where to buy nutrisource dog food

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 30, 2024

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NutriSource Dog Food Review (Dry)

By Mike Sagman

Updated: April 25, 2024

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Is NutriSource a good dog food?

In this review The Dog Food Advisor an in-depth look at NutriSource Dog Food and rates each of its most popular sub-brands.

Well also answer 3 important questions:

Is NutriSource made in the United States?
Has NutriSource been recalled?
Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?

But first

Which NutriSource sub-brand is best for your dog?

Here are NutriSources most popular sub-brands. In this section, well share what makes each different. So, you can pick the type that best meets your dogs needs.

NutriSouces original dry kibble. Each recipe is made with grain and generous amounts of animal protein, derived from both fresh meat and named meat meals.

No BHA, BHT or other high-risk preservatives
Healthy grain-inclusive formula
16 recipes (ratings vary)

View All Recipe Ratings

This NutriSource sub-brand is recommended for those who prefer a fully-balanced, grain-free dry option.

Contains no corn, wheat or rice
Offers top-rated puppy and adult options
17 recipes (ratings vary)

View All Recipe Ratings

This NutriSource sub-brand includes the companys best-selling, grain-free wet recipes.

Fully balanced, protein-rich blend
Contains no corn, rice, wheat, or barley
9 recipes (ratings vary)

View All Recipe Ratings

PureVita is NutriSources limited ingredient diet. The grain-inclusive dry formula is a good choice for dogs with possible food sensitivities.

Balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fat ratio for healthy skin and coat
Simple recipe design for gentle digestion
3 recipes (ratings vary)

View All Recipe Ratings

Who makes NutriSource and where is it made?

All NutriSource dog foods are produced in the United States. All the brands dry recipes are manufactured at its family-owned company facilities in Perham, Minnesota.

The companys wet foods are produced at its own pet food cannery located in Delano, Minnesota.

Has NutriSource Dog Food been recalled?

The following list includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to NutriSource products.

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

Review of NutriSource Dry Dog Food

NutriSource Dog Food receives the Advisors top rating of 5 stars.

The NutriSource Dog Food product line includes 16 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

NutriSource Large Breed Chicken and Rice 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 Large Breed Adult Chicken and Rice

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, natural turkey and chicken flavor, chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid), dried plain beet pulp, flax seeds, menhaden fish meal (a source of fish oil), potassium chloride, brewers dried yeast, salt, dl methionine, choline chloride, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate), selenium 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), lactic acid, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Yucca schidigera extract, taurine, l-carnitine, calcium iodate, rosemary extract, yeast culture, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Guaranteed Analysis	23%	14%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	26%	16%	51%
Calorie Weighted Basis	22%	33%	45%

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

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 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.

After the turkey and chicken flavor, we find 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 doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The eighth ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.

Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.

We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.

The ninth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve 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 tenth ingredient is menhaden fish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.¹

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 product.

With 6 notable exceptions

First, brewers yeast 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 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.

Next, 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.

In addition, we note the use of selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.

Next, this food contains dried fermentation products. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.

And lastly, we find 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.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, NutriSource Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 26%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 51%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 47% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.

Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseeds and brewers yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

Our Rating of NutriSource Dog Food

NutriSource Dry is a grain-inclusive kibble using a significant amount of named meat meals as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars. The grain-free sub-brand gets 4.5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

What Do Others Say About NutriSource?

At the time of this update

Petflow customers rate NutriSource Adult Chicken and Rice 4.8 out of 5 stars and appear to be willing to recommend the recipe to others.

Heres an actual user review

Sample buyer review My dogs have always had nutrisource and I know it is good for them. Their breeder has always used it and I recommend it to anyone that wants a healthy food for their pets
Read more buyer reviews at Petflow.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most frequently asked questions we get about feeding NutriSource Dog Food:

How to switch to NutriSource dog food without making your dog sick

In this video

Dr. Gary Richter shares a simple feeding tip that can help reduce your dogs risk of getting sick when you switch to NutriSource or any other new food.

Is NutriSource dog food good for seniors?

NutriSource offers 3 senior foods designed specifically for older dogs. One grain-inclusive dry senior formula, one grain-free dry recipe and one canned recipe. All 3 recipes meet AAFCO nutrient guidelines for adult maintenance. Each dry recipe contains fewer than 400 calories per cup. Which makes each a healthy option for older dogs. View The Advisors best senior dog foods here.

Is NutriSource Dog Food good for puppies?

NutriSource markets 6 puppy formulas, 2 of which are specifically designed for large breeds. And a number of other all life stages products that are also considered safe for puppies. The brand also offers products that are labeled adult maintenance. These should not be fed to puppies. View The Dog Food Advisors best puppy foods here.

Is NutriSource considered a healthy dog food?

Every NutriSource recipe meets 100% of the nutrient requirements published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Each is considered complete and balanced for the specific life stage indicated on the package based on standards published by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science.

