Is Nulo Dog Food Good? A Comprehensive Review for Pet Owners

Nulo dog food is a popular choice for pet owners, but Is Nulo Dog Food Good? This comprehensive review, brought to you by FOODS.EDU.VN, delves into the ingredients, safety, and overall quality of Nulo’s various product lines to help you make an informed decision about your dog’s diet and canine nutrition. We’ll explore the pros and cons of Nulo, examining everything from its carbohydrate content to its use of probiotics and non-GMO ingredients.

1. Understanding Nulo Dog Food

Nulo was established in 2009 by Michael Landa and Brett Montana in Austin, Texas, with the goal of providing high-quality pet food that prioritizes animal-based proteins and minimizes carbohydrate fillers. In 2021, the private equity firm Apex Partners LLP acquired existing investors, marking a new chapter for the company.

Nulo dog food is manufactured in US facilities located in Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. While the company uses third-party manufacturers, they claim to maintain strict quality control standards. Nulo offers a diverse range of products, including dry, wet, and freeze-dried raw pet foods, as well as meal toppers, treats, and liquid hydration supplements. This variety allows pet owners to select products that best suit their dog’s individual needs and preferences.

To assess the overall quality and safety of Nulo dog food, we’ll analyze the ingredients and nutritional content of several of their most popular product lines. Our comprehensive Nulo dog food reviews are based on objective evaluation criteria, ensuring that you receive unbiased and reliable information to guide your purchasing decisions.

2. Nulo Challenger Dry Food Review

Score: 5.4/10

The Nulo Challenger Dry Food line aims to provide high-protein nutrition for active dogs. However, a closer look reveals both positive and negative aspects.

Package Ingredient For Challenger High-Protein Kibble Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon & Redfish: Haddock, deboned salmon, salmon meal, turkey meal, chicken meal, organic oats, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid), organic millet, organic barley, acadian redfish, ground miscanthus grass, natural flavor, calcium carbonate, salt, dried pumpkin, dried blueberries, dried spinach, dried chicory root, dl-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, potassium chloride, vitamin e supplement, zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin c), iron proteinate, niacin supplement, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, vitamin a supplement, manganese proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, manganous oxide, biotin, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, vitamin b12 supplement, vitamin d3 supplement, folic acid, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, rosemary extract

According to our evaluation criteria, Nulo Challenger Dry Food is considered a moderate-risk dog food. Here’s a breakdown of our concerns:

2.1. Ingredient Quality

Overall, there are several concerns regarding the ingredient quality of Nulo Challenger Dry Food.

• High In Carbohydrates: With an average of 27% carbohydrates, this line is higher than ideal. While dogs don’t have a specific carbohydrate requirement, starch is necessary for the extrusion process in dry foods. However, excessive carbohydrates can lead to obesity, increased insulin levels, and negatively impact gut balance, as noted in a study by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.
• Excessive Added Vitamins and Minerals: The addition of numerous vitamins and minerals suggests that the ingredients may be of poor quality or overly processed. Ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources. Excessive amounts of certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D and copper, can also result from vitamin premixes, potentially leading to health issues.
• Added Amino Acids: The presence of added amino acids may indicate that the food contains lower amounts of animal protein. Animal protein is generally more complete in amino acids than plant protein, making it a more desirable source. The addition of two or more amino acids can be a sign of cheaper, lower-quality ingredients.

2.2. Ingredient Safety

Many pet food ingredients are unsafe or are grown using unsafe chemicals. Here are some of the issues with Nulo Challenger Dry Food line:

• Ultra-Processed: As an ultra-processed dog food, the ingredients in Nulo Challenger Dry Food are heated multiple times during processing. This can lead to a significant loss of enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and phytonutrients, potentially reducing the nutritional value of the food. Processed foods have also been linked to higher mortality rates in many species, according to research published in the journal Nutrients.
• High Pesticide/Herbicide Foods: These recipes contain ingredients known to carry a large pesticide/herbicide residue. Unless organic, crops sprayed with Roundup can have more glyphosate/herbicide residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can kill beneficial gut bacteria and has been linked to cancer and other diseases.
• Natural Flavor: The inclusion of “natural flavor” is a concern, as this ingredient is often either MSG or animal digest, both of which are low-quality ingredients with limited safety studies.

2.3. Benefits

Despite the concerns, Nulo Challenger Dry Food also has some noteworthy benefits.

