Natural Balance Dog Food Reviews, Coupons and Recalls 2024

Kate Barrington

Researched & Written by

Kate Barrington


At Pawster, we are committed to presenting the most accurate and up-to-date information to assist you in your pet care journey. When appropriate, we consult licensed and practicing veterinarians to fact-check our professionally written articles.

The Natural Balance pet food company was founded all the way back in 1989 and has since then made a name for itself as a premium-quality pet food brand. As the name of the company suggests, they strive to provide wholesome, natural recipes for pets that not only meet, but exceed their nutritional needs. If you visit the brand website you will find that they provide a good deal of information about the quality and sourcing of their ingredients. In fact, they state that they, “dedicate [themselves] to making sure your pet gets the very best nutrition” – that is why they craft their formulas with great attention to detail, using only the finest quality ingredients available such as premium animal proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables.

The brand claims that they use only the tastiest and most nutritious ingredient in their formulas and they provide examples like garbanzo beans, whole grains, sweet potatoes, venison, lamb, duck, salmon, flaxseeds, and more. In the same way that they tell customers what ingredients they will find in their products, they also tell them about which products they WON’T find. This includes corn, wheat, and soy ingredients which are common triggers for food allergies in dogs. Their products are also free from refined grains, by-product meals, artificial flavors, and chemical preservatives. Simply put, when you feed your dog this pet food you can feel good that you are giving him the healthy ingredients he needs and nothing he doesn’t.

Not only do they assure their customers of the quality of their ingredients, but they also follow the strictest standards for safety and quality in the production and manufacture of their goods. Every recipe goes through rigorous safety testing. In fact, this brand offers the Buy With Confidence program which enables customers to look up the lab results for specific bags of dog food. They offer a wide variety of different dog food products in several different forms but you can count on each and every one of them to offer premium quality nutrition. The company takes seriously the task of providing safe, nutritious foods for pets so you can feel good about feeding your dog any one of their food recipes.

You may like to Read about Best Low Residue Dog Food

Natural Balance Recalls 2024:

The pet food company website states that the brand uses premium quality ingredients and that all of their products go through rigorous safety testing. In fact, they offer the “Buy With Confidence” program which allows customers to look up safety testing information for the specific bag of food they have purchased. They also offer a complete satisfaction guarantee to their customers or they will receive a full refund. As much as the company talks about the quality of their ingredients and the safety of their manufacturing processes, the brand has still been affected by numerous recalls in recent years. Here is a list of recalls for the brand:

  • In March 2007, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued a report that led to a recall of numerous dry foods, canned foods, and treats due to melamine contamination.
  • In July 2007, the FDA issued a recall for certain varieties of Eatables canned food due to potential for botulinum contamination.
  • In June 2010, the FDA issued a recall for bags of Sweet Potato & Chicken dry food due to potential salmonella contamination.
  • In May 2012, the FDA issued a recall for a variety of dry pet foods due to potential salmonella contamination.

Also Read: 9 Best Foods to Feed an Adult and Puppy Labradoodle

Natural Balance Dog Food Coupons 2024

When it comes to shopping for this brand of pet food products, you should be prepared to pay a little bit more than you would for the standard kibble. They use all-natural ingredients in their products which means that they will be a little more expensive. A 30-pound bag of Original Ultra dry food costs about $55 while a 28-pound bag of Limited Ingredient Diet food costs about the same. Their canned food products come in 13-ounce cans which sell for between $2.50 and $3.00 each or in 8-ounce tubs which cost up to $3.75 each. You can also purchase 3.5-pound rolls of fresh food formulas for about $14 each. To help offset the cost of these products, be sure to look for pet food coupons online.

Natural Balance Reviews

They offer a wide variety of food products divided over several product types and categories. Not only do they offer traditional dry food formulas and canned recipes, but they also offer tubs of wet food, rolls of fresh food, and an assortment of treats. The Brands food products are available in original, grain-free, and high-protein recipes as well as limited ingredient diets, healthy weight formulas, vegetarian options, and recipes to support healthy digestion. The Original Ultra line of food products takes a holistic approach to dog nutrition, incorporating ingredients designed to support the whole-body health and wellness of dogs in all life stages. The Wild Pursuit line of products is high-protein and grain-free, made with freeze-dried raw pieces mixed in with the kibble. The L.I.D. line of products includes an assortment of limited ingredient diets made with a select number of premium protein and carbohydrates for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Is Natural Balance Good for my Dog?

