nulo soft dog food
Nulo Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons
Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.
Learn more.
Nulo Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons
Written by: Krystal FaceyReview Summary
Our Final Verdict
We give Nulo Dog Food a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Nulo was created with quality care for dogs in mind. Its founder realized that there werent enough care options available for dogs for last-minute requests. He also noticed that there was a bit of a health crisis in terms of weight and quality food for dogs. Most off-the-shelf dog food brands are like fast food for humans in the sense that they contain fillers and have low nutritional valueNulo was introduced to change this. Keep reading to learn why it stands out from your regular dog food.
At a Glance: The Best Nulo Dog Food Recipes:
Nulo Dog Food Reviewed
Nulo started in Austin, Texas with the founders dog, Max, and his health needs in mind. It is still manufactured in Austin, Texas today and shipped to many countries around the world.
Which Type of Dog Is Nulo Best Suited For?
If you have a dog that requires high protein content in its diet and low carbs, Nulo would be a good option. It contains ingredients that support energy and a balanced diet for healthy immune systems and digestive health. Nulo is best for owners looking to manage their dogs weight or those with specific health needs. If your vet has suggested you switch to dog food that is suitable for pets with stomach issues or sensitivities to certain ingredients, Nulo is a good choice. Additionally, if you have been told to switch your dog to a grain-free recipe there are options from Nulo for this purpose.
Which Type of Dog Might Do Better With a Different Brand?
There are simpler and just as nutritious dry dog food options for dogs, such as Taste of the Wild, Royal Canin, and more, that are great alternatives. If you arent looking for weight management or recipes designed for sensitive stomachs and digestion issues, you might not need to look at Nulo as an option.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Katie (@letscockaboutkatie)
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
The primary ingredients for Nulo vary depending on the type of recipe you choose to feed your dog. Whether its trout, turkey, or salmon and peas, the primary ingredient may change but the overall nutritional value is similar across recipes.
High Protein
Nulo puts a lot of importance on the high content of protein and has deboned meat listed as its first ingredient across its recipes. With 30% protein in every meal, Nulo skips on fillers and preservatives to provide the best ingredients for overall health. When you review the list of ingredients in its nutritional information, the high-quality protein makes it really stand out.
Vitamins and Minerals
As mentioned previously, the list of ingredients stands out with a great variety of essential vitamins, supplements, and superfoods. Ingredients such as blueberries, apples, potassium, iron, and vitamins A and B12 provide a lot of comfort to pet parents with optimal health in mind.
A Quick Look at Nulo Dog Food
Pros
- Variety of food options
- High-quality protein
- High vitamin content
Cons
- Somewhat cheesy branding
- Fairly expensive
Recall History
As of this writing, Nulo Dog Food does not have any history of recalls.
Reviews of the 3 Best Nulo Dog Food Recipes
1. Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
This grain-free formula is the top-rated and most popular Nulo dry dog food recipe on our list. With 85% of its protein coming from animal-based ingredients, it tops the charts in dog nutrition. This recipe is created to provide amino acids to your pup to build lean muscle mass. The low carbohydrates and advanced probiotics support overall nutrition. The wide array of available sizes provides many options for pet owners too.
This recipe is grain-free for dogs who have digestion issues and food sensitivities, although grain-free recipes are not ideal for all dogs.
Pros
- Added essential vitamins and omega fatty acids
- Free from egg and chicken (for sensitive stomachs)
- Added calcium for bones and dental health
Cons
- Not for picky eaters
- Grain-free recipes are not ideal for all dogs
2. Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Salmon & Peas Recipe Dry Dog Food
This Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free recipe has 80% animal-based protein in its ingredients. Its packed with additional vitamins and nutrients to support energy and heart health in dogs. The added essential amino acids support lean muscle and energy support. The nutritional benefits also include low carb content, advanced probiotics for digestive and immune support, and no chicken or eggs for dogs with allergies. This recipe also includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to improve a dogs skin and coat.
