Switch Dog Food Brand from Nutro Ultra to Nature's Variety?

Question

Because of the issues with Menu Foods, I have no desire to give these people any more of my money. Additionally, I believe that I can do better than Nutro Ultra for my dogs. I am considering switching to Nature's Variety, does anyone have an opinion on this brand?

Thanks

Additionally, if you have another brand you like, I am open to suggestions!

Answer 1

Nature's Variety is a good food but 'in my opinion' I would recommend Innova over this food. NV has a lot of grain type ingredients very high in the ingredient list. They are good quality grains but it still means that there are more grains in the food then meat. This is something you want to try and avoid.

Innova on the other had has two options. You can go with the regular Innova which has the following ingredients:

Turkey
Chicken
Chicken Meal
Ground Barley
Ground Brown Rice
Potatoes
Natural Flavors
Ground White Rice
Chicken Fat
Herring
Apples
Carrots
Cottage Cheese
Sunflower Oil
Alfalfa Sprouts
Egg
Garlic

(See how the first 3 ingredients are meat)

Or you could go with Innova Evo which is a dry food based on a raw food diet. It contains no grains:

Turkey
Chicken
Turkey Meal
Chicken Meal
Potatoes
Herring Meal
Chicken Fat
Natural Flavors
Egg
Garlic
Apples
Carrots
Tomatoes
Cottage Cheese
Alfalfa Sprouts
Dried Chicory Root

(See how 5 of the top 6 ingredients are meat).

Comparitively speaking you are getting a much better food for your money with Innova.

With all this said, if you do go with Nature's Variety, you can be assured that you are still feeding a higher quality food then Nutro.

Answer 2

My top two favorites for my dogs are:
Chicken soup for the dog lovers soul
and
Canidae

These are both high quality foods that you will not find at walmart or grocery store.

I think your making a very wise choice to switch to a better food. Your dog will be so much healthier and will not have nearly as many health problems later in life and could even possibly eliminate any present ones.
My dogs allergies have dramaticly improved (basicly gone) after switching over to better food.

Image what eating fast food would do to you in your later
years of life if that was all you EVER ate.

Good for you for caring enough to switch, and I would do some research on google about 'dog food nutrition'
because its amazing what you will learn.

There are ALOT of things some of the pet food industries dont want us to know!


***ADDED: In response to the post below:***
'Allyalex'
Ahem,...
It should be an eye opener that 'Science diet, Purina, Eukaneuba, Iams, Notro, and all the so called good foods' purchase their products from the same manufacturer as the cheapo brands like 'Ol roy, save-a-lot, Winn dixie, ect....'

Answer 3

First of all Nutro kibble is still safe, and it wasn't Nutro that added the unsafe wheat glutin, but a supplier for them, which is why so many companies are affected. Nutro is a top quality brand, I wouldn't switch if I were you.

If you do, switch to Royal Canin, it is the only food that I would consider better then Nutro. Check it out

And as always discuss a diet change with your vet

Answer 4

My vet says that it is a waste of money to buy those fancy dog foods like Nutro, Iams, Nature's Variety, etc.
He says the less expensive brands are just as nutritionally sound and that some dogs even prefer the taste over the expensive brands.
I was buying Nutro, until I switched to this vet.
I now buy OL ROY Lamb & Rice formula at my local Walmart.
It's only $8.00 for 25 lbs.
My dogs have a lot more energy and their coats look a lot better than they did before when they were eating the Nutro stuff.
I thanked my vet several times for the info.

Answer 5

Hello,

Take a look at Blue Buffalo, sold only at Petsmart. It's THE HEALTHIEST brand out there! Especially with the wet can food recalls lately. They suspect that it was the wheat gluten that was making dogs and cats sick and killing them. Blue Buffalo WAS NOT affected by this recall at all, because Blue’s products (dry food, wet food, and biscuit treats) DO NOT contain any WHEAT, CORN, or SOY. These are known to be the top fillers and also known allergens with dogs and cats. I know, because my little Toy Fox Terrier is allergic to wheat. Her allergy was so bad, that she lost the hair around her eyes and her eyes watered constantly. Once I put her on Blue, the hair grew back and I've never had a problem since. Blue Buffalo also does NOT contain any BYPRODUCTS. Their food is made with 100% human grade ingredients. It's a very healthy and holistic food for pets, without being fancy about it. It's just down to basic nutrition and science. There are also NO ARTIFICAL PRESERVATIVES, FLAVORS, COLORS, ANTIBIOTICS OR STEROIDS. Some of their ingredients include, whole grains (like whole ground brown rice, whole ground barley, and oatmeal), vegetables (whole sweet potatoes, whole carrots, and whole garlic cloves), herring/fish oil (good in omega 3:6 fatty acids which are good for healthy skin and coat), flaxseed (also good in omega 3:6 fatty acids), green tee extract (antioxidant), Lactobacillus Acidophilus (yogurt to help maintain healthy stomach bacteria), glucosamine (good for joints and tendons to prevent arthritis {only in adult bags})…..etc., etc. Check them out. Both Petsmart and Blue Buffalo gives a 100% satisfaction guaranteed even on opened bags (just keep your receipt).


Sorry for any repetition in this posting with others, but everything still applies to your question! =)

Answer 6

If you have a little extra time and money, the best way to feed your dog and keep him/her healthy is to feed a raw diet.
Check out barfworld.com or google BARF diet, sounds gross but is an acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food and also stands for Bones And Raw Food.

Also read:
http://www.outoftheearth.com/natdiet.htm

Many of the commercial dog food companies would have us believe that they actually use human grade meat in the production of their food, when in fact the sources of this "meat" are not even fit for animal consumption.

In some areas of North America this list can also include euthanized companion animals from clinics and shelters, roadkill, zoo animals, livestock which die from disease or disability.

The "meat" is purchased from a rendering plant which also receives material from slaughterhouses such as hair, feathers, hooves and any part of the mammal which is condemned for human consumtion. This list includes tumorous growths, contaminated blood and any carcass containing high levels of drugs or pesticides.

This material is then cooked. Grease rises to the top and is removed. This is the source of animal fat in most foods. The moisture is then removed from the mixture and it is now "meat and bone meal".

The list of questionable ingredients goes on. For an in-depth lesson in commercial dog food ingredients I recommend reading "Food Pets Die For" by Ann N. Martin.

Here is a site for better kibble if that's your only option:
healthypetnet.com

Good luck :)

Answer 7

I've never heard of Nature's Variety, but so many brands are listed that if everyone jumps ship because of one problem, there will be very few options.