Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Ultra
Nutro Natural Choice against Nutro Ultra, measured across 23 and 10 kibble recipes: 24.2% vs 26.2% protein and 42% vs 40% starch, as fed.
Main Differences
- Natural Choice recipes average 24.2% protein, ranging 20% to 28%, while Ultra recipes average 26.2% protein, ranging 22% to 28%; Ultra runs a bit higher.
- Fat averages 13% for Natural Choice and 14.2% for Ultra, and estimated starch averages 42% for Natural Choice and 40% for Ultra; both figures are close between the lines.
- Natural Choice averages 340 kcal per cup (264 to 386), while Ultra averages 389 kcal per cup (348 to 437), a wider gap than the other figures.
- Neither line is grain-free. Natural Choice has 23 recipes covering Adult, Puppy and Senior dogs across All Breeds, Large Breed and Small Breed sizes; Ultra has 10 recipes with fewer Senior (1) and Large Breed (2) options.
- The estimated price per pound is $2.67 for Natural Choice and $2.91 for Ultra.
The Two Lines in Figures
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Nutro Natural Choice | Nutro Ultra | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 23 | 10 | 1,747 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 24.2%20.0% to 28.0% | 26.2%22.0% to 28.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 13.0%8.0% to 16.0% | 14.2%9.0% to 19.0% | 14.3% |
| Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. | 42%37% to 49% | 40%33% to 45% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 340264 to 386 | 389348 to 437 | 398 |
| Grain-free recipes | 0% | 0% | |
| Life stages | Adult 15, Puppy 4, Senior 4 | Adult 7, Puppy 2, Senior 1 | |
| Breed sizes | All Breeds 21, Large Breed 7, Small Breed 2 | All Breeds 9, Small Breed 4, Large Breed 2 | |
| Price per pound, estimate | $2.67/lbEstimate, median of 22 of 23 recipesRecipes run $2.50 to $3.19Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | $2.91/lbEstimate, median of 10 of 10 recipesRecipes run $2.83 to $4.90Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None | None |
Line figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that line, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Wet food, toppers and prescription diets are left out so the numbers compare like with like. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead. Why we use as fed. The price per pound is an estimate: the median of each recipe's lowest price per pound across the bag sizes and US retailers our price checks found, so a single bag can cost more or less. Shelf prices change often.
Top Recipes in Each Line
Nutro Natural Choice
Best seller of the line on Amazon
Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein 22%
Fat 14%
Starch 45% 343 kcal/cup
Most protein in the line, 28.0% as fed
Nutro Natural Choice Dry Dog Puppy Lamb and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 16%
Starch 37% 359 kcal/cup
Least starch in the line, about 37%
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 16%
Starch 37% 386 kcal/cup
Nutro Ultra
Most protein in the line, 28.0% as fed
Nutro Ultra Small Breed, Weight Management, The Superfood Plate with a Trio of Proteins from Chicken, Lamb and Salmon Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 13%
Starch 40% 382 kcal/cup
Least starch in the line, about 33%
Nutro Ultra Toy Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 19%
Starch 33%
Fewest calories in the line, 348 kcal per cup
Nutro Ultra Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food
Protein 26%
Fat 14%
Starch 40% 348 kcal/cup
Who Each Line Suits
Nutro Natural Choice
- Dogs on a weight-focused diet, via the 264 kcal, 8% fat Healthy Weight recipe.
- Senior dogs, with 4 Senior recipes on the label versus Ultra's 1.
- Owners seeking a lower estimated price per pound, $2.67 versus Ultra's $2.91.
Nutro Ultra
- Dogs needing higher protein, as Ultra's recipes average 26.2% with a 22% minimum.
- Small or toy breed dogs, via the Toy Breed Adult recipe with 19% fat, Ultra's highest.
- Active or higher-energy dogs, with recipes averaging 389 kcal per cup versus Natural Choice's 340.
Every Nutro Line
| Line | Kibble recipes | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | Grain-free | Price / lb, est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Choice | 23 | 24.2% | 13.0% | 42% | 340 | 0% | $2.67 |
| Ultra | 10 | 26.2% | 14.2% | 40% | 389 | 0% | $2.91 |
| Max | 8 | 22.8% | 14.0% | 43% | 348 | 0% | $1.76 |
| Limited Ingredient Diet | 6 | 20.7% | 13.8% | 46% | 432 | 100% | $4.23 |
Averages over each line's kibble we review, as fed. Lines with only a few recipes swing more on one bag. Price per pound is the same estimate as above.
More Nutro Line Comparisons
The Nutro Lines
Nutro Against Other Brands
How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brand's own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. The written comparison is drafted from these figures, and every number in it is checked against them. Figures refreshed October 25, 2026.
Think You Know What Your Dog Can Eat?
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.
Think You
Know?
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.