More NutriSource Dog Food Reviews

Here are more NutriSource reviews published by The Dog Food Advisor on this website.

Compare NutriSource Dog Food

How does NutriSource compare with The Dog Food Advisors most recommended brands?

Compare This Dog Food

How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?

A Final Word

The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

Canidae vs. NutriSource

In this comparison article for Canidae vs NutriSource, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Canidae and NutriSource, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.

Throughout this NutriSource vs Canidae comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Canidae Review Page or NutriSource Review Page.

Guaranteed Analysis: NutriSource vs. Canidae

According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.

All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.

Canidae Dog Food vs. NutriSource Dog Food

Dry Dog Food	Canidae	NutriSource
Crude Protein	29.2%	28.9%
Crude Fat	15.2%	16.8%
Crude Fiber	5.3%	7.1%

Wet/Canned Dog Food	Canidae	NutriSource
Crude Protein	39.6%	43.4%
Crude Fat	23.7%	33.0%
Crude Fiber	7.1%	7.2%

Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food

Protein is an extremely important part of your dog's diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.

NutriSource and Canidae both provide roughly the same amount of crude protein. For wet dog foods, NutriSource typically provides a little more protein (about 3.79% more).

Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food

Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog's body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.

There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fat content of the two brands. For wet dog foods, NutriSource provides significantly more fat (about 9.37% more).

Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, NutriSource and Canidae also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.

Canidae Cat Food vs. NutriSource Cat Food

Dry Cat Food	Canidae	NutriSource
Crude Protein	36.1%	36.4%
Crude Fat	16.5%	17.9%
Crude Fiber	4.4%	7.8%

Wet/Canned Cat Food	Canidae	NutriSource
Crude Protein	48.8%	46.4%
Crude Fat	19.8%	31.4%
Crude Fiber	7.6%	5.2%

Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food

Protein is an extremely important part of your cat's diet. Without sufficient protein, cats can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.

As you can see, Canidae and NutriSource guarantee a similar amount of crude protein. For wet cat foods, Canidae typically provides a little more protein (about 2.49% more).

Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food

There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):

Fats help with the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Reduce inflammation associated with arthritis
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Prevent or reduce the likelihood of certain heart problems.
Aid in the development of the retina and visual cortex.

According to our data, NutriSource guarantees 3.41% more fiber than Canidae. Although this difference is relatively small, it's still a notable difference. In addition, Canidae wet cat foods also provide more fiber than NutriSource wet foods.

Canidae Pet Food Ingredients vs. NutriSource Pet Food Ingredients

Canidae and NutriSource both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:

Canola Oil

Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.

White Rice

White rice is produced by removing the husk, germ, and bran of rice grains. Unlike brown rice which contains the bran and germ, white rice is nutritionally empty.

Pea Protein

Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Canidae.

Iron Oxide

Iron oxide is an FDA approved natural food coloring agent. It's commonly found in rusting metal and provides a reddish-brown color.

We believe food colorants are unnecessary ingredients in pet food. Other than potential harm, food colorants do not provide any nutritional value. These type of ingredients are used only to make the food look appealing to humans.

Caramel Color

Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.

Garlic Powder

Garlic powder in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.

Powdered Cellulose

Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by NutriSource.

Garlic

Garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.

Brewers Rice

Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.

Dried Tomato Pomace

Dried tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.

We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.

Canidae and NutriSource both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."

Product Safety: Recall History of Canidae & NutriSource?

Canidae has been recalled once.

According to our records, NutriSource has never been recalled.

Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?

Dry Dog Food	Canidae	NutriSource
Per Pound	$2.94	$2.64
Per Calorie	$0.0018	$0.0015

Dry Cat Food	Canidae	NutriSource
Per Pound	$3.19	$3.25
Per Calorie	$0.0020	$0.0018

Wet Dog Food	Canidae	NutriSource
Per Pound	$5.69	$3.21
Per Calorie	$0.0117	$0.0061

Wet Cat Food	Canidae	NutriSource
Per Pound	$8.29	$6.39
Per Calorie	$0.0250	$0.0119

The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.

If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Canidae or NutriSource, input your pet's weight into our cost analyzer widget.

Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. However, the actual price that you'll pay for Canidae or NutriSource will depend on your shopping habits.

Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Canidae and NutriSource. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.

Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!

Where To Buy Canidae Pet Foods

You can purchase Canidae pet foods from the following stores:

55 Recipes In-Stock Today

43 Recipes In-Stock Today

38 Recipes In-Stock Today

Where To Buy NutriSource Pet Foods

You can purchase NutriSource pet food products from these retailers:

75 Recipes In-Stock Today

30 Recipes In-Stock Today

Type Of Pet Foods Available

Product	Canidae	NutriSource
Dry Dog Food	42 Recipes	41 Recipes
Wet Dog Food	15 Recipes	13 Recipes
Dog Treats	12 Treats	11 Treats
Dry Cat Food	13 Recipes	8 Recipes
Wet Cat Food	23 Recipes	10 Recipes
Cat Treats	None	None