Company HQ
- San Francisco, California
Parent company
Sourcing and Manufacturing
- United States
Type of food
PROS
- Affordable
- Natural Balance makes a diverse range of foods for various ages, sizes, and lifestyles
- All recipes are free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Wide selection of limited ingredient and food sensitivity formulas
- Grain-inclusive and grain-free options
- Novel proteins like bison, venison and duck
- Never uses artificial preservatives or flavors
- Human-grade ingredients
- Manufactured in the United States
CONS
- Some recipes contain plant-based protein
- Lower than average protein content
- The brand has been previously recalled
- Higher cost than some competitor brands
- Variability in quality between product lines
- Some formulas have high fiber content
- Few options for large breed puppies
- Contains some fillers like garbanzo beans and peas
Natural Balance Dog Food Review
Natural Balance is a popular brand of dog food that promotes overall health and wellness for dogs through high-quality ingredients and nutrient-rich recipes. In this review, we’ll take a close look at Natural Balance’s history, manufacturing, ingredients, and most popular formulas to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your pup.
Overview of Natural Balance Dog Food
First, let’s start with some background on the Natural Balance brand.
Company History
Natural Balance was founded in 1989 by Dick Van Patten and his business partner. Van Patten was driven to create Natural Balance as he wanted nutritious, wholesome pet food options after seeing his own dogs struggle with constant itching and scratching from generic dog food.
The brand has been dedicated to using premium proteins, minimally processed grains, and no artificial flavors or preservatives since its inception. Today, Natural Balance is owned by the J.M. Smucker Company but still produces its pet food formulas in the United States.
Manufacturing and Sourcing
All Natural Balance formulas are made in company-owned manufacturing facilities in California and Tennessee or at their partner facilities in Kansas. Raw ingredients and materials used in Natural Balance products primarily come from North America.
Natural Balance ensures quality control with rigorous testing protocols. All finished products must meet nutritional standards and pass multiple safety tests before being released.
Product Lines
Natural Balance offers an assortment of product lines for dogs in all life stages. This includes grain-free limited ingredient diets, exotic/alternative proteins, and breed-specific recipes.
Some of the most popular Natural Balance dog food formulas include:
- Limited Ingredient Diets
- Original Ultra Whole Body Health
- Vegetarian/Vegan recipes
- Alpha-Grain Free formulas for small breeds
- Wild Pursuit recipes with exotic meats
Now let’s review some of Natural Balance’s stand-out dog food formulas in greater detail.
Review of Key Natural Balance Dog Foods
Here’s an overview of some of Natural Balance’s unique and highly-rated recipes:
Limited Ingredient Diets
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets are great for dogs with food sensitivities. With a single animal protein and easily digestible carbs, these formulas minimize ingredients that may trigger allergies or upset stomachs.
Options include Duck & Potato, Venison & Sweet Potato, Salmon & Sweet Potato, and Bison & Brown Rice formulas. These grain-inclusive and grain-free recipes provide complete balanced nutrition for adult dogs.
Grain-Free Formulas
For dogs that do better on grain-free food, Natural Balance offers nutritious recipes like:
- Alpha-Grain Free Chicken & Sweet Potato
- Wild Pursuit Turkey, Duck Meal & Quail
- L.I.D. Potato & Duck Formula
These grain-free varieties substitute highly digestible carbohydrates like chickpeas, peas or sweet potatoes for grains. They provide great taste and energy with potato, quail, turkey and other unique proteins.
Vegetarian Formulas
Natural Balance Vegetarian formulas are a good choice for dogs with sensitivities to common meat proteins. These recipes get plant-based protein from healthy sources like garbanzo beans, peas and potatoes.
The fat content and calories still come from animal sources. So dogs get balanced omegas from chicken fat and ample calcium from eggshells.
Conclusion
Natural Balance offers a lot of variety when it comes to high-quality, allergy-friendly dog food. Their strict manufacturing standards and careful ingredient sourcing set them apart from many brands. Natural Balance isn’t the cheapest option, but provides nutritious and tasty recipes tailored for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies. Check with your veterinarian to see if a Natural Balance formula may be a good match for your dog.
Brand Overview
Natural Balance formulates premium pet food and treats. The company offers a wide range of products for dogs and cats including wet and dry food in a variety of flavors. A few Natural Balance recipes are grain free.
How Much Does Natural Balance Dog Food Cost
We’ve compared Natural Balance dog food price to the other dog food brands in our database.
