Nutro Ultra

[marympierce]

I've searched and read through hundreds of threads regarding "good" food. My adopted rescue puppies came to me on Nutro Ultra Small Adult Food. They're 4.5 month papillion mixes. I've compared the ingredients and analysis on Nutro, Canidae, Orijen, and several others. Then Orijen has more protein, but the ingredients are virtually the same among all of these "good" brands and the Nutro Ultra.

The puppies are doing well on it- they're gaining weight appropriately, their coats are shiny (though they're losing that super soft puppy coat ), and they produce a small volume of stool.

Is there any reason that I need to switch them now? I just cannot figure out why Nutro Ultra makes the "bad" list?

Thanks for helping- I want to do what's best for the puppers, but I'd like to know why it's best, you know?

 

[showpug]

For starters, Nutro Ultra contains Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex /Vitamin K supplement. This is a potentially harmful ingredient. You can read more here:http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=menadione

The better brands that you mentioned don't contain Menadione.

Although "holistic" I don't believe Nutro Ultra contains actual human grade ingredients. You may want to email the company and ask them about their ingredient sources.

Also, it contains generic fat. It lists "poultry fat" instead of a specific type of animal. It's much better to see "chicken fat" than the broader term "poultry"...they should tell you the exact type of fat your dog is consuming.

Lastly, Nutro is a large company. I have a tendency to trust the integrity and quality control behind the smaller dog food companies.

 

[Beanie]

The puppies are doing well on it- they're gaining weight appropriately, their coats are shiny (though they're losing that super soft puppy coat ), and they produce a small volume of stool.

We used Nutro before and I thought the dogs were doing great on it... and then I switched to Canidae. There is a HUGE difference that I never would have realized had I not made the switch!

 

[marympierce]

Menadione

Thanks for the replies- I don't mind switching. I just want the reasons! I'm off to check out Menadione!

 

[~Jessie~]

Nutro is over priced for the lack of quality. I was going to post up the ingredients, but their website doesn't list them in a normal fashion. It does contain poultry fat, corn, and menadione, though.

 

[gia's stepmom]

Nutro Ultra is very pricey and we have used it in our rotation. I did not notice any corn in the Nutro Ultra Adult ingredients list on the bag. The dogs really liked it at first and then lost interest quickly and I noticed their breath and skin smelled more "doggy" than on other brands but their coat and poop was great while on it. They do much better on Chicken Soup dog food

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Mars bought Nutro back in april or so. Considering what else Mars owns.. I didn't like Nutro before.. Lack of quality for price. I decidedly like it less now that a corporate giant owns it.

 

[MisssAshby]

While the other brands of kibble are a little bit more pricey it is worth it without a question.

I look at it this way -- you want to feed yourself healthy and that isn't cheap, so you are going to expect the same cost when wanting to feed your dogs healthy.

It's a decision that you won't regret.

I look at it as you can either pay for it up front (keeping them healthy) or you can pay for it at the vet (when they are sick).

Good luck in your decision.