Original Ultra is built around chicken. All five kibbles list chicken first, four also contain egg, and one adds duck meal. The single wet recipe is a beef paté. Four of the five kibbles are grain free, all five contain peas or lentils, and every recipe in the line contains potato.
The kibbles vary little. Four share 27% protein, 15% fat and 37% estimated starch as fed, while the Senior Formula drops to 25% protein and 12% fat and rises to 42% starch. Calories run from 314 to 410 kcal per cup. Against 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, the line averages 26.6% protein versus 26.9%, 38% starch versus 37.4%, and 387 kcal per cup versus 395, so it sits near the middle on every count.
The Beef Recipe Paté shows 7% protein against a wet catalog average of 8.3%. The trade-offs are plain: owners avoiding legumes will find peas or lentils in every kibble, and two kibbles, the Senior Formula and Whole Body Health, are marked discontinued, which narrows the current choice.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal & Duck Meal | 27% | 15% | 37% | 410 | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas |
| Grain-Free Chicken Small Breed Bites Formula | 27% | 15% | 37% | 410 | Chicken, Peas, Chicken Meal |
| Grain-Free Large Breed Bites Chicken Formula | 27% | 15% | 37% | 410 | Chicken, Peas, Chicken Meal |
| Grain-Free Chicken Formula | 27% | 15% | 37% | 390 | Chicken, Peas, Chicken Meal |
| Grain-Free Chicken Senior Formula | 25% | 12% | 42% | 314 | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas |
| Line average | 26.6% | 14.4% | 38% | 387 |
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.
27% protein · 15% fat · 37% starch · 410 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Whole Body Health is the only kibble here with duck meal and the only kibble with grain, and it is labeled for all life stages. It is marked discontinued; at 410 kcal per cup and 27% protein, it suited households feeding one kibble to dogs of different ages.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal & Duck Meal27% protein · 15% fat · 37% starch · 410 kcal/cup · Adult
The Grain-Free Chicken Small Breed Bites Formula is sold for small breed adults and lists chicken, peas, chicken meal and lentils first. At 410 kcal per cup and 3,500 kcal per kg, it suits owners of small adult dogs who want 27% protein in a kibble made for their size.
Full review of Grain-Free Chicken Small Breed Bites Formula27% protein · 15% fat · 37% starch · 410 kcal/cup · Adult
The Grain-Free Large Breed Bites Chicken Formula is made for large breed adults and ties Whole Body Health for the most calories per kg in the line, 3,590, with 410 kcal per cup. It suits owners of big adult dogs who want grain-free kibble with 27% protein.
Full review of Grain-Free Large Breed Bites Chicken Formula27% protein · 15% fat · 37% starch · 390 kcal/cup · Adult
The Grain-Free Chicken Formula is the everyday adult kibble with no breed size focus, sharing 27% protein, 15% fat and 37% estimated starch with the Bites recipes. At 390 kcal per cup versus 410 for the Bites recipes, it suits adult dogs on a grain-free chicken diet.
Full review of Grain-Free Chicken Formula25% protein · 12% fat · 42% starch · 314 kcal/cup · Senior
Sold for seniors, the Grain-Free Chicken Senior Formula has the least protein (25%), least fat (12%) and fewest calories (314 kcal per cup) in the line, plus the most estimated starch at 42%. It alone lists garbanzo beans in its first five ingredients and is marked discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Grain-Free Chicken Senior Formula| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef Recipe Paté | 7% | 4% | 78% | 1,020 | Beef Broth, Beef, Potatoes |
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.
7% protein · 4% fat · 376 kcal/serving
The Beef Recipe Paté is the only wet food and the only beef option in the line, with beef broth, beef, potatoes, beef liver and brown rice first. At 7% protein as fed, it suits owners who want a wet food with grain and no peas or lentils.
Full review of Beef Recipe PatéMostly. Four of the five kibbles are grain free, but Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal & Duck Meal contains grain, and the Beef Recipe Paté wet food lists brown rice.
Four kibbles tie at 27% protein: the Grain-Free Chicken Formula, Small Breed Bites, Large Breed Bites and Whole Body Health. The Grain-Free Chicken Senior Formula has the least among the kibbles at 25%.
Yes. All five kibbles contain peas or lentils, and peas appear within the first three ingredients of each one. The Beef Recipe Paté wet food contains no peas or lentils.
Protein is close to the average kibble we review (29.6% on a dry matter basis).
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
67% 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
Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Chicken, Chicken Meal & Duck Meal Dry Dog Food
30.0% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Small Breed Bites Formula Dry Dog Food
37% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Senior Formula Dry Dog Food
314 kcal per cup
Correction to date codes in May 4 2012 Natural Balance recall
Certain dry dog and cat foods made at Diamond Gaston, SC plant
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
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