Natural Balance anyone?
 

I switched from Canidae to Merrick 4 to 6 weeks ago but after reading this thread (http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...e-canidae.html), I'm worried. :(

Does anyone feed Natural Balance? Any suggestions as to what type to feed?

I think I may contact Natural Balance for some samples to see if my three like it.

Thanks!

Mine LOVE NB Sweet Potato and Fish... Ranger will eat anything but Ryder seems to be a little picky guy but so far has gobbled it down!

The only thing that I could see being a problem for some dogs is the larger kibble size, but like I said, mine have never had a problem, and Ryder is a little guy..

It's a super high quality food and I love the limited ingredients.

I would go threw the website & pick on for for dog's need's
We feed potato & duck Since they Have allergies.
One thing i really love about Natural balance is that there food is All life stages. Since i have 3 different ages it's perfect.

I switched from Canidae to Natural Balance L.I.D. Lamb and Rice. I have had no problems with it. My dogs like it and even the puppies have no problems eating it. The chunks are bigger, but they are thinner and easier to break. We are on our second bag.

I had a very hard time finding a dog food that doesn't have barley in it. It seems that unless you go to a grain free food most of them now have barley.

Anyone notice how much prices have gone up on dog food lately?? It is ridiculous!

Hey Kyle :D Check out this thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...-kibble-2.html and read my posts (there are several that I made on that page - page 2). It's all about Natural Balance! ;) :thumbup:

I feed Natural Balance Ultra Premium Small Bites and my two love it.

I contacted Natural Balance on the phone and asked if they would send me some samples cause i was considering on switching to them...and they did. Along with some coupons!! Pasquale ended up loving the Sweet Potato and Venison the best!! We're full-fledged Natural Balancers now!! :thumbup:

Thanks everyone!

I contacted the company via email so hopefully they'll get back to me soon. I looked at (one of) the dog food analysis website and it seemed like the Natural Balance food only got 3 stars. Am I missing something? :confused:

I wouldn't take that website to heart... it's all just someone's opinion.

This link was posted on another forum and I thought it was a good tool to have in light of the past food recalls. It might go a long way to helping restore consumer confidence in NB products.

I've been supplementing meals with NB for my son's dogs, a boxer and lab.

Natural Balance Pet Foods ® Inc. Screening Tests

After reading a few threads about dog foods (mine are currently on Canidae, with no digestive problems but some allergy symptoms like chewing feet and tear stains and coats that seem a bit dull to me) I decided to pick up some Natural Balance today. I saw that there were three allergy formulas but couldn't find any info to help me decide why one would be best for my dogs. I decided to start with the sweet potato and venison formula. They seemed to really like it. Of course I haven't actually found a food that they don't like. The kibbles are larger (although thinner) than the canidae they are used to but they had no problem eating it. Has anyone seen an improvement in coat condition after using Natural Balance? Any preferance for one over the other (venison or duck or salmon)?

The 3 different NB variety's that Stedman and Tatum eat are rated 4 stars. I believe the ONLY reason it was not rated a 5-6 is because the meat content is not as high as some of the other foods. Sometimes I believe that you just have to go with your OWN gut and feed what you feel is best for your babies. Not to mention, whatever they are doing the best on - which for me is NB and I have tried many, many different foods including NV Raw. It's a great food - but it didn't work for Tatum....so I just can't feed it, plain and simple.

Also, be sure and read the actual review too - don't just look at the number rating...the variety that my kiddos eat actually did get a good review...it just isn't rated a 5-6 because the meat content isn't quite as high. I do firmly believe though, no matter what anyone says, that sometimes the lower meat content foods are just the way to go when you have a dog with severe allergies. I have read many, many stories where NB is the ONLY food that an allergic dog could ever tolerate...and it proves to be true (so far) in Tatum's case.

I am basically speaking for the allergy formulas though - NB does have plenty of other choices that are not formulated for dogs with allergies. These will have a higher meat content - EXCEPT the vegetarian formula, lol.

