What's actually in Nulo?
We analyzed Nulo Freestyle Adult Salmon & Peas. The first five ingredients are deboned salmon, salmon meal, whole dried egg, turkey meal, and menhaden fish meal. That's five animal-based protein sources before a single carbohydrate appears on the list — an extraordinary feat in commercial dog food and something only a handful of brands at any price point can claim.
Deboned salmon leads as a named whole-meat protein — fresh, identifiable, and species-specific. Salmon meal is the concentrated version, delivering roughly three times the protein by weight after water is removed. Whole dried egg is one of the most bioavailable protein sources in pet nutrition, with an amino acid profile that dogs utilize with exceptional efficiency. Turkey meal adds a poultry-based protein, and menhaden fish meal rounds out the top five with a marine protein rich in EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.
The protein density here is genuinely exceptional. Most brands lead with one meat and one meal, then pivot to carbohydrates by ingredient three or four. Nulo holds off until ingredient six — peas — before anything non-animal appears. That's a protein-first philosophy that places it in the same elite tier as Orijen, which is the only brand in our database that scores higher. Shop on Amazon →
The good stuff
The probiotic and prebiotic combination is a genuine differentiator. Dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product is a shelf-stable probiotic strain that survives the kibble manufacturing process — a meaningful advantage over the more common Lactobacillus strains that often don't survive extrusion temperatures. Dried chicory root provides prebiotic fiber to feed beneficial gut bacteria, creating a synbiotic loop that actively supports digestive health rather than just listing a probiotic for label appeal.
Flaxseed provides plant-based ALA omega-3 fatty acids for skin and coat health, while the salmon and menhaden fish meal ingredients contribute marine-based EPA and DHA omega-3s. That's omega-3s from three distinct sources — a level of fatty acid diversity you rarely see outside the ultra-premium tier. Blueberries add natural antioxidants and phytonutrients. The "low glycemic" positioning is backed by the formula's avoidance of corn, wheat, tapioca, and white potatoes — the high-glycemic carb sources that dominate most commercial kibbles.
Taurine and L-carnitine are both supplemented explicitly — and this is where Nulo separates itself from the grain-free pack. Taurine supports cardiac muscle function and eye health. L-carnitine aids in fat metabolism and energy production. Both are amino acids that dogs can synthesize on their own, but supplementing them provides a critical insurance policy in a grain-free formula where the DCM conversation makes cardiac support a priority. Nulo is one of the very few grain-free brands that proactively addresses this concern in the formula itself, and that foresight is a major reason the score lands where it does.
The not-so-good stuff
The legume load is the central caveat — and the only reason this formula doesn't score even higher. Peas, chickpeas, pea starch, and lentils all appear on the ingredient list. That's four legume-derived ingredients in a single formula, which is the same pattern the FDA flagged in its ongoing investigation into a potential link between grain-free diets high in legumes and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. No definitive causal link has been established, but Nulo's formula is squarely in the category being examined.
Pea starch specifically is a processed ingredient that serves more as a binding agent and carbohydrate filler than a nutritional contributor. Its presence alongside whole peas and lentils means legumes are likely one of the most abundant ingredient categories in the formula when measured collectively — even though each individual legume ingredient appears lower on the list.
The price is premium. At roughly $65–75 for a 24-pound bag, Nulo costs significantly more per pound than mid-tier competitors. The Austin, TX-based company, founded in 2009, has built a loyal following in the independent pet store channel — and for an A-grade formula, the price is more defensible than it would be for a B or C. But it's still a real budget consideration, especially for larger dogs.
How it compares
At A/90, Nulo ties with Stella & Chewy's (A/90) and sits just four points behind Orijen (A/90) — making it one of only three brands in our database to earn an A grade. That's elite company. Compared to Stella & Chewy's, Nulo has the edge in protein sourcing — five animal proteins in the top five versus a kibble-and-raw blend approach — while Stella & Chewy's counters with freeze-dried organ meats and a four-strain probiotic lineup.
Against the grain-free B-tier options, the gap is clear. Taste of the Wild (B/78) delivers a solid grain-free formula at a significantly lower price point, but it can't match Nulo's protein density or supplement profile. Blue Buffalo Wilderness (B/75) shares the grain-free, high-protein philosophy but leads with only two animal proteins in the top five — Nulo more than doubles that count. Diamond Naturals (B/78) offers outstanding value as a grain-inclusive option at less than half the price, but it's playing in a different nutritional league.
The real question is Nulo versus Orijen. Both are A-grade, protein-first formulas with premium prices. Orijen wins on sheer ingredient diversity — fourteen animal ingredients before the first carbohydrate is unmatched. But Nulo offers taurine and L-carnitine supplementation that Orijen doesn't, directly addressing the grain-free DCM concern. At $65–75 versus Orijen's $90–110, Nulo delivers about 95% of the formula at roughly 70% of the cost.
Life-stage variant: Nulo Puppy (A/90) swaps the adult salmon-first stack for a turkey-first puppy formulation with chickpea low-glycemic carbs and the same BC30 probiotic.
Cross-format sibling: for Nulo's freeze-dried raw cat variant, see our Nulo FreeStyle Freeze-Dried Raw Chicken & Salmon (B/78, cat) review scored under the Fresh Food Rubric v1.0.
The bottom line
Nulo Freestyle earns an A grade (90/100) from KibbleIQ — one of the highest scores in our entire database. Five animal protein sources before the first carbohydrate, shelf-stable probiotics paired with prebiotic fiber, omega-3s from three distinct sources, blueberry antioxidants, and proactive taurine and L-carnitine supplementation make this one of the most thoughtfully constructed kibble formulas on the market. The grain-free legume load is the one meaningful concern, and the premium price is real — but for a formula that lands in the same tier as Orijen at a lower price point, Nulo earns its place among the best dry dog foods you can buy. Shop on Amazon →