In this article
Review Summary
We give Nulo Puppy Food a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Nulo Dog Food focuses on high-protein recipes with low carbs and low glycemic ingredients. This independently owned company is based out of Austin, Texas, with facilities in Nebraska, Kansas, and North Dakota. All facilities are approved by the USDA, FDA, and AAFCO and offer several different recipes, including freeze-dried raw, high-protein kibble, meat toppers, paté style, bone broth, supplements, water enhancers, and treats. They offer both dog food and cat food suitable for all life stages and breeds.
Nulo uses its patented GanedenBC30 probiotics to promote healthy digestion and immune health, and this food is suitable for any breed of any size. In this article, we’ll explore this brand of dog food and list the pros and cons of several recipes. This food uses all-natural ingredients without wheat, soy, corn, or artificial flavors, and they offer both ancient grains and grain-free options.
In this article, we’ll focus on their puppy food, and if you’re ready, let’s dig in.
At a Glance: The Best Nulo Puppy Food Recipes:
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Our Favorite
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Nulo Frontrunner Chicken, Oats & Turkey |
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Nulo Freestyle Puppy Grain-Free Recipe |
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Nulo Freestyle Large Breed Puppy Recipe |
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Nulo Freestyle Limited Grain-Free Puppy & Adult |
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Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Small Breed Puppy |
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Nulo Dog Food Reviewed
Who Makes Nulo and Where Is It Produced?
Nulo’s founder, Michael Landa, realized that few healthy dog food options were available in the dog food market. What’s more, he realized that diabetes was on the rise in dogs, and he quickly learned that unhealthy dog food made available to the public was the culprit.
A pet educator, seasoned pet sitter, and dog walker, Landa and his business partner, Brett Montana, set out to work with leading scientists to develop a dog food formula high in protein with all-natural ingredients. In 2010, they launched their brand, and it’s available through many stores and online stores throughout the United States.
Which Type of Dog Is Nulo Best Suited For?
Nulo is suitable for all dogs of any breed, size, and life stage. As we’ve mentioned, we’ll focus on their puppy food, with some ideal for puppies and adults and others exclusively for puppies.
Which Type of Dog Might Do Better with a Different Brand?
Nulo’s recipes are high in protein, which may be hard for some dogs to digest. If your puppy has digestive issues, you may want to try a formula designed specifically for easy digestion in puppies, such as Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Development Small Bites recipe.
Most of Nulo’s recipes are grain-free. As you may or may not know, the FDA has an ongoing investigation into the possibility that grain-free recipes may be linked to a condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, which is a degeneration of the heart muscle and is eventually fatal. Some dogs are allergic to grains, but mostly, food allergies stem from proteins rather than grains, and the inclusion of grains can be beneficial.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
Learning the value or drawbacks of ingredients in our pets’ food is essential in providing the best nutrition possible. For optimal nutrition, real meat should be the first ingredient, which is the case in Nulo’s food. Here we will list the primary ingredients in Nulo’s puppy food formulas.
Proteins
- Deboned Chicken: Chicken is an excellent protein source for dogs. However, chicken is a common food allergy in dogs, but as long as your puppy has no issues eating chicken, it’s an excellent ingredient.
- Deboned Turkey: Turkey is another excellent protein source, along with other nutrients, such as phosphorus and riboflavin.
- Deboned Salmon: Salmon provides omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are needed to support the immune system, keep your puppy’s coat healthy and shiny, and may prevent inflammation.
- Pollock: Fish is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Fish also serves as a good alternative for doggies with chicken allergies.
- Dried Egg: Excellent source of protein and highly digestible.
- Meat Meals: Many dog owners shy away from meat meals in dog food; however, meat meals provide nutritional benefits. Meat meals have a higher protein percentage because the water and fat are removed from the meat.
Grains and Grain-Free
Nulo offers many grain-free recipes for those with grain allergies. The grain-free recipes have low-glycemic ingredients, such as chickpeas and sweet potatoes. As for the ancient grains recipes, the ingredients include:
- Quinoa
- Barley
- Brown Rice: Avoid brown rice if your puppy has gastro issues, as it may be hard to digest.
- Oats
Fruits and Veggies
- Dried Blueberries: Excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Dried Carrots: Provides vitamin A, fiber, and potassium.
- Dried Apples: Provide vitamins A, C, and fiber.
Other Ingredients
- Flaxseed: Excellent for skin and coat.
- Brewers Dried Yeast
- Salmon Oil: Promotes a healthy heart, shiny coat, relieves joint pain, and helps with dry, itchy skin.