Natural Balance Dry Dog Food Price Comparison
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per lb | $3.68 | $3.69 | -0% |
| Price per 100 kcal | $0.22 | $0.34 | -35% |
| Price per day | $0.13 | $0.20 | -35% |
Natural Balance Dry Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog foods.
Natural Balance Dry Puppy Food Price Comparison
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per lb | $3.91 | $3.83 | +2% |
| Price per 100 kcal | $0.25 | $0.23 | +6% |
| Price per day | $0.15 | $0.14 | +7% |
Natural Balance Dry Puppy Food is priced above the average market price for dog foods.
Natural Balance Wet Dog Food Price Comparison
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per oz | $0.41 | $0.41 | 0% |
| Price per 100 kcal | $1.29 | $1.52 | -15% |
| Price per day | $0.77 | $0.91 | -15% |
Natural Balance Wet Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.
Natural Balance Wet Puppy Food Price Comparison
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per oz | $0.16 | $0.31 | -48% |
| Price per 100 kcal | $0.42 | $1.01 | -58% |
| Price per day | $0.25 | $0.61 | -59% |
Natural Balance Wet Puppy Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.
Natural Balance Freeze-Dried Dog Food Price Comparison
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per oz | $1.97 | $2.62 | -25% |
| Price per 100 kcal | $1.54 | $1.83 | -16% |
| Price per day | $0.93 | $1.10 | -15% |
Natural Balance Freeze-Dried Dog Food is priced below the average market price for dog food.
Natural Balance Nutrient Profile Comparison
We’ve compared Natural Balance dog food recipes nutrient profile to the other dog food brands in our database.
Dry Dog Food
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM Protein | 27.53% | 30.01% | -8% |
| DM Fat | 13.63% | 15.86% | -14% |
| DM Fiber | 5.11% | 5.48% | -7% |
| DM Carb | 53.74% | 47.73% | +13% |
Dry Puppy Food
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM Protein | 26.95% | 32.35% | -17% |
| DM Fat | 13.47% | 17.94% | -25% |
| DM Fiber | 4.72% | 4.66% | +1% |
| DM Carb | 54.86% | 44.25% | +24% |
Wet Dog Food
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM Protein | 38.87% | 42.98% | -10% |
| DM Fat | 20.21% | 22.28% | -9% |
| DM Fiber | 8.07% | 7.39% | +9% |
| DM Carb | 32.85% | 26.26% | +25% |
Wet Puppy Food
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM Protein | 43.18% | 42.84% | +1% |
| DM Fat | 36.36% | 27.27% | +33% |
| DM Fiber | 6.82% | 7.01% | -3% |
| DM Carb | 13.64% | 22.55% | -40% |
Freeze-Dried Dog Food
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM Protein | 32.61% | 44.10% | -26% |
| DM Fat | 30.43% | 26.39% | +15% |
| DM Fiber | 5.43% | 4.66% | +17% |
| DM Carb | 31.52% | 24.57% | +28% |
Recall History
The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Natural Balance Dog Food Review since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.
Natural Balance – Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food (06/18/2010) Read FDA report.
Natural Balance – Dog Food (05/04/2012) Read FDA report.
Natural Balance – Ultra Premium Chicken & Liver Paté Formula (07/03/2020) Read FDA report.
Natural Balance – L.I.D. Green Pea & Chicken Dry Cat Formula (05/20/2021) Read FDA report.
FAQs
Is Natural Balance grain-free dog food good?
Natural Balance has several excellent grain-free formulas that are highly rated, like the Alpha Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato. These grain-free options provide balanced nutrition without corn, wheat or soy.
Where is Natural Balance dog food made?
All Natural Balance dog food is made in U.S.-based facilities in California, Tennessee, Kansas or their own factories. This allows for strict quality control and testing during manufacturing.
Is Natural Balance Limited Ingredient good for allergies?
Yes, the Limited Ingredient Diets are great for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. Limiting the diet to one novel protein and easily digestible grain or carb can help identify triggers.
Is Natural Balance vegetarian good for dogs?
The Natural Balance Vegetarian diet is a healthy option for dogs intolerant to animal proteins like chicken or beef. These plant-based formulas still provide balanced omegas, vitamins and minerals.
What is the best Natural Balance dog food?
Some top Natural Balance formulas are the Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato, Alpha Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato, and Vegetarian Potato & Chickpea recipes. Check your dog’s needs and consult your veterinarian.
