Label analysisGrade BKibble (Extruded)

Natural Balance

Natural Balance LID Reserve Duck & Potato

Editor ingredient insight

Natural Balance LID Duck & Potato leads with duck, duck meal, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tapioca starch. I would use it for dogs that do better on duck than chicken and need moderate fat, but not for potato, sweet potato, or tapioca avoidance.

Logic-based verdict

This food can stay in comparison, but ingredient quality still needs a more conservative read.

Manufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Protein source

Ingredient guide

Processed plant protein after the top 3

Animal protein

Duck (#1), Duck Meal (Source of Glucosamine) (#2)

Plant protein

Potato Protein (#8)

The protein number includes processed plant protein support.

Even when it appears later, the protein number is read more conservatively.

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide

Salmon oil

Skin and joint support ingredient

Taurine

Heart support ingredient

Omega-3

Skin and joint support ingredient

Omega-6

Skin and coat support ingredient

Glucosamine

Joint support ingredient

Vitamin E

Antioxidant and skin support ingredient

View full ingredients
Solid build

Ingredient grade

B

Grade B

Top ingredient profile

Duck
Duck Meal
Potatoes
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein24%
Crude protein24%
Crude fat10%
Other 66%

Calcium

0.8%

Phosphorus

0.6%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Lower
query_statsFat position
Lower
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Typical

There is enough public data to keep this food in comparison, but the top ingredient structure does not support a stronger positive claim yet.

Nutritional strengths

  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
  • Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.

What still needs work

  • Processed plant protein appears after the top 3, so some protein support is still built into the label number.
  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat, but the top profile turns to Potatoes by the third slot instead of staying fully animal-led.
  • Public data is usable, but not at the highest-trust tier.

Alternative foods

Smart duck alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

69 alternativesKibble (Extruded) · protein type/family cohort

Other recipes from the same brand

Other recipes from the same brand with a different purpose or feeding target.

Natural Balance

Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken

All life stages · All sizes

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Natural Balance

LID Chicken & Brown Rice

Adult · All sizes

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Natural Balance

LID Salmon & Sweet Potato

Adult · All sizes

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Natural Balance

LID Lamb & Brown Rice

Adult · All sizes

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 1989 in the United States. This brand has a confirmed public recall history.

Ingredient analysis

The top ingredients give this recipe a strong first protein read, so the ingredient section starts from a favorable position.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

B4.5/6
Ingredient Grade
Good
1Duck
Fresh Meat · Top
2Duck Meal
Named Meal · Upper
3Potatoes
Starchy Tuber · Mid

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Duck is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •Duck Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
  • •Potatoes is a starchy tuber ingredient. It is not a grain, but it still reads mainly as a starch and energy source. It reads as an mid-tier carb source.
restaurantIngredient Grade BGood

Full collected ingredient list

19 ingredients
DuckDuck Meal (Source of Glucosamine)PotatoesSweet PotatoesTapioca StarchDried YeastCanola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)Potato ProteinFlaxseedNatural FlavorSalmon Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)Choline ChlorideVitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin)DL-MethionineTaurineMinerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate)Potassium ChlorideMixed Tocopherols (Preservative)Rosemary Extract
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Alternative protein
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why processed plant proteins are reviewed cautiously

Ingredient lists are ordered by input weight, not protein contribution. Fresh meat 100g and Soybean Meal 50g can both contribute about 20g of protein, and Pea Protein can deliver a similar amount at around 30g. So these ingredients can materially lift crude protein even outside the top three. The review treats processed plant-protein boosters cautiously because they can weaken the animal-protein-centered profile most guardians expect from a high-protein food.

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

B tier

Current data is maintained, so the baseline trust level is still fairly high.

Final word

This is a credible shortlist food, but the personalized step is where the final order should be decided.

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