The scores
Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey & Sweet Potato: A (90/100) — Deboned turkey, turkey meal, salmon meal, chickpeas, chicken fat. BC30 probiotic, salmon oil DHA, functional vegetables and fruits.
Nulo Freestyle Adult Salmon & Peas: A (90/100) — Deboned salmon, salmon meal, whole dried egg, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal. Three marine-protein sources, whole egg for amino acid completeness.
How the ingredients compare
Puppy: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Salmon Meal, Chickpeas, Chicken Fat
Adult Salmon: Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Whole Dried Egg, Turkey Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal
The puppy formula leads with turkey — a lighter, more digestible protein source that's typically well-tolerated by young digestive systems. Turkey meal (position #2) concentrates the poultry protein. Salmon meal (position #3) adds marine-source omega-3s. The adult salmon formula, by contrast, doubles down on salmon and marine protein — deboned salmon + salmon meal + menhaden fish meal. Whole dried egg at position three is a premium protein source with biological value near 100. Both formulas include turkey meal and both deliver concentrated animal protein density.
Where the Puppy formula differs
Turkey-forward formulation: Turkey is one of the most hypoallergenic mainstream animal proteins — lower allergic-reaction incidence than chicken or beef. For puppies with unknown food sensitivities, a turkey-first formula is a sensible starting point, reducing the chance of an early elimination-diet challenge.
Chickpeas + sweet potato for puppy-friendly carbs: The low-glycemic-index carbohydrate stack (chickpeas, sweet potato, yellow peas) delivers sustained energy without rapid blood sugar spikes. For growing puppies whose insulin sensitivity is being established during the first 12 months, a low-GI carb base may support better metabolic foundation.
Functional vegetables and fruits: Dried tomatoes, dried carrots, dried blueberries, dried apples add polyphenols and antioxidants. Micronutrient-range contributions, but they signal formulation intent and contribute to overall nutrient diversity. The adult salmon formula uses a simpler ingredient list by comparison. Shop on Amazon →
Where the Adult Salmon formula differs
Triple marine-protein stack: Deboned salmon + salmon meal + menhaden fish meal gives the adult formula three marine protein sources in the top five. For adult dogs benefiting from concentrated marine-source EPA and DHA (skin and coat support, anti-inflammatory effects, cognitive maintenance), this density is stronger than the puppy formula's single marine source (salmon meal at position #3).
Whole dried egg in position #3: Whole egg is one of the highest biological value protein sources in food science (essentially the gold standard). The adult formula includes it in the top three, which is unusual and a quality signal. The puppy formula lacks this particular protein addition at the same inclusion rate.
Simpler ingredient list: The adult salmon formula has a tighter, more focused ingredient panel with fewer vegetables and fruits. For adult dogs already through the microbiome establishment phase, the functional plant diversity is less critical than raw protein quality. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
This is a life-stage decision. For puppies under 12 months, Nulo Puppy is the right choice — the turkey-forward formulation, low-GI chickpea/sweet potato carb base, and puppy-tuned calcium and fat levels align with growth-stage requirements. For adult dogs 12+ months, Nulo Freestyle Adult Salmon & Peas (or any of Nulo's adult variants) is the right choice — the triple marine protein stack and whole egg addition optimize for maintenance nutrition. Both earn A/90 — same top-tier ingredient quality, different life-stage tuning. Large-breed puppy owners should verify calcium levels with their vet. DCM-susceptible breed owners (goldens, cockers, Dobermans, Great Danes) should discuss grain-free formulas with their vet before long-term commitment.