Ingredient #1Upper
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.
Label analysisGrade BListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
NutriSource
NutriSource Small & Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice
Editor ingredient insight
NutriSource Small/Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice leads with chicken meal, chicken, brown rice, and chicken fat.
At 32% protein, 21% fat, and high disclosed joint nutrients, It is worth considering for energetic puppies, not calorie-sensitive or mineral-sensitive cases.
Meal-basedFull ingredient check needed
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 32%Fat 21%Other 47%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 positionHigher
This food is on the higher side for crude protein among extruded foods.
Fat positionHigher
This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.
Calorie densityHigher
This food is on the higher side for calorie density among extruded foods. The same serving can provide more energy, so check portion guidance.
Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium2.08%
Phosphorus1.43%
Crude fiber5%
Omega-31%
Omega-63.8%
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 gradePremium
Ingredient #1 · Chicken mealUpper
Named MealIngredient #2 · chickenTop
Fresh MeatIngredient #3 · brown riceUpper
Whole GrainIngredient #2Top
chicken
chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
Ingredient #3Upper
brown rice
brown rice is a whole or coarse grain ingredient. It usually plays more of a carbohydrate and fiber role than a core protein role. It reads as an upper-tier carb and fiber source.
Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Chicken meal — Support positive ingredientschicken — Primary positive ingredientsbrown rice — Neutral ingredientschicken fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid) — Neutral ingredientsmenhaden fishmeal — Support positive ingredientsoatmeal — Neutral ingredientsbarley — Neutral ingredientsflax seed — Neutral ingredientsdried plain beet pulp — Support positive ingredientsdried yeast — Neutral ingredientsnatural chicken flavor — Support positive ingredientsdried tomato pomace — Neutral ingredientspotassium chloride — Support positive ingredientsDL methionine — Neutral ingredientssalt — Neutral ingredientscholine chloride — Support positive ingredientsminerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, selenium yeast, copper proteinate, magnesium proteinate, manganese proteinate, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide) — Support positive ingredientsbrewers dried yeast — Neutral ingredientsvitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid) — Support positive ingredientscalcium carbonate — Neutral ingredientshydrolyzed yeast — Neutral ingredientslactic acid — Neutral ingredientstaurine — Support positive ingredientsL-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C) — Neutral ingredientsyucca schidigera extract — Support positive ingredientsyeast culture — Support positive ingredientsdried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract — Neutral ingredientsdried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product — Neutral ingredientsdried Bacillus licheniformis fermentation product — Neutral ingredientsdried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract — Neutral ingredientsdried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product — Support positive ingredientsdried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product — Support positive ingredientsdried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract — Neutral ingredientsL-carnitine — Support positive ingredientsrosemary extract — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide
Protein sources in the available ingredients
Animal protein · Chicken meal (#1), chicken (#2), menhaden fishmeal (#5)
The protein sources shown above come from the registered ingredients. Use familiar ingredients and any required exclusions to narrow your choices.
The complete ingredient panel has not been verified, so absence of plant-protein supplements is not confirmed.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
TaurineHeart support ingredientYucca extractStool odor support ingredientYeast cultureGut support ingredientProbioticsGut support ingredientL-carnitineHeart and weight support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient
03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG
What to consider before feeding
Chicken meal, chicken supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. brown rice, oatmeal supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.
chicken fat (preserved with tocopherols and citric acid) add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.
Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including chicken, menhaden. If a protein must be excluded, any of these sources can change the decision; the first ingredient alone does not make this a single-protein diet.
What works well in this food
- A species-named meal keeps protein levels stable through a practical rendered-protein approach.
- Crude protein is on the higher side.
- Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.
Check before feeding
- Phosphorus is 1.4% 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.
- Calcium Excess (5.01g/1000 kcal, reference ≤6.25g/1000 kcal): Approaching upper limit. Be cautious of Skeletal developmental abnormalities, impaired zinc absorption risk.
- Species-named meals supply protein with less moisture. Their position cannot establish a meat-percentage or digestibility advantage over fresh meat because moisture levels differ.
When this food fits your dog
Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. Compare this combination when both protein and concentrated energy matter. It can help plan smaller portions, but dogs prone to weight gain should not switch gram-for-gram from a less calorie-dense food. Worth considering when budget matters.
Consider it first when
- Budget matters
- Baseline nutrition still comes first
- Ingredient quality comes after value
Choose another food first when
- Fresh-meat-first quality matters more
- Ingredient quality matters more than budget
High calorie density 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
NutriSource background
Founded in 1964 in the United States.
Disclosure confidence C1
Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.
Recall information
This brand appears in public voluntary recall lists during the researched period.
May 12, 2026