Nulo Dog Food Reviews – Ingredient Analysis, Recall History, and Our Ratings in 2020

Nulo dog food might not be the most well-known brand, but that’s likely because it’s a much newer brand. They specialize in premium ingredients and high protein content, which is something many dog parents look for in quality dog food. But how do you know if Nulo is right for your dog?

Who Makes Nulo Dog Food?

Nulo dog food started with one important goal in mind: to make food healthier for dogs. Michael, the founder of Nulo, is a former athlete, so he cares a lot about crafting a healthy diet for himself. Once he discovered that most dry dog food brands are the equivalent of fast food for dogs, he decided to make a healthy diet for dogs too. That’s why he founded Nulo in 2009.

To fix this ongoing problem in the pet industry, Michael came up with a solution. He crafted a dog food that was high in protein and low in carbs, the opposite of what most kibble brands are like. The recipes also include other beneficial ingredients to make dogs healthier, such as probiotics to assist with digestion and immune system health.

Nulo Dog Food Recalls

According to the FDA Recall Database, Nulo has had no recalls as of May 2020.

Top 7 Popular Formulas of Nulo Dog Food Reviews

1. Nulo Freestyle Adult Trim Cod and Lentils

This formula is perfect for adult dogs that need to lose some weight or maintain a healthy figure. It is grain-free, so it’s also ideal for dogs that have grain allergies. Like most Nulo formulas, it’s high in meat and low in carbs to ensure that your dog only gets the ingredients that they truly need. It also has probiotics to aid with digestion and L-carnitine to boost your dog’s energy.

Since this formula is made specifically for weight management, it has lower amounts of protein and fat. It has a total of 30% protein and 7% to 9% fat.

2. Nulo Freestyle Puppy Salmon and Peas

This is another Freestyle formula, but geared specifically toward puppies. Therefore, it has everything your puppy needs to grow big and strong, including DHA for cognitive development and calcium for healthy bone growth. It also has probiotics for digestion and no grains in order to benefit dogs that have grain allergies.

Like the Adult Trim formula, the Puppy formula also has 30% protein. However, it has a minimum of 17% fat to help your dog grow big and strong.

3. Nulo Freeze-Dried Raw Salmon and Turkey

Nulo’s freeze-dried raw formulas are designed to give your dog a healthy raw diet without any risks involved. This formula contains a total of 80% meat, organs, and bones, along with healthy fruits and vegetables. It’s also grain-free, so you won’t need to worry about any unhealthy fillers harming your dog.

Freeze-dried food is typically much higher in protein than kibble. Therefore, this formula contains 44% protein and 26% fat to closely mimic your dog’s ancestral diet.

4. Nulo Freestyle Adult Lamb and Chickpeas

This formula is similar to the Adult Trim recipe, but it’s for adult dogs in general, not for those on a diet. It’s another grain-free formula that’s suitable for dogs of all sizes and breeds. It has probiotics for healthy digestion and omega fatty acids to give your dog a smooth coat and healthy skin.

Like some of the other Nulo recipes for adult dogs, this formula has 31% protein and 17% fat. This is the ideal amount for any adult dog that doesn’t need to gain or lose weight.

5. Nulo Freestyle Senior Trout and Sweet Potato

Senior dogs have slightly different needs than other adult dogs, so this Freestyle formula is geared specifically toward older dogs. It’s grain-free for seniors with sensitive stomachs. It also has plenty of other beneficial ingredients such as L-carnitine to support metabolism, glucosamine and chondroitin for hips and joints, and probiotics for digestion and immune system health.

Even older dogs still need plenty of protein in their diets. So, this formula contains a total of 30% protein and 12% fat.

6. Nulo Freestyle Limited+ Puppy and Adult Small Breed Salmon

Nulo’s Limited+ formulas are made specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs and dogs with common allergies. This means that the food is grain-free, it only has one meat source, and it’s free of any common allergy ingredients such as chicken, corn, wheat, soy, eggs, peas, and potatoes. This formula is suitable for small dogs of any age.

Even with less ingredients, this formula sill has about the same percentages as other Freestyle formulas. It contains 30% protein and 18% fat.

