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LINE VS LINE · NUTRO KIBBLE

Nutro Ultra vs Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

Nutro Ultra vs Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Nutro Ultra against Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet, measured across 10 and 6 kibble recipes: 26.2% vs 20.7% protein and 40% vs 46% starch, as fed.

10 kibble recipes reviewed 6 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Nutro Ultra recipes average 26.2% protein as fed, higher than Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet's 20.7% average. Fat is close: 14.2% for Nutro Ultra versus 13.8% for Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet.
  • Estimated starch runs higher in Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet, averaging 46%, compared with 40% for Nutro Ultra. Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet also averages more calories per cup, 432 versus 389 for Nutro Ultra.
  • Nutro Ultra recipes are not grain-free, with a grain-free share of 0%. Every Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet recipe is grain-free, with a grain-free share of 100%.
  • Nutro Ultra spans 10 kibble recipes across Adult, Puppy and Senior life stages, with Small and Large Breed options. Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet has 6 kibble recipes, all for Adult dogs, mostly in All Breeds sizes.
  • Nutro Ultra's estimated median price per pound is $2.91, lower than Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet's estimated median price per pound of $4.23.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Nutro Ultra Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 10 6 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 26.2%22.0% to 28.0% 20.7%20.0% to 22.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 14.2%9.0% to 19.0% 13.8%13.0% to 14.0% 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. 40%33% to 45% 46%45% to 48% 37%
Calories per cup 389348 to 437 432373 to 460 398
Grain-free recipes 0% 100%
Life stages Adult 7, Puppy 2, Senior 1 Adult 6
Breed sizes All Breeds 9, Small Breed 4, Large Breed 2 All Breeds 6, Small Breed 1, Large Breed 1
Price per pound, estimate $2.91/lbEstimate, median of 10 of 10 recipesRecipes run $2.83 to $4.90Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 $4.23/lbEstimate, median of 4 of 6 recipesRecipes run $4.23 to $4.23Prices checked Oct 6, 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.

WHERE TO START

Top Recipes in Each Line

Nutro Ultra

Nutro Ultra Small Breed, Weight Management, The Superfood Plate with a Trio of Proteins from Chicken, Lamb and Salmon Dry Dog Food 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 Nutro Ultra Toy Breed Adult Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 33% Nutro Ultra Toy Breed Adult Dry Dog Food Protein 28% Fat 19% Starch 33% Nutro Ultra Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food 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

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Salmon & Lentils Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 22.0% as fed Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Salmon & Lentils Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 22% Fat 14% Starch 45% 460 kcal/cup Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 47% Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 20% Fat 14% Starch 47% 432 kcal/cup Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Venison Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 373 kcal per cup Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Adult Venison Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 20% Fat 14% Starch 47% 373 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Nutro Ultra

  • Puppies and senior dogs, since Nutro Ultra offers dedicated Puppy and Senior recipes.
  • Owners looking for a lower estimated price per pound, at $2.91 for Nutro Ultra.
  • Dogs on a weight management plan, fed Nutro Ultra Weight Management, made for weight management.
A GOOD FIT FOR

Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

  • Owners wanting a grain-free recipe, since Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet's grain-free share is 100%.
  • Large breed adult dogs, served by the Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Large Breed Adult recipe.
  • Dogs needing more calories per cup, since Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet averages 432 kcal per cup.
THE WHOLE RANGE

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.

KEEP COMPARING

More Nutro Line Comparisons

Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Ultra Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Max Nutro Natural Choice vs Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Nutro Ultra vs Nutro Max Nutro Max vs Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

The Nutro Lines

All Nutro food Nutro Natural Choice Nutro Ultra Nutro Max Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet

Nutro Against Other Brands

Nutro vs Blue Buffalo Nutro vs Purina Nutro vs Hill's Wellness vs Nutro

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.

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