Farmina N&D Ocean Dog Food Review (Dry)

Farmina N&D Ocean dry product range is made up of 11 recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.

N&D Ocean is Farmina’s fish-only product line, a quality fish meat source is the top ingredient in all recipes. There is an option of grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes and all are high in dietary fiber and vitamins.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Farmina N&D Ocean Salmon, Cod & Cantaloupe Melon Adult Mini was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega-3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life. 

The second ingredient is dehydrated salmon. Dehydrated salmon is considered a meat concentrate and contains significantly more protein than fresh salmon.

The third ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta-carotene.

The fourth ingredient is cod, a marine species of fish native to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. 

Although it is a quality item, raw fish contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight. 

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The fifth ingredient is dehydrated cod, because it is considered a meat concentrate, dried cod contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.

The sixth ingredient is herring oil. Herring oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high-quality fats boast the highest bioavailability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, herring oil should be considered a commendable addition.

The seventh ingredient is dehydrated herring, because it is considered a meat concentrate, dried herring contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish.

The eighth ingredient is pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

The ninth ingredient is dried carrot. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.

This recipe has three notable exceptions.

First taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient. 

We view the presence of taurine as a positive addition.

Next, this recipe contains fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener3 probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.

In addition, this food includes chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Farmina N&D Ocean Salmon, Cod & Cantaloupe Melon Adult Mini looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 19.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 39.3%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 38.5% and a mean fat level of 22%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 31.6% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 57%.

This means Farmina N&D Ocean dry contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and above-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.

Farmina Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Farmina through December 2024.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Farmina Dog Food

Farmina is a premium high-quality product that formulates all its dog foods with natural, non-GMO ingredients and through strict production and quality control. 

This product range is certainly worthy of the 5 stars the brand has earned in our review.

Highly Recommended

About

Francesco Russo founded the Russo Mangimi company in 1965 specializing in animal nutrition.  In 1999, the company’s focus shifted to the pet food industry with a new perspective of developing foods based on scientific studies focused on the well-being of pets.

The Mangimi company started to collaborate with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation.

Mangima manufacturing facilities are based in Europe and Farmina foods are mostly sourced from Italy.  Some ingredients are sourced from Europe and New Zealand.

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