7. Nulo Freestyle Small Breed Salmon and Red Lentils

Like the Limited+ formula, this one is also made specifically for smaller dogs, which means that the kibble pieces are smaller and easier to chew. It’s grain-free with plenty of health benefits such as probiotics for healthy digestion and reduced carbohydrates for weight management.

This formula has a total of 31% protein and 17% fat with animal protein listed as the first 4 ingredients. The formula contains a total of 84% animal-based protein along with other beneficial ingredients.

What Formulas Does Nulo Have?

Nulo’s website lists 39 dry food formulas and 22 wet food formulas, along with lots of dog food toppers and treats. That’s a lot more than most popular dog food brands have. However, some of the formulas, such as the Challenger and MedalSeries lines, don’t seem to be available online. Therefore, you would likely need to purchase them at an in-store retailer.

High-Meat Kibble – Freestyle

Nulo dog food specializes in high protein, so this is just one of four lines of high-meat kibble. Freestyle is the most popular line of Nulo, making it the easiest option to find both online and in-store. They have formulas specifically for adults, puppies, small breeds, seniors, dogs with sensitivities, and dogs that need to lose weight.

The freestyle line is a grain-free dog food that has high amounts of protein. If you look at the ingredient list, you’ll find meat listed as the first 3 or 4 ingredients. They contain low amounts of carbs along with low-glycemic ingredients to promote healthy energy levels. On top of everything, it’s free of all unnecessary fillers and by-products.

With 12 different Freestyle formulas, there’s something for every dog, including different flavors and different diets. The protein and fat contents for each individual formula varies, but it’s generally about 30% protein and 17% fat. The only big exceptions to this are the trim formula, which only has 7% fat, and the senior formula, which only has 12% fat. This is because the ingredient percentages need to be adjusted to fit each individual diet.

High-Meat Kibble – Challenger

The Challenger line is not as popular as the Freestyle formulas, but it still has great ingredients. It is another line of high-meat kibble, and it has animal protein for at least the first 5 ingredients. However, these formulas do have some grains in them. There are only 5 Challenger formulas listed on the website, but there doesn’t appear to be an easy way to buy them online. They have 3 significant flavors, with a variation for small breeds and a variation for seniors.

This line stands out from Freestyle because it has even more animal protein in it, containing about 90% quality animal protein in each bag. This is because these recipes were created to be kinder to the environment. All the ingredients are ethically sourced with no fillers or by-products.

All of these formulas have 35% protein and 18% fat, except for the puppy formula, which only has 32% protein and 14% fat. Either way, all five options have plenty of protein to give your dog a diet more similar to what their ancestors ate.

High-Meat Kibble – FrontRunner

Frontrunner is a popular Nulo line that has 6 distinct formulas. The goal of these recipes is to utilize beneficial protein and amino acids, rather than using fillers like pea protein. Most of these formulas are different options for adults, with one formula for puppies and one for small breeds. 

This line also differs from Freestyle because it has grains and it only has animal proteins for the first two ingredients. However, all the grains it has are ancient grains that are beneficial to your dog’s health rather than cheap fillers.

Additionally, this line has a bit less protein than Challenger and Freestyle. All 6 formulas have 27% protein and 16% fat, which is still considered fairly high in comparison to other popular kibble brands.

High-Meat Kibble – MedalSeries

The last high-meat kibble that Nulo has is the MedalSeries line. While the website lists 15 formulas for this category, it is not nearly as popular as Freestyle or FrontRunner. In fact, it is very hard to find these recipes for sale online. This line has both grain-free and ancient grains formulas, and it specializes in high-protein, with over 80% animal-based protein in their formulas. 

This line has a wide variety of choices, including flavors for adults, seniors, large breeds, small breeds, puppies, dogs with sensitivities, and dogs that need to lose weight. Therefore, this line has options for just about every dog. It also has animal-based protein for at least the first 3 ingredients.

Since there are so many formulas for different dogs, the protein and fat content for this food varies. Most formulas have between 28% and 32% protein. Then, the fat can range anywhere from 7% for the weight management formula to 17% for many of the adult formulas.

Freeze-Dried Raw

Nulo’s Freeze-Dried Raw line is a healthy raw alternative for dogs. It’s a safer version of fresh and frozen forms of raw food. It’s labeled as the first freeze-dried dog food to contain GanedenBC30, which can benefit digestive support and gut health. All these formulas have a single animal protein and they’re all grain-free, so they’re great for dogs with common allergies.

