Natural Veterinary Diet is built around purpose: each recipe is named for a target such as kidney support, food intolerance, digestive support, or weight management paired with urinary care or mobility. Chicken appears in 6 of 8 kibbles and fish in 4, while NP uses alligator and HF uses salmon hydrolysate. All 12 recipes list potato, and 10 include peas or lentils.
The kibbles vary widely. Protein runs from 14% in KS Kidney Support to 30% in the three weight recipes, and estimated starch from 24% to 48%, all as fed. The kibble average of 24.8% protein sits a little under the catalog kibble average of 26.9%, starch averages 37%, close to the catalog's 37.4%, and calories average 345 kcal per cup against 395. The three wet foods carry 7% to 8% protein, under the catalog wet average of 8.3%, and the KS topper has 4%, far below the 18.4% topper average.
The trade-offs: legumes appear in most recipes, and the Grain-Free names are not a reliable guide, since our ingredient read flags grain in three of those kibbles. The two Weight Management + Mobility listings also share identical figures and first ingredients.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Management + Mobility Support | 30% | 13% | 24% | 331 | Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Barley |
| W+U Weight Management + Urinary Care Grain-Free | 30% | 10% | 27% | 314 | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Starch |
| W+M Weight Management + Mobility Support | 30% | 13% | 24% | 331 | Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Barley |
| HF Hydrolyzed for Food Intolerance Grain-Free | 24% | 12% | 43% | 368 | Salmon Hydrolysate, Pea Starch, Potatoes |
| GI Gastrointestinal Support | 24% | 12% | 43% | 344 | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal |
| GI Gastrointestinal Support Low Fat Grain-Free | 24% | 6% | 48% | 297 | Deboned Whitefish, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein |
| NP Novel Protein Alligator Grain-Free | 22% | 14% | 42% | 372 | Deboned Alligator, Peas, Pea Starch |
| KS Kidney Support Grain-Free | 14% | 18% | 45% | 404 | Deboned Chicken, Potato Starch, Pea Starch |
| Line average | 24.8% | 12.3% | 37% | 345 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
30% protein · 13% fat · 24% starch · 331 kcal/cup
This listing matches W+M exactly, with deboned salmon, chicken meal and barley up front, 30% protein, 17% fiber and 24% estimated starch, but it is the only recipe with no life stage listed. It is made for weight management and mobility and suits owners seeking a pea-free kibble.
Full review of Weight Management + Mobility Support30% protein · 10% fat · 27% starch · 314 kcal/cup · Adult
W+U is the only kibble with turkey and pairs 30% protein with 10% fat, less fat than the other two weight recipes, at 314 kcal per cup. Made for weight management and urinary care, it suits owners comfortable with pea starch, peas and pea protein near the top.
Full review of W+U Weight Management + Urinary Care Grain-Free30% protein · 13% fat · 24% starch · 331 kcal/cup · Adult
W+M is listed for adult dogs and shares its figures with the Weight Management + Mobility Support listing: 30% protein, 13% fat, 17% fiber and 24% estimated starch, tied for lowest in the line. Owners who prefer barley and salmon over peas and lentils may look here.
Full review of W+M Weight Management + Mobility Support24% protein · 12% fat · 43% starch · 368 kcal/cup · Adult
HF is the only kibble built on salmon hydrolysate, with fish as its sole animal protein, followed by pea starch, potatoes, peas and pea protein. Sold for food intolerance, at 24% protein and 43% estimated starch it suits owners looking specifically for a hydrolyzed fish kibble.
Full review of HF Hydrolyzed for Food Intolerance Grain-Free24% protein · 12% fat · 43% starch · 344 kcal/cup · Adult
GI Gastrointestinal Support is the only kibble with oatmeal and brown rice in its first ingredients, after deboned chicken and chicken meal. With 24% protein, 12% fat and 344 kcal per cup, it suits owners wanting a grain-inclusive recipe sold for digestive support.
