California Natural Dog Food
September 13, 2011
Filed under California Natural, Dog Food Reviews, Latest Dog Food Reviews
California Natural Dog Food Review
California Natural brand dog food is produced by the Natura Pet Products company. Natura Pet Products is also the maker of the following foods:
- Evo
- HelathWise
- Karma
- Mother Nature
- Innova
California Natural’s line of dog foods contain only one source of each macronutrient, with none of their formulas including any artificial ingredients, fillers or by-products. In addition, they are also corn, wheat and soy free.
This line of dog food formula’s is excellent for dogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies.
California Natural dog food products are formulated based on the philosophy– “less is more”. The manufacturers designed individual food formulas to meet the nutritional requirements of different life ages of dogs including those with special diets and hypersensitive issues with particular food ingredients.
California Natural has 13 dry dog food formulas which are designed for dogs with allergies thus they are using various ingredients to reduce, if not prevent, any incidence of digestive problems and food allergies.
The main ingredient of California natural dog food formulas is meat. The type of meat for each formula depends on the specific nutritional needs with which the formula has been formulated. The various dog food formulas for adult dogs use either of the following rich protein sources—lamb, chicken, venison, herring, and salmon. For puppies, the major meat sources include lamb and chicken.
Compared to other dog food brands, California Natural lives by its philosophy. It has a limited ingredient list in an effort to keep off common allergens in the dog’s diet.
One interesting aspect of the protein component of California Natural dog food formulas is the fact that meat sources are incorporated as meat meals such as chicken meal, lamb meal, or venison meal. Meat meals are considered meat concentrates which contain almost 300% more animal-based protein compared to raw or fresh meat sources. Almost eighty-percent of raw meat is made up of water which disperses upon processing.
Brown rice is a nutrient-rich grain with on the rice hull removed. It is a rich source of nutrients including B-vitamins, fatty acids and magnesium.
California Natural dog food also has grain-free formulas that incorporate peas or potatoes. Peas are an excellent source of digestible carbohydrates and of vegetable protein. It also contains substantial amounts of Vitamin A. Potatoes are good sources of complex carbohydrates, B-vitamins, magnesium, copper, iron, potassium, zinc, and niacin.
Sunflower oil is one of the highest sources of linoleic acid which is rich in essential omega-6 fatty acids responsible for healthy skin and coat.
Pea fiber comes from pea hulls and is considered both an insoluble and soluble fiber which is very important in promoting normal bowel health.
All of California Natural dog food formulas have met AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and adult maintenance.
However, there is no mention of probiotics or beneficial microorganisms in the dog food formulas. The current trend in dog food formulas is to apply a coat of probiotics on kibbles to further boost digestive health and performance.
Customer Reviews
There are many positive reviews from dog owners who switched their pet’s food to California Natural. Dogs which have been previously besieged with intestinal and bowel issues have improved significantly.
However, many dog owners question the absence of probiotics. There are also those who doubt if California Natural can still maintain the original quality now that it’s under the P&G formula.
Please visit the links listed below for California Natural dog food reviews by formula.
Have a comment or question about our California Natural dog food review? Want to share your experiences with others? We welcome your comments!
California Natural Dog Food Formulas:
- California Natural Grain Free Chicken Meal Adult Dog Food
- California Natural Grain Free Lamb Meal Adult Dog Food
- California Natural Grain Free Venison Meal Adult Dog Food
- California Natural Lamb Meal & Rice Adult Large Bites
- California Natural Lamb Meal & Rice Adult Small Bites
- California Natural Lamb & Brown Rice Adult
- California Natural Low Fat Rice & Lamb meal Adult
- California Natural Herring & Sweet Potato Adult Dog Food
- California Natural Salmon & Sweet Potato Adult
- California Natural Lamb Meal & Rice Dog Food
- California Natural Chicken Meal & Rice Dog Food
California Natural Dog Food Consumer Ratings
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Jess,all the P&G (old Natura) products are available in my area.I don’t really pay attention to the prices since the buyout though,I would never use them.
P&G Cannot change the formula until 2012. So, if your dog is “magically” having unexplained diarrhea and whatever else, don’t let your imagination run away, folks. The food has not changed. We are monitoring changes very closely, as soon as the formula changes and it is no longer a nutritional choice for your pets, we will remove it from our website. The moral of the story: don’t switch your pet to crappy food just because of a brand name. Philip Morris owns Jell-O and Koolaid. Do you boycot them too because the Tobacco company is giving everyone lung cancer?
