Simply Nourish Dog Food 2022 Review & Recalls
Simply Nourish is a great dog food producer that is sold exclusively by PetSmart, although you can also find their products on Amazon. It promises good and healthy ingredients for your pet. They claim to use only natural ingredients and avoid harmful additives that other dog food manufacturers commonly put in their own products. They use no artificial dyes either.
In this review, we will save you the headache by discussing some of the most popular Simply Nourish dog food products, their recall history, as well take an in-depth analysis of one representative product!
We’ll also cover…
- Is Simply Nourish dog food made in the United States?
- Has Simply Nourish been recalled?
- Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?
Which Simply Nourish Sub-Brand Is Right for You?
Here are 4 of Simply Nourish’s most popular sub-brands:
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Simply Nourish Adult Dry Dog Food - Lamb and Oatmeal
| 10 | Check Price |
Best Wet Food  | Simply Nourish Grain Free Beef & Vegetables Stew
| 9.9 | Check Price |
Best for Puppies  | Simply Nourish Puppy Dry Dog Food Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.8 | Check Price |
Best for Seniors  | Simply Nourish Senior Adult Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.7 | Check Price |
If you’re looking for Simply Nourish dog food specifically for small breeds, try one of these. There’s at least one for each stage in your small dog’s life.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Puppy  | Simply Nourish Small Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.9 | Check Price |
Adult  | SIMPLY NOURISH Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.8 | Check Price |
Adult  | Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Salmon and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
| 9.6 | Check Price |
Senior  | Simply Nourish Small Breed Senior Adult Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.8 | Check Price |
What Is Simply Nourish Dog Food?
Simply Nourish is a US-based company and dog food brand that is manufactured by American Nutrition. They have three locations in Woodland, Washington, Ogden, Utah, and Hazelton, Pennsylvania. American Nutrition was founded in 1972 and it has always, consistently met USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards.
This is how the company describes itself on the PetSmart website: “Simply Nourish™ dog food is made with high-quality proteins, digestible carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, and essential nutrients. Simply Nourish™ cat food is made with carefully sourced ingredients such as deboned meat and fish, a great source of protein, minerals, and fatty acids.”.
Is Simply Nourish Dog Food Good?
Simply Nourish does not seem like an especially well-known pet food brand, and since it does not have a website, it can be difficult to find out too much about it, except on retailers such as PetSmart, Chewy, or Amazon. They are a fairly affordable brand, so if they are promising high-quality products, then they should be a fantastic option for you and your pup. Here, you will find a comprehensive, in-depth Simply Nourish Dog Food review.
It seems that Simply Nourish really does use natural, high-quality ingredients. They are a healthy brand that stacks up quite well with some of the more expensive brands of dog food. Despite this, they still remain not very well known. We believe this might be due to the fact that Simply Nourish dog food gets marketed as a generic PetSmart dog food.
As mentioned above, the company does stay away from additives, chemicals, and artificial flavors and chooses to use natural ingredients in their recipes instead. Also as mentioned above, they appear to consistently meet USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards.
Since Simply Nourish is a PetSmart brand all of their dog foods are made in the US, although their ingredients do come from both national and international suppliers.
What Is the Recall History of Simply Nourish?
Although there is no recall history on Simply Nourish dog foods, in October of 2014, they did voluntarily recall some of their dog treat products due to the potential for mold growth. They recalled Simply Nourish Biscotti with Beef and Sweet Potatoes Dog Treats. It seems that was the last and only time one of their products was recalled.
What Types Of Dog Food Does Simply Nourish Offer?
Simply Nourish has several different lines on the shelves so they can best meet your dog’s dietary requirements. They have a whole health line that offers a regular amount of protein, fat, and carbs. They have a limited ingredient line that helps dogs with allergies or dietary restrictions. They have a grain-free line for dogs with gluten issues. They also have a source line that offers a high protein diet. Here are the options you have to choose from:
Simply Nourish Dry Dog Food Options
The Simply Nourish General Product Line:
- Simply Nourish Adult Lamb and Oatmeal
- Simply Nourish Large Breed Senior
- Simply Nourish Adult Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Healthy Weight Adult
- Simply Nourish Healthy Weight Large Breed Adult
- Simply Nourish Healthy Weight Small Breed Adult
- Simply Nourish Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Large Breed Adult Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Senior Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Large Breed Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Small Breed Puppy Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Small Breed Senior Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Adult Fish and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Lamb and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Brown Rice
The Simply Nourish Whole Health Line:
The Simply Nourish Limited Ingredient Line:
- Simply Nourish Sweet Potato and Salmon
- Simply Nourish Lamb and Pea
The Simply Nourish Grain-Free Line:
- Simply Nourish Chicken, Pea, and Potatoes
The Simply Nourish Source Line:
- Simply Nourish Chicken and Salmon
Simply Nourish Wet Dog Food Options
The Simply Nourish Whole Health Line:
- Simply Nourish Beef and Vegetable
- Simply Nourish Turkey and Sweet Potato
- Simply Nourish Chicken and Brown Rice
- Simply Nourish Lamb and Carrot
- Simply Nourish Duck and Wild Rice
- Simply Nourish Chicken, Veggies, and Quinoa
The Simply Nourish Limited Ingredient Line:
- Simply Nourish Fish and Sweet Potato
- Simply Nourish Duck and Potato
- Simply Nourish Venison and Sweet Potato
The Simply Nourish Grain-Free Line:
- Simply Nourish Chicken Pot Pie
- Simply Nourish Chicken and Veggie
- Simply Nourish Chicken and Salmon
- Simply Nourish Beef Pot Roast
- Simply Nourish Turkey and Sweet Potato
- Simply Nourish Lamb and Veggie
The Simply Nourish Source Line:
- Simply Nourish Beef
- Simply Nourish Chicken
- Simply Nourish Turkey
- Simply Nourish Venison
What is Inside Simply Nourish Dog Food?