- Taurine: An amino acid that promotes heart health, brain, and eye development, and promotes a healthy immune system.
- Dried Chicory Root
A Mediocre Ingredient
- Pea Fiber: Pea fiber is often added as a filler to grain-free recipes and does not hold many nutritional benefits.
A Quick Look at Nulo Puppy Food
- All-natural ingredients
- No artificial ingredients
- Facilities approved by the FDA, USDA, and AAFCO
- Sourced and manufactured in the USA
- Several flavors to choose from
- Some ingredients may be hard for puppies to digest
- Not many grain options are available
Recall History
Nulo has been around since late 2009 and early 2010, and to date, there are no recalls to report.
Reviews of the 3 Best Nulo Puppy Food Recipes
1. Nulo Frontrunner Ancient Grains Chicken, Oats, and Turkey
Nulo Frontrunner Ancient Grains Chicken, Oats, and Turkey is listed as our favorite recipe due to the inclusion of healthy, low glycemic grains. This recipe lists deboned chicken as the first and main ingredient, followed by a slew of healthy ingredients, such as oats, barley, and brown rice. It has no peas or potatoes for pet parents who wish to skip these ingredients, and it’s fortified with vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids. The low-glycemic grains and omega fatty acids promote lean muscles for your growing puppy, and they aid in a shiny, healthy coat.
It contains probiotics for healthy digestion and taurine for heart health. This recipe also contains DHA, which is vital in brain and retinal development.
Some puppies may experience diarrhea with this formula, and the kibble may be too big for some pups. A plus is this food is a more affordable option for premium dog food, and it comes in a 5-pound bag or a 25-pound bag at a reasonable price.
- Grain inclusive
- Deboned chicken is the first ingredient
- Contains probiotics for healthy digestion
- Pea-free
- Budget-friendly
- May cause diarrhea in some pups
- Kibble size may be too big for some
2. Nulo Freestyle Puppy Grain-Free Salmon Recipe
Nulo Freestyle Puppy Grain-Free Salmon Recipe lists deboned salmon as the first ingredient. This complete and balanced recipe provides 30% crude protein, and it’s formulated with Nulo’s patented Ganeden BC30 for healthy digestion. This food is free from potatoes, low in carbs, and has limited ingredients without unnecessary fillers.
This food will not work for puppy parents who want grains in their pups’ diets, but it works great for pups with chicken allergies, as chicken is omitted. It also does not include peas, pea protein, or eggs. Made in the USA, this recipe contains no artificial flavors, wheat, or soy.
The kibble may be too big for smaller breeds, and this particular recipe is a bit pricey.
- Grain-free for pups with grain allergies
- Contains 30% crude protein
- Deboned salmon is the first ingredient
- Probiotics for easy digestion
- Limited ingredients with no peas or chicken
- Kibble may be too big for small breeds
- Expensive
3. Nulo Freestyle Salmon and Turkey Recipe Large Breed Puppy
Nulo Freestyle Salmon and Turkey Recipe also have deboned salmon listed as the first ingredient, which provides DHA for brain and retinal development. The kibble size is large for large puppies, and it’s complete and balanced with added calcium and phosphorus to promote bone health. It includes Nulo’s patented Ganeden BC30 for smooth digestion, and it has no egg or chicken for pups with allergies to those ingredients.
This food is expensive, but it has 75% protein that comes from a quality animal source. This food will not work for smaller breeds.
- Deboned salmon is the first ingredient
- Complete and balanced
- Added calcium and phosphorus for strong bones
- Probiotics for smooth digestion
- Chicken and egg-free for pups with food allergies
- Will not work for small breeds
- Expensive
What Other Users Are Saying
It’s a good idea to check reviews from consumers to get an idea of how puppies like the different recipes. As pet owners, we like to check Amazon reviews before spending money on any pet food. With Nulo, many pet parents report that their puppies digest the food well and gobble it up. You can read the reviews here.
Conclusion
Nulo puppy food is formulated to provide your growing pup with essential ingredients to help it grow healthy and strong. You have many choices of where to buy the food, and some recipes are a little more affordable than their competitors. You can choose between several recipes, and they all contain a high-quality protein as the first ingredient. The patented probiotics aid in healthy digestion, and the recipes contain DHA and taurine for healthy development.
We hope our review helps you in making the best decision for your growing puppy, and we wish you luck in your search. It’s wise to monitor your puppy to see if any food allergies arise, and if you suspect your puppy has a food allergy, ask your veterinarian for recommendations and suggestions.
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