Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Review
Highly Recommended
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Is Nature’s Recipe a good dog food?
In this review… The Dog Food Advisor takes a critical look at Nature’s Recipe Dog Food… and its most popular sub-brands.
We’ll also reveal…
- Is Nature’s Recipe made in the United States?
- Has Nature’s Recipe been recalled?
- Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?
But first…
Which Sub-Brand Is Right for You?
Here are Nature’s Recipe’s most popular sub-brands. In the section below, we’ll share what makes each one different. So, you can choose the one that’s best for your dog.
Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free
This Nature’s Recipe sub-brand is best for those who prefer a dry kibble that’s grain free.
- Most popular sub-brand
- Contains no corn, wheat or rice
- 6 recipes (ratings vary)
Nature’s Recipe
Nature’s Recipe is for those seeking a dry dog food that’s made with grain.
- Grain-inclusive design
- Fully balanced formula
- 6 recipes (ratings vary)
Nature’s Recipe Wet Dog Food
This option is ideal for those needing a wet food made with grain.
- Contains rice, barley or other grains
- Stews or finely chopped pates
- 4 recipes (ratings vary)
Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Trays
Best for those who prefer a pre-measured, wet dog food that contains no cereal grains.
- No corn, wheat, rice or barley
- Nutrient rich, balanced formula
- 6 recipes (ratings vary)
Who Makes Nature’s Recipe Dog Food?
Nature’s Recipe is owned by Big Heart Pet Brands… a division of The J. M. Smucker Company of Orville, Ohio.
All dry foods are made in the United States. Wet recipes are made in Thailand.1
Has Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Been Recalled?
Here’s a list of all recalls since 2009 related to Nature’s Recipe dog products. Updates are added as soon as new recalls are posted.
- Nature’s Recipe Dog Treats Recall (10/13/2012)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls here.
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Is Nature’s Recipe a Good Dog Food?
Nature’s Recipe Dog Food earns The Advisor’s mid-tier rating of 3.5 stars.
Which Nature’s Recipe Original Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
The Nature’s Recipe Original product line includes the 6 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Nature’s Recipe Lamb, Barley and Brown Rice Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Nature’s Recipe Lamb, Barley and Brown Rice Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Lamb, chicken meal, brewers rice, barley, oatmeal, canola meal, rice bran, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), brown rice, turkey meal, natural flavor, salt, flaxseed, potassium chloride, taurine, DL-methionine, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), thiamine mononitrate, pantothenic acid, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement), minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, calcium iodate), choline chloride, brewers dried yeast, lactic acid, citric acid (used as a preservative), yucca schidigera extract, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is lamb. Lamb is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” lamb and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. 2
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The next ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice is a cereal grain by-product consisting of the small fragments left over after milling whole rice. Aside from the caloric energy it contains, this item is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fifth 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 sixth ingredient is canola meal,a by-product of canola oil production more typically used to make feed for farm animals and to produce biodiesel.
The eighth ingredient is poultry fat. This item is obtained from rendering, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.
However, poultry fat is a relatively generic ingredient and can be considered lower in quality than a similar item from a named source animal (like chicken fat).
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 Nature’s Recipe product.
With 5 notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
Next, we note the use 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.
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.
In addition, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.
Next, this recipe lists 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.
We also note the inclusion of sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Nutrient Summary
Based on its ingredients alone, Nature’s Recipe looks like an above-average dry kibble.
The nutrient dashboard above displays a dry matter protein reading of 24%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 53%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 25% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 54% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.
Which means this Nature’s Recipe product contains…
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Our Rating of Nature’s Recipe Dog Food
The Dog Food Advisor finds Nature’s Recipe to be an above-average dry kibble. The Original grain-inclusive recipe includes a moderate amount of lamb or poultry meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 3.5 stars. The Grain-Free recipe gets 4.5 stars.
Recommended.
What Do Others Say About Nature’s Recipe?
As of the time of this update…
Chewy customers rate Nature’s Recipe 4.7 out of 5 stars… and 99% say they would recommend it to others.
Here’s an actual user review…
Sample buyer review… “Both of my dogs absolutely love this brand and these ingredients. Daisy, a mix breed would throw up every once in a while and have stomach issues. But ever since I switched to this brand we have never had an issue. I read in the comments that a lot of people were complaining about the smell, it is salmon flavor…. so it will smell fishy ahaha also I did read that some dogs did have diarrhea. It’s probably because it contains pumpkin and sweet potato which help your dogs digestive System in the long run. Zoey, the Chihuahua would have trouble using the bathroom before switching to this brand. Both of my dogs have long hair and they’ve never had skin issues. 100% recommend. I’ve never read or experienced anything bad while using this brand. I’ve used it for more than 2 years.”
What Are Nature’s Recipe’s Best Flavors?
Based on the weighted average of their popularity and ratings, here are our 5 most recommended Nature’s Recipe flavors and recipes.
- Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Salmon, Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Dry Dog Food
- Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Chicken, Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Dry Dog Food
- Nature’s Recipe Adult Lamb Meal and Rice Dry Dog Food
- Nature’s Recipe Small Breed Grain-Free Chicken, Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Dry Dog Food
- Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Chicken in Broth Wet Dog Food
Is Nature’s Recipe a healthy dog food?
All Nature’s Recipe products meet dog food nutrient requirements established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Each is designed to be nutritionally complete and balanced for the specific life stage of a dog printed on the package.
Is Nature’s Recipe Dog Food good for puppies?
Nature’s Recipe offers 2 nutritionally balanced puppy foods. The Grain-Free Puppy recipe features chicken, sweet potato and pumpkin as its primary ingredients. The Original Puppy formula is a grain-inclusive that’s based on lamb meal, rice and barley. Each recipe meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages… and is safe for large breed puppies.
Is Nature’s Recipe dog food good for small dogs?
Nature’s Recipe produces a number of dog foods that are safe for smaller dogs. In fact, the company also offers 2 recipes specifically designed for small and toy dogs… Nature’s Recipe Small Breed Grain-Free and Nature’s Recipe Original Small Bites. Small Bites is grain-inclusive and contains rice, barley and oatmeal. Each meets AAFCO nutrient guidelines for adult maintenance. However, they are not suitable for puppies. View The Advisor’s best dog foods for small dogs here.
Is Nature’s Recipe dog food safe for seniors?
Many Nature’s Recipe formulas that contain quality protein levels and are below average in calorie and fat content can be considered safe for seniors… provided they meet AAFCO nutrient standards for adult maintenance. Nature’s Recipe Senior Lamb Meal and Rice Recipe can make a healthy option for older animals. View The Advisor’s best senior dog foods here.
More Nature’s Recipe Reviews
Here are more Nature’s Recipe dog food reviews published by The Dog Food Advisor on this website.
- Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Review (Canned)
- Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Review (Trays)
- Nature’s Recipe Grain Free Dog Food Review (Trays)
- Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
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A Final Word
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