• Probiotics: The inclusion of probiotics with guaranteed colony forming units (CFUs) is a positive aspect. Probiotics can help support a healthy gut microbiome and improve digestion.
• Organic Produce: The use of organic produce and grains ensures that the ingredients are non-GMO and haven’t been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides.
• No GMO Ingredients: The line is non-GMO verified, which is reassuring for pet owners concerned about genetically modified organisms. GMO crops may lack nutrients compared to non-GMO foods, strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk, and potentially contribute to bee die-off.

Nulo Challenger High-Protein Kibble for Small Breed Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon, Redfish Dry Dog Food

3. Nulo Freestyle Dry Food Review

Score: 4/10

The Nulo Freestyle Dry Food line is another popular option, but it also comes with its own set of concerns.

Package Ingredients For Nulo Freestyle High-Protein Kibble Turkey And Sweet Potato Recipe: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid), sweet potato, yellow peas, deboned trout, pea fiber, natural flavor, yeast culture, dried chicory root, dried tomatoes, dried carrots, dried blueberries, dried apples, salt, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, potassium chloride, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, l-ascorbyl-2- polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), iron proteinate, niacin, copper proteinate, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, manganous oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride source of vitamin B6), selenium yeast, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, folic acid, rosemary extract.

Based on our evaluation criteria, Nulo Freestyle Dry Food is considered a high-risk dog food. Here’s why:

3.1. Ingredient Quality

Overall, there are several concerns when it comes to ingredient quality in this line.

• High In Carbohydrates: With an average carbohydrate content of 32%, this line is higher than what we would prefer. Excessive carbohydrates can increase insulin levels, cause obesity, and negatively impact gut balance. A study in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition highlights the importance of balanced macronutrient ratios in canine diets.
• Excessive Added Vitamins and Minerals: This line loses ingredient quality points for excessive added vitamins and minerals. This usually reflects poor quality or overly processed ingredients. Ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from vitamin premixes.

3.2. Ingredient Safety

Many pet food ingredients are unsafe or are grown using unsafe chemicals. Here are some of the issues with Nulo Freestyle Dry Food line:

• Ultra Processed: This line loses significant points for being an ultra-processed dog food. The individual ingredients in dry dog foods are heated several times during processing, which can cause a significant loss of enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and phytonutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species.
• High Pesticide/Herbicide Foods In The Top 5 Ingredients: These recipes contain foods in the top 5 ingredients that are known to carry a large pesticide/herbicide residue. Unless organic, when crops are spray-dried with Roundup, it leaves them with more glyphosate/herbicide residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can kill beneficial gut bacteria and has been linked to cancer and other diseases.
• Natural Flavor: Recipes in this line contain natural flavor, which is added to make processed food more palatable. But natural flavor is often either MSG or animal digest, both low quality ingredients with limited safety studies.

3.3. Benefits

Despite the concerns, this line does offer some advantages:

• Probiotics: It’s good to see that these dry foods contain probiotics and that they guarantee the colony forming units (CFUs). This measure determines the number of bacterial cells in a probiotic.
• No GMO Ingredients: This is a non-GMO verified line, which is good to see. There are limited safety studies on genetically modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off.

4. Nulo Frontrunner Dry Food Review

Score: 3.6/10

The Nulo Frontrunner Dry Food is positioned as a high-protein option, but its overall rating raises some concerns.

Package Ingredients For Nulo Frontrunner High-Protein Kibble Beef, Barley And Lamb Recipe: Deboned beef, chicken meal, oats, barley, brown rice, turkey meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid), ground flaxseed, deboned lamb, natural flavor, millet, ground miscanthus grass, brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, dried egg product, dried blueberries, dried apples, dried chicory root, salt, DL-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, iron proteinate, niacin supplement, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, vitamin A supplement, manganese proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, manganous oxide, biotin, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, rosemary extract

Using our evaluation criteria, Nulo Frontrunner Dry Food is considered a high-risk dog food. Here’s a detailed look:

4.1. Ingredient Quality

Overall, there are several concerns when it comes to ingredient quality:

• High In Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates in this line average 36% as calculated, which is higher than we’d like to see in a dry dog food. Excessive carbohydrate are an indicator of low quality foods as they are used to keep costs down. Large amounts of starch can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance. High carbohydrate diets often mean lower protein, which holds true here with 27% average protein.
• Excessive Added Vitamins and Minerals: This line loses ingredient quality points for excessive added vitamins and minerals. This usually reflects poor quality or overly processed ingredients. Ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from vitamin premixes.
• Added Amino Acids: Protein from animals is more complete in amino acids than protein from plants – plus it’s more expensive. Foods with lower amounts of animal protein often need to add amino acids to compensate, so 2 or more added amino acids can be a marker of cheap, lower quality ingredients.

