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Only Natural Pet Dog Food Reviews

Only Natural Pet is an online retailer of pet products founded in Boulder, Colorado in 2002. The company was acquired by Petsmart a couple of years ago, resulting in a number of senior management changes. Since 2004, Only Natural Pet has been offering pet food, treats and chews, supplements and grooming products through an e-commerce site, retail store, and catalog business. 

It appears the company has locations in Boulder, Denver, and Aspen, Colorado, but these appear to be retail operations, not manufacturing plants. The website states foods are made in Thailand and the United States

In 2019, Only Natural Pet became a B-Corp certified company that voluntarily meets standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability to its workers, suppliers, community, customers, and the environment. The company practices a zero-waste initiative, uses 100% renewable energy and carbon-free shipping.

IS Only natural pet A GOOD DOG FOOD?

Only Natural Pet offers 32 dog foods within 4 lines that each offer a different type of processing. The Dehydrated, Wet and Cold-pressed lines are considered moderate risk, and the Dry line is considered high risk. Note that the company shows Air Dried and Freeze Dried lines on its website but they’re toppers or for supplemental feeding only, so are not reviewed here,

Processing of dry and wet foods involves several stages of heating that causes a loss of nutrients and results in lower scores. Dehydrated and Cold Pressed involve less processing heat exposure, so they maintain a higher level of nutrients. 

That said, 3 of these lines have excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals added rather than relying on the ingredients. The Cold Pressed food is the exception, having a minimal amount of added nutrients. 

Only Natural Pet doesn’t include wheat, corn or soy in its recipes, however most recipes include barley, legumes, sweet potatoes and oats and this elevates the carbohydrate levels. Average carbohydrates as calculated within these 4 lines range from 18% to 34% on a dry matter basis. That’s noteworthy since we’d expect the dehydrated, wet and cold pressed lines to be lower in carbs because carbs aren’t required for processing as they are for the extrusion process in kibble. 

The company can be credited for producing dry and wet foods that have higher levels of protein than is normally seen in ultra- and highly processed foods, averaging 37% and 48% respectively. The Dehydrated and Cold Pressed lines have average protein of 33% and 37% which is lower than we’d expect to see in these types of foods.

The website reports the company uses “thoughtful processes” and “strict standards” along with  “human-grade, sustainably-sourced and certified ingredients” but there were no visible lists or third-party certifications provided for clarity so they’re considered unsubstantiated marketing terms. The company is a B-Corp certified company, but that relates to business practices and not the quality and safety of dog food ingredients and manufacturing. 

In that vein, a similar assortment of ingredients is used in all foods.They include ingredients known for high pesticide or herbicide residues and GMO crops, often in the top 5 ingredients. They also contain inflammatory seed oils, cheaper plant proteins and natural flavor. These are the concerns that prevent the foods by Only Natural Pet from reaching higher scores in ingredient quality and safety.

Only Natural Pet began in 2002 as an online retailer relying on outside sources for its products.  Within a few years, they began producing many of their own products but it appears they may be using third-party manufacturers in the United States and Thailand.

Only Natural Pet Dry

4.6
4 color scale
Average Score
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ONLY NATURAL PET POWERGRAINS POULTRY FEAST ANCIENT GRAINS DOG FOOD
4.6
4 color scale
Average Score
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With a score of 4.4/10, Only Natural Pet Dry is considered a high risk dog food. It averages 37% protein and 26% carbohydrate, as calculated. The ingredient quality score of this recipe lost points due to its higher carbohydrate content, added vitamins and minerals and the use of a plant protein and seed oil. Ingredient safety scores are low due to being ultra processed, ingredients known for high pesticide/herbicide residues in the top 5 ingredients, a GMO ingredient and natural flavor.

Only Natural Pet Dry Food Benefits

Only Natural Pet Dry Food Concerns

Only Natural Pet Dehydrated

6.4
4 color scale
Average Score
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ONLY NATURAL PET WHOLESOME HOMEMADE RED MEAT FEAST DEHYDRATED DOG FOOD
6.4
4 color scale
Average Score
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With a score of 6.4/10, Only Natural Pet Dehydrated is considered a moderate risk dog food. It averages 33% protein and 34% carbohydrate, as calculated. The ingredient quality score of this recipe loses points due to its higher carbohydrate content, added vitamins and minerals and the use of plant protein and seed oil. It’s only moderately processed but there are ingredients known for high pesticide or herbicide residues in the top 5 ingredients, and natural flavor, which lowers the score.

Only Natural Pet Dehydrated Benefits

Only Natural Pet Dehydrated Concerns

Only Natural Pet Canned

6.8
4 color scale
Average Score
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ONLY NATURAL PET POWERSTEW GRAIN-FREE CHICKEN & LIVER FEAST WET DOG FOOD
6.8
4 color scale
Average Score
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With a score of 5.9/10, Only Natural Pet Canned dog food is considered a moderate risk dog food. It averages 48% protein and 18% carbohydrate, as calculated on a dry matter basis. The ingredient quality score of this recipe loses points for higher carbohydrate content, added vitamins and minerals and the use of plant protein. It’s highly processed, there are high pesticide ingredients in the top 5 ingredients, GMO ingredients and natural flavor, which lower the score.

Only Natural Pet Canned Benefits

Only Natural Pet Canned Concerns

Only Natural Pet Cold Pressed

6.5
4 color scale
Average Score
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ONLY NATURAL PET PORK & MENHADEN COLD PRESSED DOG FOOD
6.5
4 color scale
Average Score
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With a score of 6.5, Only Natural Pet Cold Pressed is considered a moderate risk dog food. It averages 37% protein and 25% carbohydrate, as calculated. The ingredient quality score of this recipe lost points due to its higher carbohydrate content, and the use of a plant protein and seed oil. Ingredient safety scores low due to being moderately processed, having a high herbicide crop in the top 5 ingredients, and using natural flavor.

Only Natural Pet Cold Pressed Benefits

Only Natural Pet Cold Pressed Concerns

Only Natural pet Dog Food Recalls

To date, Only Natural Pets dog foods have not been recalled. 

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