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Nutro Ultra Variety Pack Adult Grain-Free Turkey Entree & Chicken Entree Pate with Toppers Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz tray, case of 12
Nutro

Ultra Variety Pack Adult Grain-Free Turkey Entree & Chicken Entree Pate with Toppers Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz tray, case of 12

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $11.42/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Nutro Ultra Variety Pack Adult Grain-Free Turkey Entree & Chicken Entree Pate with Toppers is a wet food for adult dogs, built around turkey and chicken.

This wet food has a strong protein profile, with turkey as a primary ingredient, which means good biological value. It also includes chicken liver and dried egg product, adding diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources.

The formula contains carrageenan, a seaweed-derived thickener. Some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation, and this concern is elevated for dogs with IBD. It also includes guar gum, an emulsifier.

Good fit for adult dogs who benefit from a high-protein wet food. Less ideal if your dog has IBD or a sensitive stomach.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Turkey anchors position 1, with one pulse (peas at position 7), plus chicken liver at position 4 (a natural taurine precursor). In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022  (FDA, 2022) .

Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.

Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.

Research informing this analysis

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

  • FDA, 2022
    cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    diet composition· cited in 2 claims
  • NRC, 2006
    nutrient bioavailability

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

Middle-of-pack grade. 54/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+20.5 points): Strong protein profile with turkey as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What we'd flag for vet discussion: controversial-ingredient penalty (-5 points). Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD. B-tier is 6 points up. Controversial-ingredient penalty is where to find them.

What lifted the score

Strong protein profile with turkey as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF
What pulled it down

Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..

CIP

Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Top 10% for DMB fat in Nutro's lineup (29.5%)
  • Bottom quartile for carb quality in Nutro's lineup (11/16)
  • Top quartile for protein quality in Nutro's lineup (20.3/27)

Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.

Similar dog foods worth considering

Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Trio Protein Chicken, Lamb & Whitefish Pate with Superfoods Adult Wet Dog Food Trays, 3.5-oz, case of 12
Nutro

Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Trio Protein Chicken, Lamb & Whitefish Pate with Superfoods Adult Wet Dog Food Trays, 3.5-oz, case of 12

56

Scores 2 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Nutro Premium Loaf Turkey, Sweet Potato & Green Bean Grain-Free Adult Canned Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Nutro

Nutro Premium Loaf Turkey, Sweet Potato & Green Bean Grain-Free Adult Canned Wet Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12

51

$4.20/lb vs your seed's $11.42/lb (63% less) at a comparable score.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • carrageenan
    Seaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 41% ⓘ
Protein
9%
min (as fed)
Fat
6.5%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
78%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 41%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

172 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    turkey

    Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    chicken broth

    Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.

    Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.

  3. 3
    water

    Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.

  4. 4
    chicken liver

    Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.

    Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  5. 5
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

    Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  6. 6
    dried egg product

    Whole eggs with the water removed. Same nutritional value as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.

    Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  7. 7
    peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

    Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.

  8. 8
    carrageenan Flagged

    Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →

  9. 9
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  10. 10
    blueberries

    Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.

    Position 10: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  11. 11
    dried apples

    Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.

  12. 12
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

    Position 12: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  13. 13
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  14. 14
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  15. 15
    dried yam

    Yam with the moisture removed. Complex carb, fiber, similar role to sweet potato.

  16. 16
    sunflower oil

    Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.

  17. 17
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  18. 18
    tricalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.

  19. 19
    chia seed

    Plant source of omega-3 and fiber. Like flaxseed, useful in trace amounts.

  20. 20
    dried coconut
  21. 21
    tomato pomace

    The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.

  22. 22
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

  23. 23
    dried spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

  24. 24
    dried kale

    Leafy green with antioxidants and fiber. Small dose in kibble, but it's not just for marketing.

  25. 25
    dried plain beet pulp

    Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality. See why →

Showing first 25 of 172. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.