NutriSource Dog Food Review

If NutriSource pet foods have caught your attention and you’re considering giving them a try, take a look at our buying guide first. Here, you can read about the history of the company, the ingredients they typically use in their recipes, and our opinion about the quality of their formulations. So, whether you’re interested in NutriSource puppy food reviews, adult formulas or grain-free recipes, read on!

According to their website, NutriSource is a family owned company located in Perham, Minnesota. Made by KNL Family Brands, specifically Tuffy’s Pet Foods, it was established in 1964. This year marks 55th year of their operation, making them one of the oldest pet food brands on the market. Being located in Minnesota, the company sources their ingredients locally, purchasing from trustworthy suppliers. They underline the importance of supporting family-owned businesses – although they already work only with suppliers that produce foods ethically, they give preferential treatment to those still owned and operated by their families.

While being a smaller, family-owned business has its advantages (among other things, consumers seem to prefer these types of pet food brands), the price is usually paid in popularity, or to be more precise, in the lack of popularity. Based on our research, NutriSource really do use locally grown and sourced, quality ingredients in their pet recipes. Still, they’re nowhere near as popular bigger companies such as Purina, Pedigree or Merrick. This is unfortunate, as all recipes we reviewed are nutritious, healthy and highly palatable – something many pet parents spend years looking for. Nevertheless, with more than 50 years of experience in making pet foods, NutriSource have made a reputable name for themselves, which is reflected in their loyal buyers. Usually, when dog owners find a food that is just right in all important departments, including nutritional value, taste and price, they stick to it, and NutriSource consumers are no different. If you’ve never tried this brand of pet food, we highly encourage you to do so – it’s likely both you and your dog will never look back!

If you’re looking for corn, wheat and soy free dog foods that are high in protein and healthy fats but relatively low in carbohydrates, NutriSource could be the pet food for you. All of their recipes, whether they’re formulated for puppies, large breed adults or seniors, contain wholesome ingredients. This includes quality proteins, whole grains, vegetables and legumes. But most importantly, all of their pet foods are formulated to meet or exceed nutritional standards set by the AAFCO. This means that no matter which recipe you choose, you’re guaranteed to purchase food that provides complete and balanced nutrition, meaning enough protein, fat,  carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals needed for canine health.

Another plus of the NutriSource brand is their wide selection of pet foods.  From breed-specific formulas, to different life-stage dog foods, to grain-free recipes, this company has pretty much every pet-related concern covered. From a consumer’s point of view, this is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because no matter the food you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it here, but a curse because if you don’t know exactly what your dog needs, a big number of options can be confusing. Saying that, it’s always better to have many choices available because even if you find a food your pet loves the most, rotational feeding is still recommended.

Finally, let’s talk about the price. While definitely not the cheapest brand around, NutriSource is reasonably priced. Considering all of their recipes feature quality meat or fish as the first ingredient, legumes, vegetables and seeds (depending on the recipe), all the necessary vitamins and minerals, plus several supplements that the AAFCO doesn’t recognize as essential, their prices are sensible. It also helps they don’t use any fillers – no matter the recipe, you’ll never find wheat, corn or soy here. Not that there is anything wrong with these ingredients when used in small amounts in well-balanced formulas, but if you’re going to pay a decent price for pet food, it better not contain any of these non-essential ingredients. Because they avoid unnecessary ingredients, many of NutriSource grain-free formulas are suitable even for sensitive dogs.

Related Post: Dog Foods for Sensitive Stomachs 

Although we looked for NutriSource dog food recalls for a good couple of hours, we weren’t able to find any. This is rather surprising considering the company has been in the business for decades. So what does this tell us? First and foremost, that they’re very serious about their sourcing practices. As mentioned, the company buys only from local, trustworthy, and preferably still family-owned and operated suppliers. Secondly, they own a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Their website states that they’re rigorous when it comes to raw materials that enter their facility – every single raw ingredient is tested for bad pathogens before entering. Even the air that touches the raw materials is segregated from finished products so it doesn’t touch them!

For now, NutriSource appears to be a great pet food brand that produces a variety of quality dog foods. However, until we take a closer look at the ingredients they use in their recipes, we can’t know for sure, can we? Checking what kind of protein, fat and carbohydrate sources they typically use in their formulas can tell us whether or not their prices really match the quality of their products. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into NutriSource dog food ingredients!

• Protein

NutriSource typically makes their dog foods using real chicken or lamb as the first ingredient. No matter the recipe, there is an average or above average amount of protein, which is around 25%. Saying that, there are quite a few formulas that actually go above 30% of protein, which is ideal for healthy, adult dogs who are moderately to highly active. Things you’ll normally see in NutriSource recipes, are chicken and chicken meal, lamb and lamb meal, menhaden fish meal and other meats and fish, including beef, salmon and turkey.

Related Post: High Protein Dog Food

• Fats

Although most NutriSource recipes contain an average amount of fats, which is around 15%, many formulations contain much more than that. While some pet parents may reflexively think this is unhealthy, it’s not – at least for active dogs and those with skin and coat issues. Importantly, the company uses healthy fat sources, including chicken fat, sunflower oil and fatty fish. But perhaps most importantly, the company manages to provide an almost ideal ratio of omega fatty acids. Specifically, omega-3 fatty acids are present in high amounts - normally, omega-3s are actually hard to find in sufficient amounts in typical, budget-friendly dog foods. For instance, their Small and Medium Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food recipe contains 1% of omega-3 fatty acids and 3.9% of omega-6 fatty acids, which a near-ideal ratio. Bottom line? Their food is a great choice if your pet is moderately to highly active. However, if you own a pet that mostly leads a sedentary lifestyle, we'd suggest to look someplace else.

Related Post: Fish Oils For Dogs

• Carbohydrates

NutriSource state that most of their foods are low glycemic, meaning they’re slow to digest and as such, don’t spike blood sugar. This is mostly thanks to the carbohydrate sources they use in their recipes. Typically, you’ll see a couple of whole grains (unless grain-free, of course), including brown rice and oats, and a few easily-digestible legumes, vegetables and plants. The usual ingredients include flaxseed, dried tomato pomace, white rice, dried beet pulp and a few others. All in all, a nice mixture of nutritious carbs that are high in vitamins and minerals and relatively high in fiber. Another interesting bit is that they stay away from corn, wheat, soy and often potatoes. This is a huge plus for pet parents of dogs predisposed to diabetes.

• Micronutrients

All NutriSource dog foods meet or exceed the nutritional requirements set by the AAFCO. This means that every recipe contains all essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants needed for canine health and well-being. Furthermore, the company also includes supplements not deemed as necessary by the nutritional authorities, including probiotics for better digestion and nutrient absorption, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate for better joint health and Taurine for heart support.

Pros

• Animal protein source is always the first ingredient
• Typically average to high levels of protein, plus properly named animal proteins
• Local and ethical sourcing of meats
• Wholesome, low-glycemic ingredients, including legumes, vegetables and grains
• All recipes meet or exceed AAFCO nutritional standards
• Added supplements such as Glucosamine and probiotics are included
• A variety of different formulations
• No corn, wheat or soy

Cons

• Difficult to find in mega pet stores
• One of the pricier dog foods