NutriSource Dog Food Reviews (Ratings, Recalls, Ingredients!)
About the Company
NutriSource Super Premium Pet Foods is a brand from Tuffy’s Pet Foods. Tuffy’s first began in Minnesota in 1947 as Pine Lakes Feed. Its owner, Darrell "Tuffy" Nelson, was joined by his son, Kenny, in 1964. Together, they formed Tuffy's Dog Food Company. In 2003, the NutriSource Super Premium Pet Food brand was born.
The company avoids the use of GMO products as much as possible. It also aims to keep out corn and soy from its natural products to reduce the possibility of GMO content. NutriSource Super Premium Pet Foods follows AAFCO guidelines for its products.
Dry Food
Food | Quality | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
A+ | ||
A+ | ||
A | ||
A+ | ||
A |
Canned Food
Food | Quality | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
A+ | ||
A | ||
A+ | ||
A- | ||
A |
Rating
Is NutriSource a good dog food? Both customer reviewers and I agree – YES! This company has been around a long time. So, it's obviously doing something right. NutriSource mentions on its website that its facility gets annual reviews by the USDA. Any complaints or revisions needed are handled immediately. It is very honest with its customers, which is probably why it's been around so long!
Tuffy's Pet Foods dedicates its time and business to quality control. It focuses a lot on the manufacturing process, which is where a lot can go wrong. It manufactures all of its pet food through one facility! Nothing but consistency for this company. But it also pays attention to its ingredients, the most important part of your dog's food.
Pros
From the NutriSource website, here are a few things you can expect from NutriSource dog food:
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin in every formula
- No by-products or corn
- Naturally preserved
- Vitamin C protected through cooking
- Digestive enzymes on each piece of kibble
- Minerals are fully proteinated for better absorption
- Delivery trucks are fully inspected for cleanliness before loading
And this is just some of what you can expect from Tuffy’s Pet Foods. This is some of the best information I’ve seen on a dog food website. In addition, NutriSource customers absolutely agree that this dog food is amazing.
NutriSource’s Facebook page boasts a lot of great customer reviews. Customers note positive changes in their dogs’ demeanor and overall health. Some even say that their veterinarians are proud of their dog food choice!
I can see why. Each formula is packed full of awesome ingredients, with real meat being the number one protein source. That’s something you should always look for in your dog food. But, more importantly, its ingredients aid in digestion, so even sensitive tummies can benefit from NutriSource dog food.
Cons
NutriSource formulas do add some natural flavors and salt for extra flavor. In small amounts, these may not be harmful to your dog. However, they aren’t necessarily something that needs to be added to dog food. I prefer that whatever isn’t necessary should be left out, the same philosophy I have for human food!
Also, NutriSource is on the more expensive end for dog food. It typically ranges between $40 and $50 for a 30-33 lb. bag,depending where you buy. Some customers have an issue with that. Obviously, there are many others who are more than willing to pay extra to ensure a healthy meal for their dogs. Really, this boils down to personal preference more than a definite con. But, I felt I should mention it for those on a strict budget.
NutriSource Dog Food Ingredients
One of the most popular varieties of NutriSource dog food is the NutriSource Performance Chicken & Rice Formula. Here is its guaranteed analysis:
- Crude Protein (min) 30.0%
- Crude Fat (min) 20.0%
- Crude Fiber (max) 5.0%
- Moisture (max) 10.0%
- Iron (min) 130 mg/kg
- Copper (min) 10 mg/kg
- Manganese (min) 10 mg/kg
- Copper (min) 180 mg/kg
- Selenium (min) 0.11 mg/kg
- Copper (min) 10 mg/kg
- Vitamin E (min) 155 IU/kg
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids (min) 2.6%
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids (min) 0.5%
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (min) 0.5%
- Glucosamine (min): 300 mg/kg
- Chondroitin Sulfate (min): 150 mg/kg
- L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C) (Min.) 80 mg/kg
- Cobalt (min) 1.0 mg/kg
- Total Microorganisms (min) 100 million CFU/lb
NutriSource Performance Chicken & Rice Formula is formulated for weight gain. Active or working dogs and pregnant or nursing dogs can benefit from this formula. Its focus is on protein for muscle mass and healthy weight gain.
Looking at its ingredients, I see that NutriSource really delivers on its promise. Chicken, chicken meal, and brown rice are the first three ingredients. I always prefer to see real meat listed first, so this is great. Chicken meal is a good source of protein in addition to real chicken. And brown rice is an excellent fiber source. You'll also find fish meal as a fish oil source and chicken fat for healthy fat content.
The things I wasn't as impressed with were "turkey and chicken flavor" and salt. Some dog food companies add natural flavors and salt for more flavorful food. But just as these are usually unhealthy for humans, they can be for dogs, too. On a positive note, NutriSource does specify "turkey and chicken" as the flavor. We at least know what kind of animal it's coming from, but still not its components.
NutriSource Dog Food Recall History
There is no history of a NutriSource dog food recall within the past two years, according to the FDA and customer reviews.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Tuffy’s Pet Foods’ NutriSource brand is one I’m willing to stand behind. I truly think this company is beneficial to the dog food world. It’s been in business a long time, and, in fact, I can really see why. It leaves nothing hidden from its customers. And it pays strict attention to its manufacturing. Furthermore, it even manufactures from one single facility to ensure consistency. Now that’s dedication!
In addition, Tuffy’s Pet Foods know where its ingredients come from. It also makes sure they’re safe and keeps unhealthy stuff out. It even goes so far as to explain ingredients on its label for those who may question an ingredient.
NutriSource is an absolutely transparent brand, which I really respect in this world of hidden information. To sum up, I recommend NutriSource to dog owners willing to shell out a little extra money to get a healthy food from a trusted brand.