4.2. Ingredient Safety

Many pet food ingredients are unsafe or are grown using unsafe chemicals. Here are some of the issues with Nulo Frontrunner Dry Food line:

• Ultra-Processed: On the ingredient safety side, this line loses significant points for being an ultra-processed dog food. The individual ingredients in dry dog foods are heated several times during processing, which can cause a significant loss of enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species.
• High Pesticide/Herbicide Foods In The Top 5 Ingredients: These recipes contain foods in the top 5 ingredients that are known to carry a large pesticide/herbicide residue. Unless organic, when crops are spray-dried with Roundup, it leaves them with more glyphosate/herbicide residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can kill beneficial gut bacteria and has been linked to cancer and other diseases.
• Rice: The use of rice in several recipes costs ingredient safety points because of potential arsenic contamination. Arsenic contamination is a significant concern with rice since it naturally absorbs arsenic which can contaminate the water it’s grown in. Arsenic is linked to chronic health issues.
• Natural Flavor: Recipes in this line contain natural flavor, which is added to make processed food more palatable. But natural flavor is often either MSG or animal digest, both low quality ingredients with limited safety studies.

4.3. Benefits

Here are some noteworthy benefits of this line:

• Probiotics: It’s good to see that these dry foods contains probiotics and that they guarantee the colony forming units (CFUs). This measure determines the number of bacterial cells in a probiotic.
• No GMO Ingredients: This is a non-GMO verified line, which is good to see. There are limited safety studies on genetically modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off.

5. Nulo Medal Series Dry Food Review

Score: 4.6/10

The Nulo Medal Series Dry Food aims to provide a balanced diet, but it also has some drawbacks to consider.

Package Ingredients For Nulo Medal Series High Protein Kibble Chicken and Peas Recipe: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, whole peas, sweet potato, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid), lentils, pea fiber, deboned turkey, natural chicken flavor, yeast culture, salmon oil (source of DHA), dried chicory root, potassium chloride, dried carrots, dried tomatoes, dried blueberries, dried apples, calcium carbonate, salt, sweet fennel, dandelion, chamomile, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), iron proteinate, niacin, copper proteinate, choline chloride, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, manganous oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), sodium selenite, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, folic acid, rosemary extract.

Using our evaluation criteria, Nulo Medal Series Dry Food is considered a high-risk dog food. Here are our concerns:

5.1. Ingredient Quality

Overall, there are several concerns when it comes to ingredient quality:

• High In Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates in this line average 32% as calculated, which is higher than we’d like to see in a dry dog food. Excessive carbohydrates can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance.
• Excessive Added Vitamins and Minerals: This line loses ingredient quality points for excessive added vitamins and minerals. This usually reflects poor quality or overly processed ingredients. Ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from vitamin premixes.

5.2. Ingredient Safety

Many pet food ingredients are unsafe or are grown using unsafe chemicals. Here are some of the issues with Nulo Medal Series Dry Food line:

• Ultra-Processed: On the ingredient safety side, this line loses significant points for being an ultra-processed dog food. The individual ingredients in dry dog foods are heated several times during processing, which can cause a significant loss of enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species.
• High Pesticide/Herbicide Foods In The Top 5 Ingredients: These recipes contain foods in the top 5 ingredients that are known to carry a large pesticide/herbicide residue. Unless organic, when crops are spray-dried with Roundup, it leaves them with more glyphosate/herbicide residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can kill beneficial gut bacteria and has been linked to cancer and other diseases.
• Natural Flavor: Recipes in this line contain natural flavor, which is added to make processed food more palatable. But natural flavor is often either MSG or animal digest, both low quality ingredients with limited safety studies.

5.3. Benefits

Here are some noteworthy benefits of this line:

• Probiotics: It’s good to see that these dry foods contains probiotics and that they guarantee the colony forming units (CFUs). This measure determines the number of bacterial cells in a probiotic.
• No GMO Ingredients: This is a non-GMO verified line, which is good to see. There are limited safety studies on genetically modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off.