If you review the Brands website, you will find that this company is very transparent about the quality of their ingredients and the safety of their products. They provide a detailed list of the products they use in their formulas as well as a list of things they DON’T use – things like corn, wheat, soy, by-product meals, and artificial additives. Furthermore, the company provides a great deal of information about the rigorous safety testing each and every recipe is subject to. They even allow their customers to look up the lab testing results for the specific bag of pet food they have purchased. Although they have been affected by several recalls in recent years, the company has stepped up its game when it comes to safety and quality in their manufacturing processes. Overall, this is a high-quality pet food that your dog would be lucky to receive.

Natural Balance Dry: When it comes to their dry food offerings, this brand offers a wide variety of options in several different product lines. The Fat Dogs Low-Calorie line is designed for dogs that need to lose weight and the LID Limited Ingredient Diet line is for dogs that have food sensitivities or allergies. The Ultra Premium line of products features complete and balanced nutrition for dogs in different life stages, all made with quality ingredients. The Wild Pursuit line of products is inspired by the diet of wild wolves and it is made with three premium protein sources as well as freeze-dried raw pieces for a boost of nutrition and natural flavor. There is also a vegetarian food product. Here is a list of their dry food recipes:

Fat Dogs Low-Calorie Dry Food:

  • Fat Dogs Low-Calorie Dry Formula

LID Limited Ingredient Diets:

  • Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula
  • Lamb & Brown Rice Puppy Formula
  • Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Large Breed Bites
  • Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites
  • Legume & Duck Meal Formula
  • Legume & Wagyu Beef Formula
  • Potato & Duck Formula
  • Potato & Duck Puppy Formula
  • Potato & Duck Small Breed Bites
  • Sweet Potato & Venison Formula
  • Sweet Potato & Bison Formula
  • Sweet Potato & Chicken Formula
  • Sweet Potato & Chicken Small Breed Bites
  • Sweet Potato & Fish Formula
  • Sweet Potato & Fish Small Breed Bites

Original Ultra/Ultra Premium:

  • Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Brown Rice & Duck Meal
  • Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal & Duck Meal Puppy
  • Original Ultra Whole Body Health Venison, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal Formula
  • Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal, Duck Meal, Small Breed Bites
  • Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Brown Rice, Duck Meal Large Breed Bites
  • Reduced Calorie Dry Dog Formula
  • Synergy Dry Dog Formula

Wild Pursuit:

  • Beef & Lamb Meal Formula
  • Chicken, Turkey Meal & Quail Formula
  • Trout, Salmon Meal & Tuna Formula

Vegetarian Dry:

  • Vegetarian Dry Dog Formula

Natural Balance Canned: In addition to a wide variety of dry food options, they also offer a selection of canned and wet food entrees. For traditional canned food options, the brand offers several recipes from each of the following lines: LID Limited Ingredient Diets, Original Ultra Whole Body Health, and Wild Pursuit. There are also tubs of wet food available from the LID line and the Delectable Delights line of flavorful stews. Here is a list of wet food recipes:

Limited Ingredient Diets Recipes:

  • Chicken & Sweet Potato in Broth
  • White Fish & Sweet Potato in Broth
  • Buffalo & Sweet Potato Canned
  • Chicken & Sweet Potato Canned
  • Duck & Potato Canned
  • Lamb & Brown Rice Canned
  • Sweet Potato & Fish Canned
  • Venison & Sweet Potato Canned
  • Wild Boar & Brown Rice Canned
  • Chicken, Salmon & Duck Canned

Original Ultra Whole Body Health Recipes:

  • Reduced Calorie Chicken, Salmon & Duck
  • Chicken, Duck & Brown Rice Puppy
  • Venison, Turkey & Lamb
  • Ultra Premium Beef Canned
  • Ultra Premium Chicken Canned
  • Ultra Premium Lamb Canned
  • Vegetarian Canned

