Nutrience dog food review

I am always on the look for quality Canadian-made dog food for my pooch, Rio. As a canine nutritionist by trade, I am very critical of dog food from the ingredients to how it's made. I always have friends and family asking what they should feed their dog and as much as I want to tell them that Kabo is the best, I also understand that there is not one blanket dog food that works for every dog. Recently, one of my close friends asked me about Nutrience dog food and if it is a good food to feed their pup. Without much prior knowledge on the brand, I did an unbiased review on their food and here’s what I found…

About the brand

Nutrience is a Canadian pet food brand that has been providing premium pet nutrition for over 30 years. They offer a wide range of dog food products, each designed to cater to the specific nutritional needs of dogs at different life stages and with varying dietary requirements. 

Nutrience isn’t an independent brand however, but a subsidiary of a much larger company called Hagen. Founded by Rolf C. Hagen in 1955, Hagen has grown to become the world's largest privately-owned, multi-national pet products manufacturer and distributor. You may recognize some of Hagen’s other products supplied at your local Pet Smart or Pet Land, such as Zoe, Living World and Zeus.

The good

There are a lot of good things to note about Nutrience’s food. While we can never really know what goes on behind the closed doors of a company, at face value Nutrience has some good things going for them in terms of dog food. Here are a few things that Nutrience is doing right:

High protein

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 38% and a mean fat level of 18%. This is an above average amount of protein for a pet store brand, which usually averages about 20-30% protein. To me this indicates 2 things: 

1. That Nutrience uses a high quality meat source in their diets instead of relying on cheaper ingredients such as meat and bone meal.
2. There are either very few or no filler ingredients used. Like Kabo recipes, every ingredient in Nutrience diets seem to be added in order to serve a nutritional purpose.

Overall, Nutrience diets contain above-average protein, above-average fat and below-average carbs when compared to other typical kibbles.

Quality ingredients

Nutrience emphasizes the use of high-quality, natural ingredients in their formulas. Their recipes often include real meat sources, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, ensuring that dogs receive essential nutrients for optimal health.

Canadian made

We love Canadian made pet food! The company's headquarters is located in Longueuil, Quebec. However, I wasn’t able to find where exactly the food is being manufactured.

No formal recalls

I like to use the FDA pet food recall database to check on whether there has been an official recall on a certain pet food product. To date, Nutrience has had no recalls. It is important to note however that Canada has no governing body for pet food like the USA does. Therefore, there may have been some quiet recalls or changes to recipes without the public’s knowledge.

Formulated to meet AAFCO standards

Nutrience strives to maintain that their diets are complete and blanched and do this by formulating their diets according to AAFCO guidelines. 

The bad

There isn’t too many bad things to say about Nutrience, however nothing is perfect. Here a few things to consider about Nutrience:

Includes yeast extract

While not the absolute worst ingredient to appear in dog food, Nutrience does use yeast extract in their dry diets. Yeast is usually added to dog food as a palatant to make food taste better to dogs. Yeast is considered a controversial ingredient in dog food due to certain concerns and potential risks associated with its use. The controversies mainly revolve around two aspects:

• Allergies and Sensitivities: Some dogs may be allergic or sensitive to yeast or yeast-related ingredients. Yeast contains proteins that could trigger adverse reactions in dogs with allergies, leading to skin issues, gastrointestinal problems, or itching. While yeast allergies are relatively uncommon in dogs, it's essential to be cautious, especially if your dog has known food sensitivities.
• Yeast Extract and MSG: Another concern relates to the use of yeast extract, which contains monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG is a flavor enhancer often added to foods to improve taste. While it is generally recognized as safe for most dogs, some pet owners prefer to avoid MSG due to potential adverse effects in certain individuals. These effects might include headaches, nausea, or other symptoms in sensitive individuals.

Summary

Ultimately, I would recommend Nutrience to pet owners considering the brand. They have a variety of diets with quality ingredients that are well balanced. However, if you have a dog with allergies, it may be best to consider something else. It's important to note that pet food formulations and product lines can change over time, and there might have been updates or changes to Nutrience's offerings since my last update. Therefore, for the most current and detailed information about Nutrience dog food, I recommend visiting their official website or consulting with a veterinarian who can provide specific recommendations based on your dog's individual needs.

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