Label analysisGrade CKibble (Extruded)

Nutro

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice

Editor ingredient insight

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice uses chicken, grains, pea protein, EPA+DHA, and joint nutrients. I would use it for large puppies needing steady growth support, not for chicken, egg, grain, or pea sensitivity.

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

Chicken (#1), Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) (#2), Dried Egg Product (#21)

Plant protein

Pea Protein (#7), Peas (#11)

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

Fish oil

Skin and joint 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

Chondroitin

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
Brown Rice
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein26%
Crude protein26%
Crude fat14%
Other 60%

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
Typical
query_statsFat position
Typical
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.
  • Crude protein does not drop into a clearly low band.
  • 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.
  • Processed plant protein appears after the top 3, so some protein support is still built into the label number.
  • Public data trust is usable, but it does not sit in the highest-trust tier.

Alternative foods

Smart chicken alternatives

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

107 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.

Nutro

Natural Choice Large Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice

Adult · Large breed

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Nutro

Ultra Senior Dry Dog Food

Senior · All sizes

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Nutro

Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice

Adult · All sizes

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Nutro

Natural Choice Small Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice

Adult · Small breed

Label score

3.5/5

Grade B

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 1926 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
3Brown Rice
Whole Grain · Upper

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.
  • •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.
restaurantIngredient Grade BGood

Full collected ingredient list

47 ingredients
ChickenChicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate)Brown RiceBarleyOatmealBrewers RicePea ProteinChicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)Dried Plain Beet PulpNatural FlavorsPeasSaltFlaxseedFish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)Potassium ChlorideCholine ChlorideDicalcium PhosphateChia SeedDried CoconutDried Tomato PomaceDried Egg ProductDried PumpkinDried KaleDried SpinachDL-MethionineCitric Acid (preservative)Mixed Tocopherols (preservative)Vitamin E SupplementFerrous SulfateZinc OxideSodium SeleniteL-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C)Manganese SulfateCopper SulfateD-Calcium PantothenateBiotinThiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1)Vitamin B12 SupplementVitamin A SupplementNiacin SupplementRiboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2)Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)Vitamin D3 SupplementPotassium IodideManganous OxideFolic AcidRosemary 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)

D tier

Only basic guaranteed analysis is visible, so deeper nutrition comparison stays hard to trust.

Final word

There is enough here to keep the food in comparison, but not enough to stop comparing yet.

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