Review Summary
Nature’s Recipe is a brand of dog and cat food products that has been focusing on “all-natural” recipes before the organic fad hit the pet products scene. They market towards dog owners looking for quality ingredients in their dog’s food, with prices comparable to boutique and premium brands. Let’s take a look at what Nature’s Recipe Dry Dog Food has to offer:
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At a Glance: The Best Nature’s Recipe Dry Dog Food Recipes:
Nature’s Recipe Dry Dog Food Reviewed
About Nature’s Recipe & Big Heart Pet Brands
Nature’s Recipe was firsts launched around 35 years ago by Big Heart Pet Brands, a large U.S.-based pet products manufacturer and distributor. Big Heart is now owned by the J. M. Smucker Company, one of the biggest manufacturing companies around. Big Heart Pet Brands manufactures and sells dozens of different brands of dog and cat products, such as Gravy Train, Milo’s Kitchen, and a few other well-known brands.
While the Nature’s Recipe brand itself hasn’t faced too many issues, its manufacturer has gone through ups and downs from lawsuits and recalls. We will list their recalls later in this review. Although recalls are a reason to be concerned, many popular dog food brands have been faced with similar quality control issues.
Which Types of Dogs is Nature’s Recipe Best Suited For?
Nature’s Recipe is best for companion dogs since the protein content (around 20-22% crude protein) in their recipes is on the lower side. This brand is a good choice for owners looking to feed as close to organic as possible, with grain-free and other diet options. However, we have noticed that Nature’s Recipe can be hard to digest with dogs that have sensitive stomachs.
Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better with a Different Brand?
If you own an active or working dog, we recommend finding a dog food with higher protein content. Look for brands that have at least 22% protein content that can support your active canine.
Nature’s Recipe is hard to digest for some dogs as we’ve mentioned above, even with their own sensitive stomach formula. We recommend asking your veterinarian for recommendations of dog food if your dog struggles with stomach and digestive issues.
Recall History
- 2012: Nature’s Recipe voluntarily recalled certain batches of their dog biscuits due to possible salmonella contamination.
Read more : The Food I Eat
Note: Although Nature’s Recipe has only had one recall, Big Heart Pet Products faced a major recall for pentobarbital (lethal euthanasia) present in their other foods in 2016. Gravy Train was the biggest offender, with some cans testing positive for the toxic chemical.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
Calorie Breakdown:
Meat Meal: Great ✅
Every recipe of Nature’s Recipe dog food has some form of meat meal, with the exception of their vegetarian option. Meat meals, such as lamb meal, are excellent sources of protein that won’t reduce in size when being processed. Meat meals contain only the clean and healthy parts of the animal, so you won’t have to worry about what you’re actually feeding your dog.
Rice: Good ✅
As long as your dog can handle grains, rice is a good source of carbohydrates and protein. There was concern about grains and food-based allergies, but that doesn’t mean your dog needs a grain-free diet. Rice was once thought to be a filler ingredient to cut costs, but most dog nutritionists agree that it can be beneficial for your dog’s diet.
No Fillers: Great ✅
Trying to remain true to their name, Nature’s Recipe contains no artificial ingredients or fillers. You won’t find any wheat or corn in their recipes, while soy is only found in their vegetarian blend. Corn is the biggest concern and is often used as a cost-cutting ingredient, so it’s good to see that their recipes don’t contain it.
No Whole Meats/Low Protein Content: Potential Issue
Except for their Prime Blends recipes, Nature’s Recipe doesn’t contain any whole meats. Meat meals technically have more protein, but whole meats are still vital for complete nutrition. A lack of whole meat is a sign of low protein content, so keep that in mind when shopping for your dog’s diet. For dogs that need more protein, we recommend trying other dog food brands.
Reviews of The 2 Best Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Recipes
1. Nature’s Recipe Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Dog Food
Nature’s Recipe Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food is a dry dog kibble designed to give dogs an all-natural diet. This recipe doesn’t contain any fillers or artificial ingredients, so you won’t have to worry about corn, wheat, or soy in your dog’s food. It’s also fortified with essential vitamins and minerals that your dog needs on a daily basis, which is important for your dog’s health and wellbeing. However, this dog food contains no whole meats, so protein content may be an issue with this brand. Another issue is that it may be hard to digest for some dogs, so you might have to skip this brand if your dog has a sensitive stomach.
2. Nature’s Recipe Easy-To-Digest Recipe
Nature’s Recipe Easy-to-Digest Recipe Dry Dog Food is a special recipe of dry kibble made for dogs that can’t easily digest their original blends. It’s made with the chicken meal as the first ingredient, a crucial source of protein needed for your dog’s dietary needs. Sticking only to all-natural ingredients, it contains no filler ingredients like corn, wheat, and soy. It’s also made with a specialized fiber blend to aid in digestion, promoting a healthy stomach and digestive function. However, it contains chicken, which can be a potential allergen in some dogs. Another issue is the lack of whole meats, which alludes to low protein content.
What Other Users Are Saying
Nature’s Recipe has been around long enough to have been reviewed by customers and professionals alike. Here are some of the things being said:
HerePup – “…above average kibble that is healthy and doesn’t have many unnecessary ingredients.”
Dog Food Guru – “Nature’s Recipe has many different formulas, and you can probably find one perfectly suited to your dog’s size, age, and special needs.”
Amazon – As pet owners, we always double-check with Amazon reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read these by clicking here.
Conclusion
Nature’s Recipe is slightly above-average in quality and nutrition, though the lower protein content can be a potential concern. Nature’s Recipe can be ideal for household companions, but athletic and active canines will require more nutrients and protein to support their activity levels. If your dog doesn’t have digestive issues, this brand may be a good all-natural option to look into. In other words, it can be a good dog food option, but we think there are other brands that would suit your dog better.
- See also: Gravy Train Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Recipe
