nutrisource chicken and rice canned dog food

NutriSource Dog Food Review (Canned)

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Which NutriSource Canned Recipes GetOur Best Ratings?

NutriSource canned dog food receives the Advisors second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

The NutriSource product line includes the 6 canned 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

NutriSource Chicken and Rice All Life Stages 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.

NutriSource Chicken and Rice All Life Stages

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, whitefish, brown rice flour, barley, dried egg product, dehydrated alfalfa meal, agar-agar, salt, potassium chloride, dried cranberries, taurine, choline chloride, hydrolyzed yeast, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, dried kelp, marine microalgae oil, Yucca schidigera extract, selenium yeast, brewers dried yeast, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B3 (niacin), copper proteinate, vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate), vitamin B5 (d-calcium pantothenate), manganese proteinate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid), ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, vitamin D3 supplement

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%

Red denotes any controversial items

Ingredient 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 ten 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 addition component in many canned products.

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

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

The fifth ingredient is brown rice flour. Rice flour is made from either white or brown rice and is considered a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.

The sixth ingredient is barley, 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 seventh ingredient lists dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries from eggs that have failed to hatch.

In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

The eighth ingredient is alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), it can be less common to find it in a dog food recipe.

The ninth ingredient is agar agar, a natural vegetable gelatin derived from the cell walls of certain species of red algae. Agar is rich in fiber and is used in wet pet foods as a gelling agent.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But realistically, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this NutriSource product.

With 4 notable exceptions

First, taurine is 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.

Next, we find brewers yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although its 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 that yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim weve 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.

Whats 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.

In addition, 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.

And lastly, 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.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, NutriSource canned dog food appears to be an above-average wet product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 41%, a fat level of 25% and estimated carbohydrates of about 26%.

As a group, this brand features an average protein content of 40% and a mean fat level of 28%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 25% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 69%.

Which means this NutriSource product line contains

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other canned dog foods.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the alfalfa meal and brewers yeast, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing a notable amount of meat.

However, with 48% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 32% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for animals on a low fat diet.

Our Rating of NutriSource Canned Dog Food

NutriSource is a grain-inclusive canned dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.

Highly recommended.

Please note certain recipes are sometimes given a higher or lower rating based upon our estimate of their total meat content and (when appropriate) their fat-to-protein ratios.

Those looking for a quality kibble to go with this canned food may wish to visit our review of NutriSource dry dog food.

NutriSource Dog Food Recall History

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

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

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More NutriSource Brand Reviews

The following NutriSource dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

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