Until then, EVO is still the best, closely followed by Cal Nat. We are also carrying First Mate and Earthborn which are not as widely known, but very good foods. We feed our dogs Earthborn, which they love. A bonus: Earthborn is a very “Earth Friendly” company. They use recycled materials for their marketing. If you save the UPC’s and send them in, they will plant a tree.
Brandy, did you not see my comment above? A dog does not “magically” have diarrhea halfway through a bag. Obviously P&G put something in the ingredients, they may have the same ingredients, but a cheaper quality and they can change the ingredients for 6 months and not put the changes on the bag or tell the consumer. They bought Natura in June so they had plenty of time to do something.
P&G is a sleazy, underhanded company who ruined Iams and Eukanuba. And they don’t have until 2012 to change the formula. The have as of 1/1/11 to change and also put the changed ingredients on the bag. Then I put Cody on Lamb and Rice and he doesn’t stop itching 4 days after I put him on it. He’s never even been on lamb! Now I’m working w/a dermatologist on a food trial. This has been ongoing since October. What a nightmare. Thank you P&G.
Brandy, I have heard about many people having issues with Innova and California Natural. One being myself. I have feed C.N. since I got my dog at 8 weeks (he is now 19 months) with no problems. WEEEEL GUESS WHAT??? The last bag of C.N. my dog got terrible diarrhea, their is absolutely no doubt in my mind that p&g is sourcing their ingredients from low grade suppliers. NO QUESTION about it. And I gave that bag to P.A.W’s.
As Cindy Smith says, dog food manufactures CAN change formula’s ANY time they wish and DO NOT have to put it on the bags for a QUITE some time. I can’t remember the time frame but it is longer than you might think. Now they must post it on there web site and I can’t remember how long they have to do that. A decent dog food company like Orijen puts that kind of information up right away, but p&g is NOT a decent dog food company.
Opened a can of California Natural last night..found strip of white cellophane in my dog’s bowl, luckily before he ate it. Just a puppy too! I’ve been buying California Natural for years. Found out today bought by Proctor & Gamble and that even the dry has been found to have hairs in it!! Will never ever buy again. This was a great food that I recommended to all until now. Who knows what they are putting in it..Cellophane for sure!
My dog eats anything, and by that I mean sticks, rope, cloth, tennis balls, yes he eats the frackin rubbery ball and plastic pieces he chews off toys, ect…When stuff happens I dont blame the dog food. I have pulled a long weed out of his throat becuase he tried swallowing it and could not get it down, but was still running around fine. So do you really know what your dog is eating when youre not looking? I also give the dogs whole food vitamin C, E and other whole food nutrients with their food. Some of the whole food stuff can cause “cleansing” of bowels. When stuff happens all of a sudden how about considering allergies. My dogs have allergies, sometimes its apparent and other times not, somewhat seasonal and I dont give them anything but added the extra nutrients to the food.
Hello All,
Just got off the phone with corporate who mfg California Natural. They informed me that the reason the company was sold the owners were in their 70′s and wanted to retire. I also was told that Proctor & Gamble will not and have not change the ingredients to their pet food products. Have all my dogs on California Natural 12+ years.
Star, LOL, what do you expect them to tell ya? The truth, which is p & g is nothing more than a bunch of money grubbing slim dogs that are into this to MAKE MONEY and that is all. Don’t you be fool’d by some service rep. If you want to know the truth than ask questions at several pet food stores. I used to love C.N. and feed it to my dog his whole life. I went to bat for them even after p&g bought them. But after my dog could not eat and I had to give 2 bags to paws, my feelings changed. You can go to almost any dog food forums and find people who loved their food, but know have problems with them. It is not the ingredient list, it is the low quality suppliers who supply them. p&g believes in one thing, cheaper is better when buying because that is how you make a BIGGER profit.
I have feed California Natural Lamb and Rice for 3 yrs. Just recently changed the pups to Innova Red Meat Large bite for more meat variety in one food. My little girl has a heart defect, just underwent surgrey to improve it. Her cardiologist recommended serving multiple meat sources due to amino acid deficiency (taurine). Recently I read that P & G does testing on cats and dogs.
What is a good multiply meat source food? I would prefer to buy organic.
thank you
I just bought my dogs EVO, California Natural and Innova today and feed it to them tonight. I wanted to see what everyone thought and saw what you guys wrote and my heart sank. I can’t believe I feed this junk to my dogs. Ok I give up! What can dog food do you recommend now? Please help. Thanks
Sorry I forgot to tell you the EVO, California Natural and Innova were all can dog food.
Does anyone know anything about Blue Buffalo Fish & Sweet Potato?