NutriSource Dog Food
Brief Overview
NutriSource super premium dog food is made by Tuffy Pet Foods, headquartered in Perham, Minnesota. They also make PureVita pure and natural holistic pet foods, and Natural Planet Organics pet foods. According to the company, they try to use non-GMO ingredients as much as possible. NutriSource includes grain free dry recipes, dry recipes with grains (but no corn or soy), canned foods, and treats.
Who Manufactures NutriSource?
Tuffy’s Pet Foods, the maker of NutriSource and PureVita Pet Foods, has been making pet foods since 1947. They are a family-owned and operated company. Tuffy’s was an economy pet food line for many years but the company transitioned to super premium pet food with NutriSource pet food after 39 years. In 2007, they expanded again with their PureVita line, and in 2009 added their organic Natural Planet Organics line. Their foods include holistic, organic, grain free, and non-GMO products.
Tuffy’s, along with several snack food and candy brands, make up KLN Family Brands under family ownership.
Disclosure: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which will direct you to our partner sites. If you purchase the pet foods we recommend through those links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
NutriSource Recalls 2017
NutriSource has never had a product involved in a recall. They make this statement on their web site and we checked both the AVMA and FDA pet food recall databases. There have been no recalls affecting NutriSource, Tuffy’s, or KLN.
NutriSource Dog Food Coupons 2017
NutriSource Reviews
According to NutriSource, their pet foods are made with real chicken or real lamb as the first ingredient. Their foods that use grain use rice, barley or oatmeal and they do not use whole corn or soy. They do not use by-products in their foods. They use natural preservatives (mixed tocopherols).
They produce grain free kibbles, kibbles (with grain), canned foods, and treats. The grain free kibbles feature six formulas: Heartland Select, Seafood Select, Chicken Formula, Lamb Meal Formula, Large Breed Chicken Formula, and Large Breed Lamb Meal Formula. There are no puppy formulas but these are all life stage formulas and the nutrient profiles show a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1 to .9 percent. Many of these formulas have 28 percent protein and 18 percent fat, though the large breed formulas have 23 percent protein and 14 percent fat. Seafood Select and Heartland Select are 25/15. The foods contain peas, pea flour, and pea starch in the first several ingredients.
The kibbles that include grain feature 10 formulas: adult, large breed adult – chicken and rice formula, lamb meal and rice formula, large breed adult – lamb meal and rice formula, small and medium breed puppy, large breed puppy, senior, weight management, performance, and super performance. Protein and fat percentages range from 32/21 for the super performance formula (which has chicken meal, chicken, brown rice, and chicken fat), to 25/9 for the weight management formulas (chicken, chicken meal, barley, brown rice, beet pulp-dried, pea fiber, oatmeal). Large breed adult lamb and rice is 23/14 (lamb meal, brown rice, white rice, barley, fish meal (a source of fish oil), oatmeal, beet pulp-dried, flax seeds) while regular lamb and rice is 22/13 – unusual because large breed formulas usually has lower percentages. The large breed chicken and rice formula is also 23/14. However, the ordinary adult formula is 26/16 (chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), white rice, oatmeal, fish meal (a source of fish oil), beet pulp-dried).
The canned foods include seven formulas: grain free chicken, grain free lamb, grain free Heartland Select, grain free Seafood Select, Chicken & Rice formula, Lamb & Rice formula, and Chicken, Lamb, and Ocean Fish formula. Calling some of these foods “grain free” is a little odd – it’s not unusual for canned foods to be grain free. Most canned foods are primarily made of meat and fat which is why dogs like them so much. But we understand that these formulas are the counterparts of NutriSource’s grain free kibbles, so it’s fair.
ALL of these canned foods state in their guaranteed analyses that they contain 78 percent moisture. This is not unusual for canned foods. In fact, it’s on the low side for many canned foods. However, we note that the foods labeled “grain free” do not name any liquid source in the ingredients. This seems odd. We can’t recall seeing this on a can of dog food before. Unless all of the liquid is in the meat, something seems strange with these ingredient lists.
The grain free canned foods have protein and fat around 10/10. The other canned foods have about 9 percent protein and 6-8 percent fat.
We don’t see AAFCO statements on the grain free canned foods though the other canned foods have them (for all life stages).
NutriSource also makes treats for dogs. They make grain free biscuits in chicken, whitefish, and liver. They also make chicken treats, lamb treats, and salmon treats.
How would you rate NutriSource:
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Our NutriSource Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dog Food Review:
For this review we have selected NutriSource Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dog Food. The first five ingredients in the food are:
- Chicken
- Chicken meal
- Brown rice
- Barley
- Chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid)
Most dogs can eat chicken without a problem, though it is listed as one of the seven most common allergens for dogs. Food allergies are still uncommon in most dogs. The food does not contain corn, soy, wheat, or eggs.
Chicken and chicken meal are good sources of meat protein for dogs. Chicken meal has already had most of the moisture removed so it is a more concentrated source of protein, but they are both good ingredients. In general, chicken is about 80 percent protein and 20 percent fat. It’s also a good source of omega-6 fatty acid.
