Label analysisGrade BKibble (Extruded)

Natural Balance

Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken

Editor ingredient insight

Natural Balance Original Ultra Chicken leads with chicken and chicken meal, then pearled barley, peas, and oat groats. I would use it as a moderate chicken-and-grain daily food for adult dogs that tolerate those ingredients and do not need a high-protein or high-fat formula. It discloses 24% protein, 14% fat, 3,590 kcal/kg, 1.2%/1.0% calcium/phosphorus, 0.25% taurine, 50 mg/kg L-carnitine, 1,200 mg/kg glucosamine, and 0.12% EPA/DHA. I would avoid it for pea-sensitive dogs, fish-oil avoidance, or owners expecting a meat-dense chicken food.

Logic-based verdict

This food offers a stable basic protein structure.

Manufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Protein source

Ingredient guide

Whole plant protein source observed early

Animal protein

Chicken (#1), Chicken Meal (#2)

Plant protein

Peas (#4)

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 ingredients

Nutrient guide

Fish oil

Skin and joint support ingredient

Taurine

Heart support ingredient

Cranberry

Urinary support ingredient

Yucca extract

Stool odor support ingredient

L-carnitine

Heart and weight support ingredient

Omega-3

Skin and joint support ingredient

Omega-6

Skin and coat support ingredient

EPA+DHA

Skin, joint, and heart 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

Chicken
Chicken Meal
Pearled Barley
Fresh-meat leadNo plant booster
Crude protein24%
Crude protein24%
Crude fat14%
Other 62%

Calcium

1.2%

Phosphorus

1%

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

biotechProtein position
Lower
query_statsFat position
Typical
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Typical

The first and second ingredients are both animal-based, so baseline protein quality stays stable. A whole-grain ingredient appears in the third slot, so this reads more like a mixed recipe than a fully animal-led one.

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

  • Phosphorus is 1% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
  • Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
  • Public data is usable, but not at the highest-trust tier.

Alternative foods

Smart chicken alternatives

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

45 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

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

Natural Balance

LID Lamb & Brown Rice Large Breed

Adult · Large breed

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
1Chicken
Fresh Meat · Top
2Chicken Meal
Named Meal · Upper
3Pearled Barley
Semi-Refined Grain · Mid

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •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.
  • •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.
restaurantIngredient Grade BGood

Full collected ingredient list

35 ingredients
ChickenChicken MealPearled BarleyPeasOat GroatsChicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)Dried Plain Beet PulpNatural FlavorBrown RiceDicalcium PhosphateFlaxseedDried Vegetable BrothMenhaden Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)CarrotsDL-MethioninePotassium ChlorideSaltTaurineVitamins (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)Dried Tomato PomaceMinerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate)L-Ascorbyl-2-PolyphosphateL-TryptophanL-ThreonineCholine ChlorideCitric Acid (Preservative)Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative)BlueberriesDried KelpSpinachCranberriesYucca Schidigera ExtractL-Lysine MonohydrochlorideL-CarnitineRosemary Extract
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Alternative protein
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

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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