My 2 LOVE this food. Lucy's skin issues are GONE!

I totally agree. I do look at the site, but I don't "live" by it ;) It's all just an opinion!

My kiddos like all of them - Duck, Fish and Venison :) They mainly eat the Potato and Duck though...and I love this formula because they have it in the Small Bites :thumbup: The Small Bites kibbles are about the size of a little green pea, only they are completely FLAT - not round ( meaning "3-D" lol).

The Sweet Potato and Fish and Sweet Potato and Venison kibbles are larger (I don't know WHY they don't make these formulas in the Small Bites too!! Totally irritating :rolleyes: LOL) - BUT...like you said, the kibbles are still "FLAT" so they are ok :) If they were this size and 3-D ROUND....forget it! lol..

Hootie & Hobbs have been eating Natural Balance Duck & Potato Small Bites for awhile now. I've gotten EXCELLENT results! Hobbs' skin has never looked better! And I LOOOOOVE how tiny the bites are!

I will say this though... I've been feeding NB for about a month and I've noticed some weight loss in both Chip and Smokey and they seem to be eating more of a quanitity than the other food I was feeding.

Sweet Potato and Duck
 

I bought a bag of sweet potato and duck small bites for Bella and she won't eat them as usual. I have a whole bag she won't touch (along with many other bags of different brands). She was eating the Natural Balance rolls until recently. All of a sudden she doesn't want that. Now we are back to eating home made food again. She is so picky, I just don't know what to feed her. I liked the Natural Balance rolls for nights when I don't cook. She doesn't like any of the recommended canned food I have read about on here. Now she won't eat the Natural Balance. AAARRRGGGHHH:confused::aimeeyork

That's true, Brooke!

Thanks, everyone. I think I'm going to look into getting some Natural Balance and trying it over the weekend. Hopefully it's as easy to get as Canidae and Merrick have been.

I started feeding Regan the NB small bites potato & duck (she just wouldn't touch the NV kibble at all) & she's eating it very well but I also give her the NV venisin medallions too. We seem to be doing alot better with the tearing. I think next time I need to get her some kibble I will also pick her up one of the NB rolls to try if we need to go out of town for the holidays anyone know a specific one to give a try?

I think all PetCo's have Natural Balance.

You're so welcome Kyle! I would suggest giving some a try! :) I'm not trying to push the food on you or anything...I don't work for NB or anything like that, LOL! I just happen to think it's a great food and we've had excellent results with it - so I always recommend it to my FRIENDS :D

They sure do :)

Good to know. Do they have all the varieties? I think I'm going to try the Sweet Potato and Fish version. Thank you!

Sure, you don't. :rolleyes: How would you explain that Natural Balance link that you PMed me with that had your name attached to it so you got credit?? :p

(Kidding, kidding! She didn't really do that!)

I know mine has all varieties of wet and dry.

Thanks Kyle, you've totally blown my cover! :rolleyes: The cat is out of the bag! I am really an NB representative in disguise :cool:

:p :p LOLOL :p :p

Okay everyone... I know this was probably mentioned, but I'm far too lazy to look through all the posts... which NB are good for allergies... I think Chip is allergic to something in the Ultra Premium variety.

And a possibly dumb question... I know you shouldn't change brands suddenly, but what about formulas?

It will say on the package if it is an allergy formula. I use NB Potato & Duck & it has helped with the tearing and scratching. When I get lazy ( Because I have to go out of town to buy the NB ) & give something else the problems come back.

The Natural Balance Allergy Formulas are as follows:

Potato and Duck

Sweet Potato and Fish

Sweet Potato and Venison


Now on your last question, I honestly can't say for sure what is right and what is wrong, cause I'm actually not too sure myself, LOL....but I CAN tell you that I DID NOT gradually give my babies a new NB formula - I just gave it to them one day and they did totally fine with it. No upset tummies, no loose and/or runny stools - nada :D They did perfectly fine when they were immediately given another flavor/formula.