Brown rice is a whole grain rice with about 8 percent protein. It has 7 percent fat and 85 percent carbohydrates. It’s a little harder to digest than white rice but it is considered to be slightly more nutritious. Both brown and white rice are moderate foods on the glycemic index if you are concerned about their effects on your dog’s blood sugar.
Barley is a cereal grain but it’s considered to be a good source of dietary fiber. It has 7 percent protein and 3 percent fat, as well as 90 percent carbohydrates. Barley is considered a low glycemic food and it slows digestion.
The fifth ingredient in this list is chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid). Chicken fat has lots of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are good for your dog’s skin and coat, among other things. A named animal fat, such as chicken fat, is usually better than fats from plant oils as a source of fat. It’s a good source of energy for your dog. Fats also help distribute fat-soluble vitamins in your dog’s body (vitamins A, D, E, and K).
This food also contains white rice and oatmeal which are carbs. The oatmeal is another source of dietary fiber. And it contains dried beet pulp which is a good source of insoluble fiber, helping to move food along the digestive system. The fiber absorbs water and swells to help food digest and pass through the system.
The food also contains fish meal as a source of fish oil. Fish meal is also a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acid. Here’s is NutriSource’s response about ethoxyquin in fish meal (March 2013):
NutriSource Pet Foods Recent changes in the fish meal processing industry have made it impossible for pet food manufacturers to obtain fish meal certified to not contain traces of ethoxyquin. The NutriSource family of brands are taking the following actions. New products are being formulated with naturally preserved Salmon Meal or Menhaden Fish Meal produced in the US without trace levels of ethoxyquin rather than fish meal.
Salmon meal is processed in the US and is not transported in ocean going vessels, hence it is free of ethoxyquin. Menhaden fish meal is harvested along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the US also ethoxyquin free.
Tuffy’s does not add ethoxyquin. Our suppliers do not add ethoxyquin.
If you have any further questions please contact our customer service department at 1-800-525-9155!!!
The food also has some flax seeds which are a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and dietary fiber. However, flax seeds (and flax seed oil) can interfere with a dog’s hormones. Be careful if you are a dog breeder. That said, foods that contain small amounts of flax seeds probably won’t cause a problem.
We also note that the food contains glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate, which are often added to pet foods for joint support. The scientific data is unclear about whether these supplements actually help dogs (or people), but many people report improvement after using them. And it contains rosemary extract which is used as a natural preservative. If your dog has seizures you should be careful about feeding foods that contain rosemary – but it’s hard to find dog foods that don’t contain it.
The food also contains brewers yeast which adds protein and is often used to improve skin and coat in dogs. Brewers yeast contains biotin and other B vitamins that are good for the skin. Some dog owners buy it as a stand-alone product (often formulated with garlic) to use as a flea preventive.
Otherwise, the food also uses chelated minerals which are minerals bonded to proteins so they are easier for your dog to digest. They are often used in more expensive dog foods to ensure that dogs get the most out of the added minerals.
The food also contains some added fermentation products to help with digestion. It is becoming more common for premium dog foods to add fermentation products (such as Lactobacillus acidophilus). These products have been used in agriculture for years but they are relatively new in pet foods.
Metabolizable Energy (calculated): 3,956 kcals per kg, 429 kcals per cup. This is a moderately rich dog food.
Nutrition Statement
NutriSource® Adult Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:
| Crude Protein (Min.) | 26.0% | 260 g/kg |
| Crude Fat (Min.) | 16.0% | 160 g/kg |
| Crude Fiber (Max.) | 4.0% | 40 g/kg |
| Moisture (Max.) | 10.0% | 100 g/kg |
The dry matter basis figures for this food are: 28.9 percent protein; 17.8 percent fat; 4.4 percent fiber; and 40 percent carbohydrates.
This food has moderate protein and has a moderate percentage of fat. The fiber content is average for most kibbles while the carb percentage is moderately high compared to other commercial kibbles.
We like the ingredients in this food and think this would be a good dog food for many dogs as long as they don’t have any problems eating grains. The moderate protein and fat would be acceptable for many adult dogs. The carbs are moderately high but lower than many well-known commercial brands.
Where can you buy NutriSource dog food?
You can buy NutriSource dog foods nationwide at pet stores, feed stores, and many farmers’ co-ops. You can also purchase it online from Chewy.com, Amazon, PetFoodDirect.com, and other pet food retailers who will deliver. You can also visit the KLN store to buy food from the company.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we think NutriSource looks like good dog food. We have some concerns about their grain free canned foods because of the labeling and moisture content and because of the lack of an AAFCO statement. We are less enthusiastic about their grain free kibbles because of the heavy use of peas, pea flour, and pea starch in the first five ingredients in the foods. However, we do like their other kibbles and canned foods. So, thumbs up for kibbles and canned food, but we can’t recommend their grain free products at this time.