Pros
- Packed with essential nutrients
- Packed with animal-based proteins
- Includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
3. Nulo Freestyle Cod & Lentils Recipe Grain-Free Adult Trim Dry Dog Food
This Nulo Freestyle Cod & Lentils recipe is low in fat and has 74% animal-based protein content. It also contains ingredients that have a low glycemic content and probiotics to help digestion. Calcium and phosphorus help support strong bones and balanced nutrition to support doggy immune systems. This recipe is created with more fiber and fewer calories from fat for dogs who need weight management support in their daily meals. The fiber-rich ingredients help to keep your dog full for longer.
Pros
- Supports fat metabolism
- Cod as the first ingredient
- High in animal-based protein
Cons
- Expensive
- Strong fish odor
What Other Users Are Saying
- Chewy Dog loves the food and I noticed a great improvement in attitude, appetite as well as bodily function.
- Chewy She has been on Nulo food for over 3 years now and I wouldnt change it! Great dog food!
- Amazon I will try a sensitive stomach recipe, but my dog loooooves this dog food. Its too bad that he is not digesting it very well. You can read more of these Amazon reviews by clicking here.
Conclusion
In summary, Nulo dog food has its perks, and you may get turned off by its too good to be true marketing pasted all over the bag. All the recipes contain high protein content, though, and have their protein sources listed as their first ingredient. They have a variety of recipes for your dogs to choose from, and each recipe contains a lot of nutritional value that benefits an overall healthy immune system for your dog. Nulo was created with healthy dogs in mind and was founded by a pet owner that only wants the best for all dogs.
Nulo Medal Series Dog Food Review (Dry)
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Which Nulo Medal Series Dry Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Nulo Medal Series Dog Food receives the Advisors top rating of 5 stars.
The Nulo Medal Series product line includes the 11 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Nulo Medal Series Adult Lamb and Lentils | 5 | M |
| Nulo Medal Series Adult Chicken and Peas | 5 | M |
| Nulo Medal Series Adult Weight Management Chicken and Sweet Potato | 5 | M |
| Nulo Medal Series Senior Chicken and Lentils | 5 | M |
| Nulo Medal Series Large Breed Turkey and Peas | 5 | M |
| Nulo Medal Series Adult Salmon and Sweet Potato | 5 | M |
| Nulo Medal Series Puppy Chicken and Sweet Potato | 5 | G |
| Nulo Medal Series Small Breed Turkey and Chickpeas | 5 | A |
| Nulo Medal Series Small Breed Chicken and Sweet Potato | 5 | A |
| Nulo Medal Series Large Breed Puppy Salmon and Sweet Potato | 5 | G |
| Nulo Medal Series Puppy Salmon and Lentils | 5 | G |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Nulo Medal Series Adult Lamb and Lentils was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Nulo Medal Series Adult Lamb and Lentils
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Lamb, turkey meal, chicken meal, whole peas, sweet potato, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols & citric acid), lentils, menhaden fish meal, pea fiber, natural lamb flavor, yeast culture, dried chicory root, potassium chloride, dried apples, dried blueberries, dried carrots, dried tomatoes, calcium carbonate, salmon oil, salt, sweet fennel, dandelion, chamomile, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), iron proteinate, niacin, copper proteinate, choline chloride, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, manganous oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), sodium selenite, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, folic acid, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Guaranteed Analysis | 32% | 17% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 36% | 19% | 38% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 39% | 32% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is lamb. Although it is a quality item, raw lamb contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
The third ingredient is chicken meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The next ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient includes lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) theyre rich in natural fiber.
However, lentils contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The eighth ingredient is menhaden fish meal, yet another high protein meat concentrate.
Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. Theyre rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Whats more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deep water species.
This item is typically obtained from the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.1
The ninth ingredient is pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no nutritional value to a dog.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other ingredients.
But realistically, items located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Nulo product.
With 4 notable exceptions
First, salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Next, chicory root is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.
In addition, this recipe includes sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Nulo Medal Series Dog Food looks like an above-average grain-free dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 19% and estimated carbohydrates of about 38%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 35% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 49%.
Which means this Nulo product line contains
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas and lentils, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
Our Rating of Nulo Medal Series Dog Food
Nulo Medal Series is a grain-free dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Nulo Medal Series Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Nulo through April.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Get Free Recall Alerts
Get free dog food recall alerts sent to you by email. Subscribe to The Advisors recall notification list.
More Nulo Brand Reviews
The following Nulo dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
Compare This Dog Food
How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
