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Tools and Resources
Natural Dog Treat FAQs
Why does Mother Nature Pet Treats go to the trouble of baking natural premium dog biscuits when using fillers and byproducts is so much easier and cheaper? As a natural dog treat company, we feed our pets only nutritious ingredients and believe in doing the same for your special pet.
Review our Dog Treat FAQs below and you'll learn more about our unique baking process, the wholesome pet food ingredients we use, and why natural treats are the preferred choice for many pet owners.
To browse the FAQs, choose a category for your question, then click go, or search for the ones that interest you.
Choosing the Right Food for Your Pet:
Which pet food should I feed?
The choice between formulas really depends on the individual needs and preferences of your pet. Natura Pet Products makes five distinctive lines of pet foods, all of the highest quality and formulated to adhere to the strict Natura Nutritional Philosophy.
One option in the range of the healthiest pet foods in the world is, Innova. Innova dog and cat foods are formulated with ingredients from the five basic food groups, including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole ground grains which provide a wide variety of ingredients. Innova also features added ingredients, which are known to promote health; such as probiotics (also known as direct fed microbials), prebiotics, antioxidant vitamins E & C, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
EVO pet foods were created to appeal to the carnivore in every dog and cat. If you like the idea of feeding raw pet food, but prefer a cooked food that matches the benefits of raw, frozen, or home prepared high protein diets then EVO is the food for you. EVO was the original and industry first grain-free, low carbohydrate, ancestral diet that provides the benefits of modern nutrition in a safe convenient and cost-effective all natural food.
To keep things “pure and simple,” the California Natural line was created with the fewest possible ingredients. California Natural is completely balanced with all of the nutrients that your pet will need to thrive. Veterinarians have found that California Natural foods can be used as an elimination diet for pets with possible food allergies, as well as an excellent solution for pets with sensitive digestive tracts.
The HealthWise range of foods for all life stages was created to provide premium nutrition at a moderate price. Within the HealthWise range there is a weight control food as well as a food high in fat and protein for the active pet. HealthWise also has basic, high quality adult maintenance, puppy, and cat and kitten formulations that supply optimum nutrition.
Finally, Karma Organic food for dogs delivers wholesome, organic nutrition to your pet. The high quality chicken, grains, fruits and vegetables we use are certified as organically farmed and prepared, providing us with the highest organic ingredient inclusion (95%) among other natural pet foods on the market.
What natural dog food should I give to my large breed puppy?
One of the most important considerations when selecting the best puppy food for a large breed dog is avoiding excesses and providing well rounded nutrition. The right balance of highly digestible nutrition in the formula means less food wasted and more nutrients available to your dog to support and maintain healthy skin and coat condition, strong bones and joints, and a healthy immune system. Large breed puppies typically have a genetic tendency to grow too quickly and this can sometimes result in incomplete skeletal development and lifelong joint issues. Thus, it is critical to control the growth rate of these larger puppies with the appropriate amount of calories and tightly regulated levels of calcium and phosphorus (the main constituents of bone). For these reasons, Natura recommends our Innova Large Breed Puppy formula.
Using tried and true Innova Dog food formulation- with its “fresh-from-the-five-food-groups” ingredient blend- as a foundation, Innova Large Breed formulas were developed with the understanding that joint health, proper weight management and a healthy coat are all important considerations. For more information on Innova Large Breed, click here. Available in Puppy, Adult, and Senior formulas.
Does Natura make prescription-type diets?
Natura does not provide exclusively veterinarian prescribed diets. You can, however, review the average nutrient analyses of our cat and dog foods on our web site to see how the nutrient levels compare to a specific prescription diet. Also, please refer your veterinarian to naturavet.com if you have specific questions.
Do any of your natural pet products come in small bites for small breed dogs?
Yes! We offer small bites in Innova Adult Dog food, Innova Red Meat Adult Dog Food, California Natural Lamb Meal & Rice Adult Dog food, EVO Turkey & Chicken Dog food and EVO Red Meat Dog food.
Other Natura formulas with fairly small kibbles include our HealthWise Active Dog food, and our California Natural Puppy foods. But, even our larger kibbles may be considered an appropriate size by many small breed dogs that like to chew a little more.
When should I switch my dog or cat to a "senior food?"
The majority of Natura's adult formulas are balanced for all life stages of a dog’s or cat's life. A normal, healthy older dog or cat can use the adult formula throughout their lifetime.
If difficulties develop such as digestion problems, joint problems, weight gain, and/or lower activity level, it may be necessary to switch to a senior, low fat, or weight management formula. These formulas are balanced for maintenance, and can be used for any cat or dog that is past the growth stage.
We offer a variety of senior pet foods, both for dogs and cats that were developed to meet the specific requirements of aging pets. Natura senior formulas include our Innova Senior (dog and cat, dry and canned), Innova Senior Plus (dog only, dry only) and Innova Large Breed Senior (dog only, dry and canned).
What are the differences between the Innova Senior foods? Why would you choose one versus another?
- Innova Senior “Classic” was developed in the mid 90’s when the current science indicated senior dogs would perform better and benefit from lower protein and lower fat diets. Innova Senior has performed for our senior canine friends for many years and has a strong consumer following. But, as time and research has progressed, it has been found that there is also a benefit for our senior dogs to have a higher protein intake similar to when they were younger adults. Therefore, Innova Senior Plus was developed to address the need for a higher protein senior dog food. Both Innova Senior Classic and Innova Senior Plus contain the highest levels of Vitamin E, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate allowed.
- Innova Large Breed Senior is also available for large breed dogs.
- All three foods are appropriate for senior dogs, the decision is left to the consumer and their veterinarian as to which product they prefer and choose.
Comparing Innova Senior Diets
| Formula |
Protein |
Fat |
Joint Health |
Description |
| INN Adult |
24 |
14 |
No |
Used for normal healthy adult dogs |
| INN SR "classic" |
18 |
8 |
Yes |
Conventional way of thinking-lower both protein and fat as the animal ages; contain chondroprotectives to help with joint health (glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate) |
| INN SR Plus |
24 |
8 |
Yes |
Animals, like people tend to gain weight as they age, still require protein to maintain muscle mass, but require a less calorically dense food; chondroprotectives to help with joint health (glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate) |
| INN LB SR |
26 |
10 |
Yes |
Large breed animals, like people tend to gain weight as they age, still require protein to maintain muscle mass, but require a less calorically dense food; chondroprotectives to help with joint health (glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate); protein higher to ensure adequate protein intake as large breed dogs eat less calories per pound of body weight than small and medium breeds |
| INN Low Fat |
18 |
8 |
No |
Used for less active animals prone to weight gain and sensitive to higher levels of fat |
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