Ingredient #1Top
Chicken
Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
Label analysisGrade CListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Natural Balance
Natural Balance Original Ultra Large Breed
Editor ingredient insight
Natural Balance Original Ultra Large Breed starts with chicken, chicken meal, pearled barley, and oat groats.
At 23% protein, 13% fat, 5% fiber, and 3,640 kcal/kg, It is worth considering for a moderate chicken-and-grain large-breed food, but not for chicken avoidance, meat-density goals, or detailed mineral transparency.
Fresh-meat leadFull ingredient check needed
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 23%Fat 13%Other 64%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type
Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.
Protein positionLower
This food is on the lower side for crude protein among extruded foods.
Fat positionTypical
This food sits around the typical crude fat range among extruded foods.
Calorie densityTypical
This food sits around the typical calorie range among extruded foods. Check the feeding guide and weight trend alongside this comparison.
Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
CalciumNot disclosed
PhosphorusNot disclosed
Crude fiber5%
Omega-3Not disclosed
Omega-6Not disclosed
Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.
02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE
Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade
The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.
Listed ingredients
Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.
Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · ChickenTop
Fresh MeatIngredient #2 · Chicken MealUpper
Named MealIngredient #3 · Pearled BarleyMid
Semi-Refined GrainIngredient #2Upper
Chicken Meal
Chicken 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.
Ingredient #3Mid
Pearled Barley
Pearled Barley is disclosed, but its role is not explicit enough to count as a strong quality signal. It reads as an mid-tier carb source.
Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Chicken — Primary positive ingredientsChicken Meal — Support positive ingredientsPearled Barley — Neutral ingredientsOat Groats — Neutral ingredientsDried Pea — Caution ingredientsChicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) — Neutral ingredientsBrown Rice — Neutral ingredientsCarrot — Neutral ingredientsDried Brewers Yeast — Neutral ingredientsFlaxseed — Neutral ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsDicalcium Phosphate — Neutral ingredientsDL-Methionine — Neutral ingredientsMenhaden Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) — Support positive ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsVitamin E Supplement — Support positive ingredientsNiacin — Neutral ingredientsAscorbic Acid — Neutral ingredientsThiamine Mononitrate — Neutral ingredientsPantothenic Acid — Neutral ingredientsVitamin A Supplement — Neutral ingredientsRiboflavin Supplement — Neutral ingredientsPyridoxine Hydrochloride — Neutral ingredientsFolic Acid — Neutral ingredientsBiotin — Support positive ingredientsVitamin B12 Supplement — Neutral ingredientsVitamin D3 Supplement — Neutral ingredientsSpinach — Neutral ingredientsDried Tomato Pomace — Neutral ingredientsZinc Proteinate — Support positive ingredientsZinc Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsFerrous Sulfate — Neutral ingredientsIron Proteinate — Neutral ingredientsCopper Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsCopper Proteinate — Support positive ingredientsManganese Sulfate — Neutral ingredientsManganese Proteinate — Neutral ingredientsSodium Selenite — Support positive ingredientsCalcium Iodate — Support positive ingredientsCranberry — Support positive ingredientsBlueberry — Neutral ingredientsL-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate — Neutral ingredientsL-Tryptophan — Neutral ingredientsKelp — Support positive ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsL-Threonine — Neutral ingredientsMixed Tocopherols — Neutral ingredientsLactic Acid — Neutral ingredientsL-Lysine Monohydrochloride — Neutral ingredientsYucca Schidigera Extract — Support positive ingredientsL-Carnitine — Support positive ingredientsCitric Acid — Neutral ingredientsRosemary Extract — Neutral ingredientsGreen Tea Extract — Neutral ingredientsSpearmint Extract — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide
Whole plant protein source observed early
Animal protein · Chicken (#1), Chicken Meal (#2)
Plant protein · Dried Pea (#5)
The protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.
This is not treated like processed protein boosting, but it is worth checking.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Fish oilSkin and joint support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientYucca extractStool odor support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight support ingredient
03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG
What to consider before feeding
Chicken, Chicken Meal supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Pearled Barley, Oat Groats supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.
Dried Pea contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber further down the ingredient list. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone. Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.
What works well in this food
- The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
- Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.
Check before feeding
- Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
- Public nutrient disclosure is still thin, so deeper comparison remains limited.
When this food fits your dog
Among foods made the same way, protein is lower, fat is typical, and calorie density is typical. Calorie density alone does not separate this into an active-dog or weight-management food. Consider protein exclusions and fat, then set portions for the dog’s weight and activity. Stable basic protein structure.
Consider it first when
- Steady protein-first shopping
- Choosing from named animal proteins
- Balanced shortlist building
Choose another food first when
- Weight control comes first
- Fresh-meat-first premium quality matters most
Disclosure depth remains the clearest trade-off here.
04. COMPARE FOODS
Smart chicken alternatives
Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.
05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE
Manufacturer background & public information
Natural Balance background
Founded in 1989 in the United States.
Disclosure confidence B
Current data is maintained, so the baseline trust level is still fairly high.
Recall information
This brand has a confirmed public recall history.
May 12, 2026