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Review of Nutram Sound Dog Food
Nutram Sound Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of 4.5 stars.
The Nutram Sound product line includes the 7 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Nutram Sound S9 Adult Lamb Meal, Lamb and Barley | 5 | M |
| Nutram Sound S7 Small Breed Adult | 5 | M |
| Nutram Sound S3 Large Breed Puppy | 4.5 | G |
| Nutram Sound S10 Senior | 4 | M |
| Nutram Sound S8 Large Breed Adult | 4 | M |
| Nutram Sound S6 Adult Chicken Meal and Brown Rice | 4.5 | M |
| Nutram Sound S2 Puppy Chicken Meal and Whole Eggs | 5 | G |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Nutram Sound S6 Adult Chicken Meal and Brown Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Nutram Sound S6 Adult Chicken Meal and Brown Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken meal, deboned chicken, brown rice, peas, oatmeal, pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), lentils, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, dehydrated alfalfa meal, natural chicken flavor, salmon oil, whole eggs, apples, carrots, pumpkin, potassium chloride, dl-methionine, choline chloride, pomegranate, cranberries, chicory root extract, vitamins & minerals (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, niacin (source of vitamin B3), d-calcium pantothenate (source of vitamin B5), thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), riboflavin (source of vitamin B2), beta-carotene, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, iron proteinate, zinc oxide, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, selenium yeast), salt, glucosamine hydrochloride, Yucca schidigera extract, spinach, celery seeds, peppermint, chamomile, turmeric, ginger, rosemary
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 17% | 49% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 35% | 42% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken 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 third ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The sixth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient lists lentils. Lentils are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, lentils contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The ninth ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
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 this product.
With 6 notable exceptions…
First, although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.
Next, flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
In addition, salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Next, chicory root is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Additionally, this food contains 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.
And lastly, this recipe also includes selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on the ingredients alone, Nutram Sound Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 49%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.
Which means this Nutram product line contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, lentils, alfalfa meal and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
Our Rating of Nutram Sound Dog Food
Nutram Sound is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended.
Has Nutram Brand Dog Food Been Recalled?
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Nutram.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Nutram Brand Reviews
The following Nutram dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
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