These formulas are packed with even more protein than the kibble recipes. Over 80% of the ingredients in the food are animal-sourced protein and the rest are beneficial ingredients such as wholesome fruits and vegetables. This food can be used to enhance your dog’s kibble or it can be served as its own meal.

The protein and fat contents in these formulas vary slightly, but they are all much higher than the kibble formulas. They all have between 40% and 44% protein and between 27% and 29% fat. Therefore, this food is very close to what your dog would eat in the wild.

Wet Food Recipes – Freestyle

Nulo also has a series of wet dog food that your dog can try. The popular wet food formulas are Freestyle, which are similar to their dry food counterparts. They have 13-ounce cans for their regular formulas and 6-ounce cans for their small breed formulas. Like the Freestyle dry food, all these recipes are grain-free.

This wet food can be mixed with your dog’s kibble or you can serve it as its own meal. Each formula has a unique flavor so there’s something for every dog. All the recipes have beneficial ingredients that will give them healthy coats, hearts, and muscles.

Since the cans are much smaller than the bags of dry dog food, their percentages seem much smaller, but they still have plenty of protein and fat. All the cans have between 9.5% and 10.5% protein along with 3% to 9% fat. The trim recipe’s fat is significantly lower than the others to promote a healthy weight.

Wet Food Recipes – MedalSeries

Like the MedalSeries dry food, the MedalSeries wet food isn’t as popular as Freestyle. All these wet food formulas are also grain-free with a wide selection of different flavors and diets. Like the Freestyle wet food, they have 13-ounce cans for regular formulas and 6-ounce cans for small breed formulas. 

This wet food can be served as its own meal or it can be mixed with kibble to enhance the flavor. Not only does it have multiple flavors for picky eaters, but there are also recipes specifically for overweight dogs, small breeds, and dogs with allergies. They have the same beneficial ingredients as the Freestyle wet food, which helps your dog’s heart, muscles, skin, and coat.

These cans also range from 9.5% protein to 10.5% protein along with 3% to 9% fat. The amount of protein and fat greatly varies based on which diet you choose.

Ingredients in Nulo Dog Food

Since there are so many different Nulo formulas, they don’t all have the same things in them. However, we will look at some of the ingredients that are commonly used throughout these recipes. Specifically, the ingredients found in Freestyle since that’s their most popular line.

Good Ingredients

Salmon

Depending on the formula you have, the first ingredient could vary. Salmon, chicken, beef, duck, lamb, and turkey are proteins you will commonly find in Nulo dog food. Usually, meat loses a lot of moisture when it’s cooked into kibble, but meat is listed as the first 3 to 5 ingredients as opposed to only the first ingredient, making this brand full of animal-based protein.

Turkey Meal

This can also vary based on the formula, but regardless of the protein, it’s a meat concentrate. It contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh meat. You will likely see more than one of these concentrates in the ingredient list. 

Peas

Peas are rich in natural fiber and they are a quality source of carbohydrates.

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are a complex carbohydrate that’s rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene. They’re also gluten-free, so they’re a great ingredient for dogs with allergies or sensitivities.

Chicken Fat

For people, fat sounds gross, but it’s actually very beneficial for dogs. It’s rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which can help your dog have healthy skin and a healthy coat. 

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are also known as garbanzo beans. They’re another fiber-rich legume like peas. It’s important to note that if these were combined with peas on the ingredient list, the two of them together would then have a higher spot on the list.

Controversial Ingredients

Pea Fiber

Pea fiber appears to be the only controversial ingredient found in Nulo dog food, and it’s not even listed in every formula. It is a mixture of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. It’s controversial because it’s an agricultural by-product that doesn’t provide any nutritional value for your dog.

What Dogs is Nulo Best Suited For?

It’s possible for every dog to benefit from Nulo. They have so many different formulas that there are enough diets and flavors for every dog to enjoy. Whether your dog needs dry, raw, or wet food, Nulo has plenty to choose from.

Picky dogs will have no problem finding a flavor they love because there are so many variations. Some proteins include beef, chicken, turkey, fish, lamb, duck, and pork. So, even if your dog doesn’t like a certain meat source, they still have countless options to choose from. If your dog is allergic to a protein source, then there are some limited ingredient formulas too.

