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 BListed ingredientsKibble (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.
Choose another recipe for pea-sensitive dogs, fish-oil avoidance, or owners expecting a meat-dense chicken food.
Fresh-meat leadFull ingredient check needed
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 24%Fat 14%Other 62%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
Calcium1.2%
Phosphorus1%
Crude fiber5%
Omega-30.65%
Omega-63.5%
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 ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsOat Groats — Neutral ingredientsChicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) — Neutral ingredientsDried Plain Beet Pulp — Support positive ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsBrown Rice — Neutral ingredientsDicalcium Phosphate — Neutral ingredientsFlaxseed — Neutral ingredientsDried Vegetable Broth — Neutral ingredientsMenhaden Fish Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) — Support positive ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsDL-Methionine — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsVitamins (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) — Support positive ingredientsDried Tomato Pomace — Neutral ingredientsMinerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate) — Support positive ingredientsL-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate — Neutral ingredientsL-Tryptophan — Neutral ingredientsL-Threonine — Neutral ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsCitric Acid (Preservative) — Neutral ingredientsMixed Tocopherols (Preservative) — Neutral ingredientsBlueberries — Neutral ingredientsDried Kelp — Support positive ingredientsSpinach — Neutral ingredientsCranberries — Neutral ingredientsYucca Schidigera Extract — Support positive ingredientsL-Lysine Monohydrochloride — Neutral ingredientsL-Carnitine — Support positive ingredientsRosemary 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 · 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 ingredientsNutrient guide
Fish oilSkin and joint support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientYucca extractStool odor support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin 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.
Peas 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
- 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.
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
This is still a food-first read, so your own dog can reshuffle the final order later.
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