In regard to trace minerals, I see the word ‘proteinate’ on a lot of their ingredients. I did some research and their is a huge absorbency rate when you compare proteinates vs chelates vs the newest ‘complex’ minerals. Seems like they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel on their zinc, copper, etc. Those minerals are vital to coat health, eye and nerve function, etc.
Also, can we find out where the ingredients are sourced? Non-GMO is well and good, but what ingredients come from North America? Asia? Europe? etc. “Made in China” is still a scary reality, and if their chicken or lamb or peas come from China I would like to know.
All of the ingredients are from the U.S. except the non-gmo meats rabbit and duck which are from France, a gmo free country, and lamb from New Zealand.
We buy NutrI Source Trout and Rice Formula dry dog food for our Lab. The packaging indicates that the ingredients are prepared in the USA, but there is also Chinese writing on the packaging too.
Could you please tell me if any of the ingredients or packaging are made in China.
There is a current recall of a kibble made in Tuffy’s plant.
The recall is for certain lots of “Nutrisca”…….manufactured at the Tuffy plant.
My Doberman puppy came to me on this food, I kept feeding it to him for a few months giving the breeder benefit of the doubt. My pup was not doing good on it, coat looked bad & dull, he was having digestive problems, lots of loose stool so I switched him to something else. I think my pup has a picky stomach & grain content in this food is probably high with fillers. Overall I cannot recommend this food, go with better kibble since this food in Canada is not cheap anyway but it is moderately easy to find.
My puppy came home with a bag of puppy Nutisource, so I decided th stay with it. I did a little research and could not find anything really negative about it. So now she is a year and a half old and on Adult Nutri source kibble. She is happy and healthy and no loose stools. When I walk her, I do my best to keep outside berries, small pebbles and anything else out of her mouth. Anything of foreign matter, she reguritates it. I would recommend this food plan with no table scraps or wet foods..
My grandma has been buying this brand of food for years and now twice in less then a year she has found tiny little worms in the dogs food!! Can anyone explain???!!
Most likely grain weevils which can also be found in pantry flour, cereals, cracker crumbs, etc. We close our dog food bags with chip-clips and put them in air-tight bins.
I have found worms in 4 bags over the past year (Chicken and Rice and their Weight Management). I’m in Costa Rica, but we’re finding them in newly opened bags (everything goes into containers after opened). Not cheap down here…
I feed my Service/Hearing Dog, Chika, NutriSource and there’s never been a problem with digestion of any sort. My previous Hearing Dog, Snickers, ate this food too, and she never had a problem with digestion. I very much like the fact that it is made in our homestate, Minnesota, and the plant is two hours away. I have driven by and around the plants many times at different times during the year and the number one thing I’m looking for is the cleanliness. I have never, ever seen those black boxes for catching rodents around any of the entrances or any side of the building, nor have I ever smelled the aroma of dog food, unlike the Purina plant in Minneapolis, which can take a person’s breath away, especially when it is raining.
Why should you buy NutriSource? To begin with, the nutrition the food provides for your dog/cat and the treats for them is top notch and your best friend will look and feel good after she/he eats. The bowel movements are not big, as she’s a Blueheeler-mix and are firm so that it’s easier to pick up. Adding junk, such as corn, is only a filler; in the summer, humans like to eat sweet corn and, just like the dog food with corn in it, adds no nutritional value whatsoever.
Sorry to say, I do not agree with the reviewers that NutriSource is a Three Star food; I place it as a five-star because it has top nutrition in it at an affordable price. They also provide sample bags, which are free, but have coupons on them. I buy Chika’s food at the local Hardware Hank and don’t worry about it being stale or past the date for freshness.
Dry dog food is great but the wet dry food makes my doggie really sick makes him vomit, swells, and excessive urination.something is not right with the wet food label information.
Francy,
What type of water does your dog drink? Although Chika and Bailey (my home dog who is partially blind) drink the water at the dog park, they drink filtered water at home, which is the same that I drink. Also, what percentage of canned food to dry are you feeding? There should be more dry kibble mixed in the canned so there are no digestive issues.
I but the lamb and Brown rice of nutrisource. I have to say a major change in both my 8 yr old chow mix, and my 4 yr old Egyptian Pharoah hound. Attitude, eating habits, stools and overall contentment. Is ten times much better than when they were on diamond natural lamb and rice. Price is higher per pound a little but for good amount. $51 for 33 lbs. At farm supply
I bought my dog from Petland. They give Nutri-source kibbles to all of their puppies. I was told to continue it when I brought my dog home. Halfway thru the bag I spot tons of tiny thin brown worms the same color as the kibbles. My dog has eaten half of bag…he appears a little lethargic and has some loose stools. Called my vet he recommends blood work and poo sample. Taking bag back to PETLAND who must be a big customer of Nutri-source . I want the bloodwork done either the store or pet food company. Saved the bag and some of its contents…don’t want it to spread. Hopefully, they will do the right thing…totally grossed out.
I use Nutrisource super performance with my field trial dogs. Never had an issue. Never any worms but then again I keep the bag sealed.