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NutriSource vs. Natural Balance

In this comparison article for NutriSource vs Natural Balance, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare NutriSource and Natural Balance, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.

Throughout this Natural Balance vs NutriSource comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our NutriSource Review Page or Natural Balance Review Page.

Guaranteed Analysis: Natural Balance vs. NutriSource

According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.

All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.

NutriSource Dog Food vs. Natural Balance Dog Food

Dry Dog Food	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Crude Protein	28.9%	27.6%
Crude Fat	16.8%	14.4%
Crude Fiber	7.1%	5.2%

Wet/Canned Dog Food	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Crude Protein	43.4%	39.7%
Crude Fat	33.0%	20.5%
Crude Fiber	7.2%	8.5%

Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food

Protein is an extremely important part of your dog's diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.

Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude protein. For wet dog foods, NutriSource typically provides a little more protein (about 3.68% more).

Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food

Dietary fats serves a multitude of roles in the proper development and function of our canine companions. Here are some of the benefits (not exhaustive):

Help produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among other critical functions.
Aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Improve skin and coat health
Improve the palatially of your dog's food

According to our average data, Natural Balance typically provides less fat than NutriSource. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands. In addition, NutriSource wet dog foods also provide more fat than Natural Balance wet foods.

As you can see, Natural Balance and NutriSource guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Natural Balance and NutriSource also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.

NutriSource Cat Food vs. Natural Balance Cat Food

Dry Cat Food	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Crude Protein	36.4%	36.8%
Crude Fat	17.9%	14.3%
Crude Fiber	7.8%	5.5%

Wet/Canned Cat Food	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Crude Protein	46.4%	46.7%
Crude Fat	31.4%	20.2%
Crude Fiber	5.2%	7.1%

Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food

Protein is an extremely important part of your cat's diet. Without sufficient protein, cats can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.

NutriSource and Natural Balance both provide roughly the same amount of crude protein. With regards to wet cat food, Natural Balance and NutriSource also provide roughly the same amount of crude protein.

Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food

There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):

Aid in the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Improve the health of skin/coat
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Slow the development and spread of certain type of cancers.
Maintain healthy blood pressure

If you look at the average percentages of crude fat, you'll notice that NutriSource typically guarantees 3.60% more fat. This is a fairly small difference between NutriSource and Natural Balance, but still worth mentioning. In addition, NutriSource wet cat foods also provide more fat than Natural Balance wet foods.

According to our data, NutriSource guarantees 2.38% more fiber than Natural Balance. Although this difference is relatively small, it's still a notable difference. For wet cat foods, Natural Balance and NutriSource provide roughly the same amount of fiber.

NutriSource Pet Food Ingredients vs. Natural Balance Pet Food Ingredients

NutriSource and Natural Balance both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:

Canola Oil

Pea Protein

Brewers Rice

Dried Tomato Pomace

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by NutriSource.

Garlic

White Rice

Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Natural Balance.

Giblets

Beet Pulp

Caramel Color

Tomato Pomace

Feeding Oatmeal

Poultry Giblets

Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)

We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.

NutriSource and Natural Balance both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex

Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Natural Balance.

Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex

Product Safety: Recall History of NutriSource & Natural Balance?

According to our records, NutriSource has never been recalled.

Natural Balance has been recalled 6 times.

July 21, 2007: ofbotulinum toxin
May 4, 2012: Salmonella
June 18, 2010: Salmonella
April 27, 2007: Melamine
April 17, 2007: Melamine
July 3, 2020: elevated levels of choline chloride

Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?

Dry Dog Food	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Per Pound	$2.64	$5.23
Per Calorie	$0.0015	$0.0029

Dry Cat Food	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Per Pound	$3.25	$3.69
Per Calorie	$0.0018	$0.0023

Wet Dog Food	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Per Pound	$3.21	$6.27
Per Calorie	$0.0061	$0.0137

Wet Cat Food	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Per Pound	$6.39	$7.63
Per Calorie	$0.0119	$0.0183

The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.

If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding NutriSource or Natural Balance, input your pet's weight into our cost analyzer widget.

Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands. However, the actual price that you'll pay for NutriSource or Natural Balance will depend on your shopping habits.

Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for NutriSource and Natural Balance. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.

Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!

Where To Buy NutriSource Pet Foods

You can purchase NutriSource pet foods from the following stores:

75 Recipes In-Stock Today

30 Recipes In-Stock Today

Where To Buy Natural Balance Pet Foods

You can purchase Natural Balance pet food products from these retailers:

96 Recipes In-Stock Today

79 Recipes In-Stock Today

83 Recipes In-Stock Today

16 Recipes In-Stock Today

Type Of Pet Foods Available

Product	NutriSource	Natural Balance
Dry Dog Food	41 Recipes	39 Recipes
Wet Dog Food	13 Recipes	27 Recipes
Dog Treats	11 Treats	33 Treats
Dry Cat Food	8 Recipes	16 Recipes
Wet Cat Food	10 Recipes	43 Recipes
Cat Treats	None	None