The Nulo line covers 23 recipes in four formats: 5 kibbles, 9 wet foods, 3 frozen meals and 6 freeze-dried recipes. Chicken is the most common protein. It appears in all 5 kibbles and 8 of 9 wet foods, and the line also uses turkey, fish, duck, beef, lamb and pork.
Every kibble shows 30% protein as fed, above the catalog kibble average of 26.9%. Kibble estimated starch runs 32% to 34%, against a 37.4% average. Wet foods run 9.5% to 11% protein, above the 8.3% wet average. Freeze-dried recipes range from 30% to 40% protein and 10% to 20% starch, against format averages of 42.1% and 13.2%. Frozen meals show 8.5% to 10% protein and 5% to 6% starch, against format averages of 13.4% and 0.9%.
Grain and legume use depends on the format. Every kibble and frozen meal contains grain, peas or lentils, and potato. All freeze-dried recipes and 6 of 9 wet foods are grain free, but peas or lentils still appear in 3 freeze-dried recipes and 6 wet foods. On protein, the frozen and freeze-dried ranges come in below their catalog averages.
A GOOD FIT FOR
Owners wanting grain-inclusive kibble that lists 30% protein
Owners seeking grain-free freeze-dried food labeled for all life stages
Owners wanting kibble sold for puppies, small breeds or large breeds
WORTH KNOWING
Every kibble and frozen recipe contains grain, peas or lentils, and potato.
Grain free does not mean legume free here: 6 wet foods and 3 freeze-dried recipes list peas or lentils.
The wet food names show which ones have grain: the Savory Stews Ancient Grains recipes contain grain, while the Signature Stews and Land & Sea Patés are grain free.
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
This kibble is sold for small breed adults, leads with deboned turkey and turkey meal, and also includes duck. It shows 30% protein, 16% fat and 33% estimated starch, at 410 kcal per cup.
This adult kibble for all breeds leads with deboned salmon and has the most fat (17%) and the least estimated starch (32%) of the kibbles. At 417 kcal per cup it is also the most energy dense kibble in the line.
This is the only puppy recipe among the kibbles, led by deboned salmon with turkey meal and chicken meal. It shows 30% protein, 16% fat and 33% estimated starch, and oats, sweet potato and peas or lentils are in the recipe.
This chicken-led adult kibble for all breeds lists chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potato and oats after deboned chicken. It shows 30% protein, 15% fat and 34% estimated starch at 403 kcal per cup, so it suits owners who want chicken listed first.
Only kibble here with beefOnly kibble here with porkOnly kibble here with lamb
Sold for large breed adults, this is the only kibble with beef, pork and lamb, led by deboned beef, chicken meal and pork meal. At 397 kcal per cup it has the fewest calories of the kibbles, with 15% fat and 34% estimated starch.
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
This grain-free stew pairs chicken and salmon with pumpkin and shows 11% protein, with no peas, lentils or potato listed. It suits owners who want chicken and fish together without legumes, and the label lists 149 kcal per cup.
This is the only Signature Stews recipe with potato, and sweet potato and coconut oil appear among its first ingredients. Chicken is its only listed animal protein, and it shows 11% protein with no grain, peas or lentils.
Fewest calories in the lineOnly wet food here with duck
This is the only wet recipe with duck, combining chicken, duck and their broths with pumpkin. At 848 kcal per kg it has the fewest calories of the wet foods, with 11% protein and no grain, peas, lentils or potato.
This is one of three Savory Stews Ancient Grains recipes with grain, and it pairs chicken with salmon and pumpkin. It shows 10% protein and 3% fat, and at 871 kcal per kg it has the fewest calories of those three stews.
This is the only Savory Stews Ancient Grains recipe built on beef, with beef broth, beef and beef liver listed first. At 1,076 kcal per kg it has the most energy of the grain-inclusive stews, and it contains grain, peas or lentils, and potato.
This is the mackerel version of the Savory Stews Ancient Grains recipes, with chicken, chicken broth and pumpkin listed ahead of the fish. It contains grain, peas or lentils, and potato, and the label lists 150 kcal per can for owners who portion by the can.
