Nulo Frontrunner Dog Food Review (Dry)

Nulo Frontrunner product range is made up of six recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 5 stars.

This Nulo range includes recipes for adults, one for puppies and another for small breeds. Each is made with low-glycemic ancient grains (such as oats, quinoa, and brown rice) and is supplemented with probiotics and omega fatty acids, which help improve the health of the digestive system, skin, and coat.

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

Nulo Frontrunner Small Breed Ancient Grains Turkey, Whitefish, & Quinoa was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.¹

Turkey is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

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 oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.

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 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 sixth ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.

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 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.

The ninth ingredient is deboned whitefish, a marine or freshwater species native to Canada and the California coast.

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 seven notable exceptions.

First, brewers dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer-making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients. 

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Next, 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.

We also note 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  used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

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

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.

Lastly, this recipe contains 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 Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Nulo Frontrunner Small Breed Ancient Grains Turkey, Whitefish, & Quinoa looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 31.5%, a fat level of 19.2% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 38.8%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 31.4% and a mean fat level of 18.8%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 39% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 60%.

This means this Nulo Frontrunner contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and below-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 December 2025.

No recalls noted.

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

Our Rating of Nulo Frontrunner Dog Food

The Nulo Frontrunner product range is certainly worthy of the 5 stars it has earned in our review, with each recipe high in animal-based proteins.

Highly Recommended

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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