Full review of GI Gastrointestinal Support24% protein · 6% fat · 48% starch · 297 kcal/cup · Adult
GI Low Fat leads with deboned whitefish and has the least fat of the kibbles at 6%, the most estimated starch at 48% and the fewest calories at 297 kcal per cup. It suits owners wanting the lowest-fat kibble here, with tapioca starch and potatoes among its first ingredients.
Full review of GI Gastrointestinal Support Low Fat Grain-Free22% protein · 14% fat · 42% starch · 372 kcal/cup · Adult
NP is the only recipe built on alligator, with deboned alligator and alligator meal and no chicken, fish or egg in its protein list. With peas, pea starch and pea protein in its first five ingredients and 22% protein, it suits owners seeking a novel protein kibble without grain.
Full review of NP Novel Protein Alligator Grain-Free14% protein · 18% fat · 45% starch · 404 kcal/cup · Adult
KS Kidney Support has the least protein of the kibbles at 14% and the most fat at 18%, and at 404 kcal per cup it is the most calorie-dense kibble. It is made for kidney support and suits owners who want a low-protein chicken and egg recipe.
Full review of KS Kidney Support Grain-Free| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GI Low Fat | 8% | 1.5% | 78% | 824 | Whitefish, Potatoes, Chicken Broth |
| WU | 7% | 2.5% | 78% | 881 | Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth |
| WM | 7% | 2.5% | 78% | 1,053 | Whitefish, Potatoes, Chicken Broth |
| Line average | 7.3% | 2.2% | 78% | 919 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
8% protein · 1.5% fat · 292 kcal/can · Adult
GI Low Fat has the least fat among wet foods at 1.5% and the fewest calories at 292 kcal per can, and it is the only wet recipe with egg. It shares the GI label with the gastrointestinal support kibbles and suits owners wanting a lower-fat wet food.
Full review of GI Low Fat7% protein · 2.5% fat · 312 kcal/can · Adult
Of the three wet foods, WU is the only one that leads with chicken and chicken liver rather than whitefish, and it lists pea protein fifth. At 7% protein, 2.5% fat and 312 kcal per can, it suits owners who want a chicken-first wet food.
Full review of WU7% protein · 2.5% fat · 373 kcal/can · Adult
WM leads with whitefish and potatoes and carries the most calories of the wet foods at 373 kcal per can, with 5% fiber against 3% in GI Low Fat. It suits owners who want a fish-first wet food with more energy per can.
Full review of WM| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KS | 4% | 3% | 78% | 978 | Chicken, Chicken Broth, Water |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
4% protein · 3% fat · 346 kcal/can · Adult
The only topper in the line, KS lists chicken first, then chicken broth, water, potato starch and potatoes, with 4% protein and 3% fat as fed. It suits owners adding a chicken-based extra to a meal and shares the KS code with the Kidney Support kibble.
Full review of KSNot across the board. All three wet foods, the KS topper, and the HF and NP kibbles are grain free, while GI Gastrointestinal Support and both Weight Management + Mobility kibbles include grain. Our ingredient read also flags grain in KS Kidney Support, W+U and GI Low Fat despite Grain-Free in their names.
Among kibbles, W+U and both Weight Management + Mobility listings tie at 30% protein as fed. Among wet foods, GI Low Fat leads at 8%.
10 of 12 recipes include peas or lentils. Only the two Weight Management + Mobility kibbles, which list barley and potato protein instead, do not.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (27.5% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
92% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
75% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Blue Natural Veterinary Diet Weight Management + Mobility Support Dry Dog Food
33.3% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Blue Natural Veterinary Diet W+M Weight Management + Mobility Support Dry Dog Food
24% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Blue Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Low Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
297 kcal per cup
Dog food
Cub Size - Wild Chews
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
Copied. Paste it anywhere your friends will see it.
Want the reason behind every answer? The 80-page e-book, $7.99
Now, is your dog's food any good?
Look it up: estimated starch, calories per cup and every ingredient, for 3,207 foods.
