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Our Verdict
NutriSource PureVita product range is made up of six recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.
This NutriSource product range is a limited-ingredient food, making it an excellent choice for dogs with stomach sensitivities or allergies. The recipes also contain nutritious produce such as dried carrots, dried blueberries, and dried cranberries, offering natural vitamins and minerals.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Single source animal protein
- Includes prebiotics and probiotics
Cons
- Higher than average price
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NutriSource PureVita Beef and Kale | 5 | A |
| NutriSource PureVita Chicken and Brown Rice | 5 | A |
| NutriSource Pure Vita Duck and Cranberry | 5 | A |
| NutriSource PureVita Salmon and Kale | 5 | A |
| NutriSource PureVita Puppy Turkey and Cranberry | 5 | A |
| NutriSource PureVita Turkey and Cranberry | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
NutriSource PureVita Chicken and Brown Rice Entrée was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
NutriSource PureVita Chicken and Brown Rice Entrée
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley, natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid), dehydrated alfalfa meal, salmon oil (preserved with tocopherols), dried tomato pomace, potassium chloride, salt, dried carrots, dried cherries, dried apricots, dried cranberries, dl methionine, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, selenium yeast), choline chloride, brewers dried yeast, vitamins (vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), dried blueberries, turmeric, inulin, pomegranate extract, garlic, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), lactic acid, yucca schidigera extract, taurine, l-carnitine, rosemary extract, yeast culture, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, and dried bacillus subtilis fermentation extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 13% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 14% | 51% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 31% | 45% |
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 meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third 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 next 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 fifth ingredient includes 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.
After the natural chicken flavor, 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.
The eighth 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 ninth ingredient is alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.
The tenth ingredient is salmon oil. Salmon oil 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, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
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 NutriSource PureVita product.
With six 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.
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 used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
In addition, this recipe includes selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Additionally, 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.
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.
And lastly, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, NutriSource PureVita Chicken and Brown Rice Entrée looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27.4%, a fat level of 15.5% and estimated carbohydrates of about 44.4%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27.8% and a mean fat level of 16.3%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 41.9% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
Which means this NutriSource PureVita product line contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, alfalfa meal and brewers yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
NutriSource Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to NutriSource through December 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of NutriSource PureVita Dog Food
NutriSource PureVita is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a generous amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
About
All NutriSource dog foods are produced in the United States. All the brand’s dry recipes are manufactured at its family-owned company facilities in Perham, Minnesota.
The company’s wet foods are produced at its own pet food cannery located in Delano, Minnesota.
Compare NutriSource PureVita Dog Food
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A Final Word
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