This grain-free paté pairs chicken with halibut and tuna and includes peas or lentils. It shows 9.5% protein, 6% fat and 1,100 kcal per kg, which puts it between the leaner Beef & Salmon paté and the richer Lamb & Herring paté.
Most fat in the lineMost calories in the lineOnly wet food here with lamb
This is the only wet recipe with lamb, led by lamb broth and lamb, followed by chicken, herring and tuna. It has the most fat (7%) and the most calories (1,150 kcal per kg) of the wet foods, and it includes peas or lentils.
This grain-free paté starts with beef broth and beef, then chicken and salmon. At 4% fat and 956 kcal per kg it is the leanest of the three Land & Sea patés, and the label lists 325 kcal per can.
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
This is the only frozen meal in the line with duck, which is listed first, ahead of chicken and brown rice. It ties for the top frozen protein figure at 10% and has the lowest estimated starch at 5%, so it suits owners who want a poultry-based cooked meal.
This is the only frozen meal built on beef, with beef broth, brown rice and sweet potato next in the ingredient list. At 1,221 kcal per kg it has the most energy of the three frozen meals, and its 6% estimated starch is also the highest of the three.
Salmon leads this frozen meal, and chicken and egg also appear in the recipe. It has the lowest protein (8.5%) and fat (4%) of the three frozen meals, so it suits owners who want a fish-first option in this format.
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
40% protein · 32% fat · 13% starch · 179 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Only freeze-dried food here with chicken
This is the only freeze-dried recipe with chicken, built from chicken, chicken necks, heart and liver plus dried egg. It pairs 40% protein with 13% estimated starch and lists no peas or lentils, though it does contain potato.
40% protein · 29% fat · 16% starch · 174 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Least fat in the lineFewest calories in the line
Turkey, turkey necks, liver and heart lead this recipe, which has the least fat (29%) and the fewest calories per cup (174) of the freeze-dried group. It shows 40% protein with no peas or lentils, so it suits owners who track calories in this format.
40% protein · 35% fat · 10% starch · 183 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Least starch in the lineOnly freeze-dried food here with duck
This is the only freeze-dried recipe with duck, and at 10% it has the lowest estimated starch of the freeze-dried group. It combines 40% protein with 35% fat and contains no potato, but it does include peas or lentils.
40% protein · 30% fat · 15% starch · 181 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Only freeze-dried food here with fish
This is the only freeze-dried recipe with fish, adding salmon to turkey, turkey heart, necks and liver. It shows 40% protein and 15% estimated starch, has no potato and includes peas or lentils, so it suits owners who want poultry and fish together.
30% protein · 35% fat · 20% starch · 200 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Only freeze-dried food here with lamb
This is the only freeze-dried recipe with lamb, and it lists ground lamb bone, lamb liver and lamb kidney. At 30% protein, 35% fat and 20% estimated starch, it has less protein than most of its line mates and includes peas or lentils and potato.
30% protein · 35% fat · 20% starch · 195 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Most calories in the lineOnly freeze-dried food here with beef
This is the only freeze-dried recipe with beef, built on beef, beef heart, liver, kidney and ground beef bone. At 5,279 kcal per kg it is the most calorie dense of the freeze-dried group, with 30% protein, 20% estimated starch and no peas or lentils.
Not all of it. All 6 freeze-dried recipes, the Signature Stews and the Land & Sea Patés are grain free. Every Raw Medley kibble, every Gently-Cooked Meals frozen recipe and the Savory Stews Ancient Grains wet foods contain grain.
Which Nulo recipe has the most protein?
Among the freeze-dried recipes, Raw Chicken, Raw Turkey, Raw Duck and Raw Turkey & Salmon each show 40% protein. Every Raw Medley kibble shows 30%. Among the wet foods, the three Signature Stews lead at 11%.
Does Nulo dog food contain peas or lentils?
Many recipes do: all 5 kibbles, all 3 frozen meals, 6 of 9 wet foods and 3 of 6 freeze-dried recipes. The Signature Stews and the Raw Chicken, Raw Turkey and Raw Beef freeze-dried recipes list none.
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Nulo has never had one.
See the recall log
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