Wild Pursuit Canned Recipes:

  • Beef, Buffalo & Venison
  • Chicken, Turkey & Quail

Delectable Delights Recipes:

  • Fish N’ Chicks Wet Cups
  • Duck’en-itas Wet Cups
  • Woof’erole Wet Cups
  • Surf N’ Turf Wet Cups
  • Bowl ‘O Barkgundy Stew
  • ChopLick’n Stew
  • Chow-Down Chowder Stew
  • Fetchin Catchin’s Stew
  • Gobbler Cobbler Stew
  • Pawpaya Pilaf Stew

Natural Balance Rolls: If you want high-quality nutrition for your dog that hasn’t been cooked or processed, their food rolls may be the right choice for you. These rolls come in four different recipes and you can serve them however you like – sliced, chopped, or grated. The four flavor options are: Beef, Chicken, Duck & Turkey, and Lamb & Chicken.

Natural Balance Dog Treats: If you are looking for a healthy, tasty snack for your dog then you should consider their dog treats. These treats are full of natural flavor and nutritious ingredients and they come in the following product lines:

  • Belly Bites Semi-Moist Treats
  • Delectable Delights Meatballs
  • Delectable Delights Sausage Slices
  • Delectable Delights Tender Cuts
  • Dental Chews
  • LIT Limited Ingredient Treats
  • LIT Hip & Joint Jerky
  • LIT Immunity Support Jerky
  • LIT Jerky Bark
  • LIT Jumpin Stix
  • Mini Rewards Treats

Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal, Duck Meal Dry Review:

This Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal, Duck Meal Dry Food formula is designed for all breeds and all life stages. According to the their website, this recipe “nourishes your dog’s complete well-being taking an entire body approach”. Made with fresh, natural ingredients, this recipe is designed to not just meet, but exceed your dog’s nutritional requirements in a fresh and flavorful way. This diet is gluten-free and made with an optimal balance of premium proteins and other key nutrients to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. As an added bonus, it is free from artificial additives like colors, flavors, and preservatives.

The first ingredient in this dry food recipe is chicken. Chicken is a high-quality source of animal protein and an excellent ingredient to see in a dry food recipe. One thing you need to know, however, is that fresh meats like chicken contain up to 80% moisture by volume and once the total product is cooked, the actual volume will be much lower. Fortunately, this recipe also includes chicken meal – chicken meal has been cooked to remove moisture already which makes it a highly concentrated source of animal protein. It also doesn’t hurt that this recipe includes several supplementary sources of protein including duck meal and salmon meal. All of these meat meals combined with the fresh chicken speak to the high protein content of this recipe.

After the chicken comes brown rice and oats – two naturally grain-free carbohydrates. Both of these carbohydrates are considered to be highly digestible for dogs, especially when properly cooked, and they provide dietary fiber as well as key vitamins and minerals. Potatoes serve as a supplementary source of grain-free carbohydrate, as does brewers rice. The problem with brewers rice is that it is a byproduct of the rice milling process and it consists of tiny fragments of milled rice which contain very little nutritional value. This ingredient may be used as a filler or it could simply be an additional source of dietary fiber for your dog. Another potentially controversial ingredient is tomato pomace – this recipe also contains pea fiber and oat fiber. With all of these fiber sources, you might expect the fiber content of the Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal, Duck Meal Dry Food formula to be very high but the guaranteed analysis only lists it at 3%.

The remaining ingredients in this recipe consist primarily of fats, dried fruits and vegetables, extracts, and supplements. The primary source of fat in this recipe is chicken fat which, though it may not sound appetizing to you, is a highly concentrated source of energy for dogs. Supplementary fat sources include flaxseeds and menhaden oil – these combine with the chicken fat to provide a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The dried fruits and vegetables included in this recipe serve as natural sources for key nutrients (including antioxidants) and they provide some fiber as well. Many of the mineral supplements in this recipe are chelated which is a very good thing. Chelated minerals have been chemically bound to protein molecules, making them easier for your dog’s body to digest and absorb. One thing this recipe is missing is dried fermentation products for probiotic support.