6. Nulo Challenger Canned Food Review

Score: 6.8/10

Moving on to wet food options, the Nulo Challenger Canned Food line offers a different nutritional profile.

Package Ingredients For Nulo Challenger Harvest Turkey Stew Recipe: Turkey, turkey bone broth, turkey liver, carrots, green beans, pumpkin, organic oats, dried ground chickpeas, ground golden flaxseed, dicalcium phosphate, salmon oil, egg whites, inulin, salt, potassium chloride, dried kelp, dried thyme, turmeric, natural hickory smoke, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, dried parsley, manganese amino acid chelate, taurine, niacinamide, choline chloride, d-calcium pantothenate, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, selenium yeast, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement.

Using our evaluation criteria, Nulo Challenger Wet Food is considered a moderate risk dog food. Here are our concerns:

6.1. Ingredient Quality

Overall, there are several concerns when it comes to ingredient quality:

• High In Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates in this line average 20% as calculated on a dry matter basis, which is high for a wet dog food. Excessive carbohydrates are an indicator of low quality foods as they are used to keep costs down. Large amounts of starch can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance.
• Excessive Added Vitamins: When vitamins come from whole food sources, they include the full spectrum of cofactors, which makes them safe and bioavailable. While a couple of added vitamins are acceptable, five or more implies the food is of poor nutritional value.
• Sugar: Sugar is often found in pet food to increase the palatability or as a preservative or humectant. Honey is an added sugar in this food. It is a low quality ingredient that can cause unwanted gut changes, obesity and insulin spikes.

6.2. Ingredient Safety

Many pet food ingredients are unsafe or are grown using unsafe chemicals. Here are some of the issues with Nulo Challenger Wet Food line:

• Highly Processed: Canned foods are heated before and during canning, which will cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species.
• High Pesticide/Herbicide Foods: These recipes contain ingredients that are known to carry a large pesticide/herbicide residue. Unless organic, when crops are spray-dried with Roundup, it leaves them with more glyphosate/herbicide residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can kill beneficial gut bacteria and has been linked to cancer and other diseases.

6.3. Benefits

There’s one noteworthy benefit in this line:

• No GMO Ingredients: This is a non-GMO verified line, which is good to see. There are limited safety studies on genetically modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off.

7. Nulo Freestyle Canned Food Review

Score: 6.6/10

The Nulo Freestyle Canned Food line offers a grain-free wet food option for dogs.

Package Ingredients for Nulo Freestyle Beef, Peas and Carrot Recipe Canned Food: Beef, Turkey, Beef Broth, Beef Liver, Peas, Carrots, Ground Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Agar-Agar, Salt, Choline Chloride, Natural Flavor, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Sodium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Cobalt Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.

Using our evaluation criteria, Nulo Freestyle Canned Food is considered a moderate risk dog food. Here are our concerns:

7.1. Ingredient Quality

Overall, there are several concerns when it comes to ingredient quality:

• Moderately High In Carbohydrate: The average carbohydrates in this line are 11% as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is acceptable for a wet food.
• Excessive Added Vitamins and Minerals: This line loses ingredient quality points for excessive added vitamins and minerals. This usually reflects poor quality or overly processed ingredients. Ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from vitamin premixes.

7.2. Ingredient Safety

Many pet food ingredients are unsafe or are grown using unsafe chemicals. Here are some of the issues with Nulo Freestyle Canned Food line:

• Highly Processed: Canned foods are heated before and during canning, which will cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species.
• High Pesticide/Herbicide Foods In The Top 5 Ingredients: These recipes contain foods in the top 5 ingredients that are known to carry a large pesticide/herbicide residue. Unless organic, when crops are spray-dried with Roundup, it leaves them with more glyphosate/herbicide residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can kill beneficial gut bacteria and has been linked to cancer and other diseases.
• Natural Flavor: Recipes in this line contain natural flavor, which is added to make processed food more palatable. But natural flavor is often either MSG or animal digest, both low quality ingredients with limited safety studies.

7.3. Benefits

There’s one noteworthy benefit in this line:

• No GMO Ingredients: This is a non-GMO verified line, which is good to see. There are limited safety studies on genetically modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off.

8. Nulo Medal Series Canned Food Review

Score: 6.7/10

The Nulo Medal Series Canned Food line offers another wet food option with a focus on specific ingredients.