Also, Nulo has recipes for dogs of all sizes and ages. All their food is high in protein, so large, active dogs can easily thrive. However, they also have formulas created specifically for small breeds, seniors, puppies, and dogs that need to lose weight. There are even formulas with grains or without grains depending on your preference.

Which Dogs Would Do Better on a Different Brand?

As mentioned above, any dog could be happy eating Nulo. The only dog that could possibly do better on a different brand is highly active dogs. There isn’t a food specifically labeled for large breed dogs or sporting dogs, but some could argue that high protein formulas like Challenger or Freeze-Dried Raw would be just as good.

What is the Average Price of Nulo Dog Food?

The price of Nulo dog food varies based on the formula you choose and where you buy it from. Nulo dry dog food typically comes in 4.5-pound, 11-pound, and 24-pound bags. The freeze-dried raw food comes in 5-ounce bags and 13-ounce bags while the canned food comes in 6-ounce cans and 13-ounce cans. 

For the dry dog food, Nulo typically costs about $20 for a 4.5-pound bag, $38 for an 11-pound bag, and $70 for a 24-pound bag. These prices are a little bit higher than similar brands, but it’s only because it has so much protein in it.

The freeze-dried raw food is usually around $15 for a 5-ounce bag and $31 for a 13-ounce bag. This is fairly normal for raw dog food.

Then, the wet food is about $35 for a case of 12 13-ounce cans and $45 for a case of 24 6-ounce cans. This is a little above average compared to similar brands.

How Long Does Nulo Dog Food Last?

To find out if the price is worth it, it’s important to find out about how long a bag of Nulo dog food will last you. For this example, we’ll use the 24-pound bag of the Freestyle High-Meat Salmon and Peas Kibble. For this, we’re assuming that 1 pound is approximately 2 cups.

• Under 15 pounds: the recommended serving size is ½ to 1 cups per day, so a 24-pound bag would last 2 to 3 months.
• 16 to 25 pounds: the recommended serving size is 1 to 1 ½ cups per day, so a 24-pound bag would last 1 to 2 months.
• 26 to 40 pounds: the recommended serving size is 1 ½ to 2 cups per day, so a 24-pound bag would last 24 to 32 days.
• 41 to 60 pounds: the recommended serving size is 2 to 2 ¾ cups per day, so a 24-pound bag would last 17 to 24 days.
• 61 to 80 pounds: the recommended serving size is 2 ¾ to 3 ¼ cups per day, so a 24-pound bag would last 14 to 17 days.
• 81 to 100 pounds: the recommended serving size is 3 ¼ to 3 ¾ cups per day, so a 24-pound bag would last 12 to 14 days.
• Over 100 pounds: the recommended serving size is at least 3 ¾ per day, so a 24-pound bag would last 12 days at most.

Nulo Dog Food Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Quality: 5

Nulo dog food truly goes above and beyond in terms of quality. While many kibble brands use inexpensive fillers and protein by-products, Nulo strives to use only beneficial ingredients for your dog, no matter what age and size they are. Additionally, this brand has never had any recalls.

Ingredients: 5

Nearly all the ingredients found in Nulo are healthy and beneficial for your dog. The first few ingredients include quality meat sources, followed by other healthy items. Different formulas even have different ingredients to best suit each dog’s individual needs, such as foods with or without grains and limited ingredient formulas.

Protein Content: 5

Many companies brag about having meat as the first ingredient, but Nulo lists meat as the first 3 to 5 ingredients in their formulas. Therefore, even though a lot of moisture is lost during cooking, there is still lots of protein packed into this food. It’s much closer to your dog’s ancestral diet.

Price: 4.5

The price is higher than similar brands, but it makes sense considering the high protein count. Quality meat is not cheap, so when thinking about the ingredients inside, this food is actually priced fairly reasonably. However, it might not be the best choice if you’re on a budget.

Variety: 5

While not all formulas can easily be found online, there is still lots to choose from. Not only does Nulo have a lot of different flavors and diets, but it makes sure there is something for every dog. Whether your dog is picky, has allergies, needs to gain weight, or needs to lose weight, Nulo can benefit your pup.