Overall, this Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal, Duck Meal Dry Food formula has a guaranteed analysis as follows:

  • Crude Protein (Min) – 23%
  • Crude Fat (Min) – 13%
  • Crude Fiber (Max) – 3%
  • Moisture (Max) – 10%
  • Calcium (Min) – 1.2%
  • Phosphorus (Min) – 1.0%
  • Vitamin E (Min) – 10 IU/kg
  • Ascorbic Acid (Min) – 200 mg/kg
  • Taurine (Min) – 0.05%
  • Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Min) – 2.5%
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Min) – 0.4%
  • Calorie Content – 3 kcal/cup

Bottom Line:

Overall, Natural Balance can be considered a high-quality pet food brand that provides a wide selection of different products. While their recipes are divided over a number of different product lines, they are all made with premium quality ingredients and they are manufactured according to the strictest standards for quality and safety. The Company is so confidence in the quality of their products that they allow customers to look up lab test results for individual bags of dog food. Whether your dog needs a high-energy formula or a limited ingredient diet, you can count on them to have a number of different recipes for you to choose from. No matter which recipe you choose, however, you can feel good knowing that your dog is getting the natural, wholesome nutrition he deserves and the flavor he craves.

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8 Comments

  1. My German Shepherd is 5 years old. He has eaten your Sweet Potato and fish formula dry dog food for 3 years with never a problem. We put him on it after finding he had an allergy to chicken.
    I purchased a new bag at my local Petco.
    After one feeding from the NEW bag, he threw it all up and would not touch it on his next feeding. I had some dry food of the old bag left which he chowed down with no problem. I am returning the NEW bag.
    Are there any recalls on this product that have not been announced as of yet?
    Production code:
    BEST IF USED BY: AUG. 31 2019
    7 187 094 7 187 094 01 07:12

  2. I recently purchased canned Duck and Potato expiring in 2020 after using for years. Both dogs would not finish eating it. On examination, it was getting darker in color in a short amount of time. I thought it was a new recipe. Thankfully only one ate half and is now at the vet with severe diarrhea and vomiting. My dogs do not get table food period. She is a Yorkie but never had pancreatitis in the 5 years I have had her and she is almost 9. Both dogs still refused that can. I opened up a different case of the same flavor and it looked like it normally does with a much lighter color. Waiting on further tests tomorrow. Anyone else have this problem? Clearly accidents happen and reports of salmonella in the past. It all starts with one complaint or report

  3. My cat was eating Blue Buffalo until his bowel movements were VERY stinky and there was blood in his stools. We switched to Natural Balance about 3 years ago. In the last few weeks it has started all over again. Any thing going on???? Going to the vet Friday.

  4. Something has changed with this food in the past year.
    My dog has been on this food for 5 years.
    It started in 2017 with the canned food getting very watery. My dog would throw it up.
    Now even the dry food makes her throw up. Her skin is terribly itchy and her body smells. She smells like urine.

    After the horrible wrenching and daily throwing up we moved her to a different food. She is remarkably better.
    I don’t know what changed in this food but something has changed.

    1. I have noticed a difference in the smell and texture. Wondering if it is safe to still feed my dog

  5. I had a problem with sweet potato/chicken….I called company..they told me to take back…it was making my dogs throw up…took back and got different lot #….. It was fine….just got another bag…having same problem! Please tell me if there are any recalls not announced yet!

  6. I’ve fed my lab venison/sweet potato for prob 12 years. Fed him bison too. He began to refuse it now chicken and sweet potato and he’s vomited last couple days. I stopped the food. I read it has a recall. 😔 he’s 14 please don’t feed your pups this until we know more. We’re going back to hike cooking and meatballs. Chicken brown rice sweet potato and peas with a vitamin Good luck everyone!!

    1. I was wondering what was wrong with my pups. Hesitation to eat the food and light colored soft stools. My smallest one threw up. I thought they were just being finicky so I have been adding chicken and white rice to it to get them to eat. Not giving it to them anymore and will call the manufacturer on Monday. Thanks so much for the post.

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