So, you have a new dog. How do you know which dog food is best to feed your new buddy? There are lots of brands out there claiming that they’re the ones to choose to help your furry friend be happy and healthy. Sorting through the options can be pretty overwhelming for any owner. In the end, it’s tempting to give up and pick one at random.
While drawing names from a hat may be convenient, it can be pretty risky for dogs. You might not be giving them the nutrients they need. At worst, it can even cause harm.
To help you out, we’re pitting two dog food brands against each other: Natural Balance vs. Taste of the Wild. We’ll be comparing one of each of their products to help you determine which is better suited to you and your pet.
Table of Contents
The main differences between Natural Balance vs Taste of the Wild Dog Food are:
This simple but complete formula uses only high-quality, cage-free turkey and other premium ingredients.
If you truly value what your dog eats, you can't go wrong with Taste of the Wild PREY. Quality ingredients and the right formulation can make for really healthy dogs. The only thing that's stopping us is the steep price tag.
What dog food brand you choose boils down to one question: “What do dogs actually need?” When considering this question, several questions come to mind.
Do you need dry or wet dog food?
Dog food comes in either wet or dry form. Both have their advantages and uses.
Dry food is a convenient way to feed your dog. It has a longer shelf life and is more nutritious since it’s so compressed. The downside is that it’s not that palatable and tends to contain preservatives and extenders.
Wet food, on the other hand, is fresher and contains a wider variety of ingredients. It also provides your dog with much-needed hydration. The problem? All that freshness makes for shorter shelf life and sloppier eating.
Does my dog need specific nutrition?
Just like a person, your dog needs an optimal amount of fats and proteins to thrive. The best nutrition to choose varies from breed to breed. Your dog might even have conditions, like allergies, that need to be considered.
We recommend checking with your veterinarian for the specific nutritional needs of your dog.
How much will it cost?
Cost is an essential factor in choosing food for our dogs. Food is only one part of our overall pet care budget. Sometimes, it makes sense to get something a little less expensive that’s just as good.
Is it something your dog will like?
If your dog is notoriously picky, choosing a brand they will like is vital. After all, they won’t benefit from it if they don’t want to eat it!
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to find this out. Trial and error is still your primary method here unless your dog has specific brands or types he or she likes, but even that is not a sure indication—tastes do change.
Taste of the Wild operates on the principle that dogs should eat their natural diet. This, of course, means meat. The brand only uses the most natural animal sources for their meat and complements them with nutritious oils and vegetables.
But “simple” doesn’t have to mean “deficient.” Taste of the Wild includes probiotics in its dog food. This ensures proper digestion and more efficient absorption of nutrients.
Natural Balance uses a scientific approach to formulate their dog food. They cater to a broader audience and a more comprehensive range of needs. (They even have vegetarian options!) Natural Balance tends to use less meat than other brands and is generally a more economical option.
Natural Balance focuses on a more healthy combination of meat and other natural ingredients. Drawing on sound nutritional science, they came up with Limited Ingredient Diets (L.I.D.). L.I.D. is a line made specifically to combat food sensitivity in dogs.
Features of the Limited Ingredient Diets include the following:
Taste of the Wild is made to mimic your dog’s diet out in the wild. To this end, the brand focuses not only on quality meat but also sourcing. Their limited ingredient line, PREY, is based on the idea that the bulk of a dog’s diet in the wild would come from hunting. The result is a simplified approach to dog food that promotes their natural eating patterns.
Features of PREY include the following:
Now’s the good part. We're going to make a side-by-side comparison of the critical features of both PREY and L.I.D. These features include:
It’s crucial to know not only what ingredients are in your dog’s food but also where they come from. Natural sources are the best. It's also helpful if brands disclose what specific kinds of meat they use and don’t report just "meat." Generic meat is usually a byproduct that isn’t from ideal sources.
If you take the time to truly understand your dog's dietary needs, your buying process will be more straightforward. It pays to know your dog’s proper macronutrient ratios.
Dog food can be expensive, especially if you choose the wrong one. Getting the right food for the right price is essential. It can free up your budget for other things your pet might need.
| Natural Balance L.I.D.
Grain-Free Turkey (Dry) | Taste of the Wild PREY
Turkey (DRY) | |
| Key Ingredients | Protein: Turkey
Other: Chickpeas, Peas Other: Fish Oil | Protein: Cage-free Turkey
Other: Lentils, Tomato Pomace, Sunflower Oil |
| Nutritional Content | Protein: 32%
Fat: 14% Fiber: 4.5% Omega 6 Fatty Acids: 1.0% Omega 3 Fatty Acids: 0.3% | Protein: 30%
Fat: 15% Fiber: 5% Omega 6 Fatty Acids: 2.5% Omega 3 Fatty Acids: 0.5% |
| Average Price/lb.
(based on Amazon prices) | $2.48/lb. | $4.00/lb. |
In the end, it’s hard to compare Natural Balance vs. Taste of the Wild because, really, they are in totally different leagues. Taste of the Wild definitely wins in the quality department. They use premium ingredients that have positive benefits for your dog. It also helps that they have bonuses such as adding probiotics and other extra vitamins.
The only drawback to Taste of the Wild is the price tag, which is where Natural Balance excels. Their balanced nutrition does a pretty good job for food-sensitive dogs. If they’re taking well to their Limited Ingredient Diet products, then Natural Balance is arguably the better choice.
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