable for every dog.

Recommended with Reservations

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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