Package Ingredients For Nulo Medal Series Lamb & Lentils Recipe: Lamb, turkey, turkey liver, lamb broth, turkey broth, lentils, carrots, salmon,ground flaxseed, guar gum, salt, agar-agar, potassium chloride, natural flavor, choline chloride, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, sodium carbonate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, cobalt proteinate, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.

Using our evaluation criteria, Nulo Medal Series Wet Food is considered a moderate risk dog food. Here are our concerns:

8.1. Ingredient Quality

Overall, there are several concerns when it comes to ingredient quality:

• High In Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates in this line average or 12% as calculated on a dry matter basis which is acceptable for a wet dog food.
• Excessive Added Vitamins and Minerals: This line loses ingredient quality points for excessive added vitamins and minerals. This usually reflects poor quality or overly processed ingredients. Ideally, these nutrients should come from whole food sources. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from vitamin premixes.
• Sugar: Sugar is often found in pet food to increase the palatability or as a preservative or humectant. Honey is an added sugar in this food. It is a low quality ingredient that can cause unwanted gut changes, obesity and insulin spikes.

8.2. Ingredient Safety

Many pet food ingredients are unsafe or are grown using unsafe chemicals. Here are some of the issues with Nulo Medal Series Canned:

• Highly Processed: Canned foods are heated before and during canning, which will cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species.
• High Pesticide/Herbicide Foods In The Top 5 Ingredients: These recipes contain foods in the top 5 ingredients that are known to carry a large pesticide/herbicide residue. Unless organic, when crops are spray-dried with Roundup, it leaves them with more glyphosate/herbicide residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can kill beneficial gut bacteria and has been linked to cancer and other diseases.

8.3. Benefits

There’s one noteworthy benefit in this line:

• No GMO Ingredients: This is a non-GMO verified line, which is good to see. There are limited safety studies on genetically modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off.

9. Is Nulo A Good Dog Food?

Based on our criteria, Nulo’s dry dog foods are considered moderate to high risk, while its three lines of wet foods are considered moderate risk dog foods.

Many of the recipes have high levels of carbohydrates. This is perplexing, considering Nulo’s founding mission to reduce the high levels of carbohydrate fillers found in other major pet foods, which contribute to obesity and diabetes in pets. Nulo dry dog foods average 27 to 36% carbohydrates as calculated. The wet foods average 11 to 19% as calculated on a dry matter basis. Some recipes are still considered high for canned dog food compared to others on the market. In addition, 3 of its dry foods, Freestyle, Frontrunner and Medal Series, have higher average carbs than protein.

The company states it doesn’t use potato, rice or tapioca, but brown rice appears in the Frontrunner Dry line. They say they use low-glycemic carbs like oats, barley, sweet potato, chickpeas and lentils, but these are still starchy carbohydrates. Large amounts of starch can increase insulin levels, cause obesity and negatively impact gut balance.

Like all kibbles, Nulo’s dry dog foods are ultra-processed. Excessive heat during processing can cause significant loss of nutrients. The canned foods are also heated before and during canning. This requires the addition of vitamins and minerals to both dry and canned recipes to balance the foods to AAFCO standards.

All recipes have ingredients known to contain higher pesticide or herbicide residues, many in the top 5 ingredients. However, the company doesn’t appear to use any GMO ingredients, which is good to see.

Many of Nulo’s top ingredients are “meals,” the dehydrated version of meat, poultry and fish with fat and moisture removed. Nulo also states it has industry-leading high levels of animal-based proteins, yet there is at least one company reviewed on this website with higher levels.

In its dry foods, Nulo uses a natural probiotic with a protective spore casing, giving it viability all the way to the digestive tract. Nulo guarantees the levels of added probiotics, which is a benefit.

10. Other Concerns

There are additional concerns that don’t affect Nulo’s score, but they’re worth mentioning:

• Glam Ingredients: Some Nulo recipes contain glam ingredients. These are expensive or desirable ingredients like blueberries, kale or apples, often added to appeal to consumers, but because they’re below the salt, are present in minuscule amounts that contribute little or no nutritional value to your dog.
• Coconut Oil: The use of coconut oil doesn’t cost points but is a concern as research shows it can cause undesirable changes in the gut lining.
• Does Not Provide Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratio: It’s also worth noting that Nulo does not state the omega6:omega-3 ratio in their foods. While this is true of most foods, it’s a concern because AAFCO allows a very inflammatory limit of 30:1. Diets rich in omega-6 fats can cause chronic inflammation and disease.
• Does Not State Farmed Vs Wild Caught Fish: These foods don’t specify whether the fish is farmed or wild-caught. Farmed fish is less nutritious than wild-caught fish and does not contain the same healthy fatty acid balance.

11. NULO DOG FOOD RECALLS

To date, there have been no recalls of Nulo dog foods.

12. Evaluation Criteria

We evaluate and score dog foods based on two criteria:

12.1. Are the Ingredients High Quality?

Here are some common low quality ingredients or markers we look for:

• Is there excessive carbohydrate content, which can cause gut imbalances?
• Does the food contain unnamed proteins, which are low quality?
• Does the food use cellulose (wood pulp) as a source of fiber instead of real food?
• Are there excessive vitamins and minerals added in place of real food nutrition?
• Are there excessive added amino acids or plant proteins instead of expensive meat protein?
• Does the food contain inflammatory processed seed oils?

12.2. How Safe Are the Ingredients?

Many ingredients come from unhealthy, inflammatory sources or are full of pesticides so we look for:

• How processed is the food?
• Does the food contain known genetically modified foods?
• Does the food contain ingredients known to be high in pesticides?
• Does the food contain natural flavor, which are often MSG or animal digest?
• Does the food contain rice, which is high in arsenic?

Each food is objectively evaluated by these criteria and a score is assigned using the average of ingredient quality and safety. This is NOT a paid list and there are no affiliate links.

13. Addressing Key User Search Intents

To provide a comprehensive resource, we’ve addressed the top search intents related to “is Nulo dog food good”:

1. Ingredient Analysis: Users want to know what’s actually in Nulo dog food. We provide detailed ingredient lists and analysis for various product lines, highlighting both beneficial and potentially problematic components.
2. Nutritional Value: Pet owners are concerned about the nutritional content of dog food. We break down the carbohydrate, protein, and fat percentages, and evaluate whether these align with a healthy canine diet.
3. Safety Concerns: Safety is paramount. We address potential risks such as the presence of pesticides, herbicides, and processed ingredients.
4. Recall History: Users want to know if Nulo has had any recalls. We provide information on Nulo’s recall history (or lack thereof).
5. Alternatives: While not explicitly covered in this article, understanding Nulo’s strengths and weaknesses can help users explore alternative dog food brands and options. For detailed comparison, explore articles on foods.edu.vn comparing Nulo with other brands.

14. FAQ: Answering Your Questions About Nulo Dog Food

To further address your questions and concerns, here’s a comprehensive FAQ about Nulo dog food:

1. Is Nulo dog food grain-free?
Some Nulo recipes are grain-free, while others contain grains like oats and barley. Always check the ingredient list to confirm.

2. Does Nulo dog food contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives?
Nulo claims to avoid artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives in their dog food formulas.

3. Where is Nulo dog food made?
Nulo dog food is manufactured in the United States, in facilities located in Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

4. Is Nulo dog food suitable for dogs with allergies?
Nulo offers a variety of recipes, some of which may be suitable for dogs with allergies. However, it’s crucial to carefully review the ingredient list and consult with your veterinarian to determine the best option for your dog’s specific allergies.

5. How does Nulo compare to other premium dog food brands?
Nulo is often compared to brands like Blue Buffalo, Wellness, and Orijen. Each brand has its own strengths and weaknesses in terms of ingredients, nutritional value, and price. Further research and comparison are recommended.

6. What are the pros and cons of feeding my dog Nulo dog food?
Pros:

• Offers a variety of recipes, including grain-free options.
• Contains probiotics.
• Non-GMO ingredients.
  Cons:
• High carbohydrate content in some recipes.
• Excessive added vitamins and minerals.
• Ultra-processed.

7. How do I transition my dog to Nulo dog food?
Gradually transition your dog to Nulo dog food over a period of 7-10 days. Start by mixing a small amount of Nulo with your dog’s current food, gradually increasing the amount of Nulo and decreasing the amount of current food each day.

8. What is the shelf life of Nulo dog food?
The shelf life of Nulo dog food varies depending on the specific product. Check the packaging for the “best by” date.

9. Can Nulo dog food help with my dog’s digestive issues?
The probiotics in Nulo dog food may help support healthy digestion. However, it’s essential to consult with your veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of your dog’s digestive issues and the best course of treatment.

**10. Where can I buy N