It is important to understand what is in your dog’s food. I mean, this is your best friend, you have to treat them as such, right? Since we cannot physically see what is in their food (most food comes in the form of dark-colored kibbles, so it is impossible to see what is in there), it might be easy to brush off all dog food as the same, but this could not be further from the truth. In this section, we will figure out what is inside Simply Nourish’s dog food and whether they are the right brand for your furry friend.
Simply Nourish Dog Food Brand Averages
On average, each product on this brand features a protein content of 29 percent, a mean fat level of 13 percent, and a carbohydrate content of 50 percent. This means that the brand features an above-average level of protein (even considering the boosting effect of flaxseed which we will talk about below), a below-average level of fat, and a near-average level of carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Brown Rice
This is a type of dry dog food that is best for small breed adult dogs, although it would feed other types of dogs as well. Here is a list of the most common small dog breeds:
- Papillon
- Mini Poodle
- Pomeranian
- Scottish Terrier
- Schnauzer
- Maltese Shih Tzu
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Chihuahua
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Pug
- French Bulldog
- Corgi
- Beagle
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Dachshund
There are several ingredients in this recipe. Here they are:
Deboned chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), brown rice, oatmeal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, pea fiber, whole flaxseed, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potassium chloride, dried chicory root, dried carrots, dried kale, dried pumpkin, dried blueberries, salt, minerals (zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese proteinate), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium iodate, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement), choline chloride, dl-methionine, citric acid (a preservative), mixed tocopherols (a preservative), and rosemary extract.
Now, for the breakdown of Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Chicken and Brown Rice’s nutritional content percentages:
- Protein content stands at 28 percent
- Fat content stands at 16 percent
- Carbs content stands at 49 percent
- Fiber content stands at 6.7 percent
This makes for a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47 percent, which is very good.
Alright, now let’s take an in-depth look at each and every one of these ingredients in this adult dog food product, and how they affect your best friend:
- Chicken: The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. This is obviously a great ingredient to include in dog food, although raw chicken contains up to 73 percent water. This means that after cooking, that moisture is lost, and the meat content is reduced to only a small percentage of its original weight in this chicken recipe. Still, it is the most present product on this list and a great source of protein for your pet.
- Chicken Meal: The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is a meat product that is included in many dog food products. It is essentially a meat concentrate product – it is rendered chicken meat that has been dried up and ground up, and includes clean flesh, skin, and sometimes bone. It is very nutritious and contains nearly 300% more animal protein than fresh chicken. It is a lovely and nutritious addition to this recipe.
- Brown Rice: The third ingredient is brown rice. This is a complex carbohydrate that can be fairly easy to digest for dogs once it is cooked. It has a significant natural energy content, yet in terms of nutritional value, a brown rice recipe is not a very high source of nutrition for your dog.
- Oatmeal: The fourth ingredient is oatmeal. This is a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be gluten-free. It is especially beneficial to senior dogs with bowel irregularity issues. It is also a great alternate grain for dogs allergic to wheat.
- Chicken Fat: The fifth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken in a process similar to making soup. In this process, the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid and added into the dog food mix. This ingredient is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life and an excellent addition to this great recipe.
- Pea Fiber: Then we have pea fiber, which is a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Apart from the fiber it provides, this ingredient has no significant nutritional value.
- Flaxseed: The next ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. This ingredient is also rich in soluble fiber. Flaxseed also contains about 19 percent protein. This means that the protein percentage you saw earlier is not only derived from the chicken, but also from flaxseed. This dog food does contain a good number of proteins from meat, however.
- Sunflower Oil: Next, we have sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. They are high in omega-6 fatty acids, yet contain no omega-3’s, so they are a little bit less nutritious than other types of oils, such as canola oils or flaxseed oils.
- Chicory Root: Now we have chicory root, which is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates. It is a natural source of soluble dietary fiber and it is also prebiotic and is used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in your loving pup’s digestive tract.
- Chelated Minerals: Lastly, this dry dog food also contains chelated minerals, which are minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb and they are usually added to some higher quality dog foods.
Simply Nourish Product Spotlight
Let us take a quick look at some other of Simply Nourish’s dog food products, so we can get an overarching understanding of this brand and their products:
Simply Nourish Limited Ingredient Salmon And Sweet Potato:
- Real deboned salmon as the first ingredient
- No potatoes, grains or chicken
- 4lb. bag available
As we mentioned a few sections before, the Simply Nourish Limited Ingredient diet line is intended for dogs with food allergies or food intolerances that might not be able to eat regular dog food. The Simply Nourish Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe is not only made with healthy and natural ingredients, but it is also supplemented with added vitamins and minerals to help where these ingredients might be lacking.
It contains only one source of protein, the salmon (and the salmon meal), in order to make sure your pet can digest it just fine. It features absolutely no fillers, colors, or preservatives. The salmon is meant to help your dog develop lean muscles and a healthy heart whilst also aiding digestion. Sweet potatoes are also a great and easily digestible way of getting good carbohydrates into your dog’s system.
The only issue with this product is that it features canola oil, which is not the healthiest of oils, but that is undoubtedly a neglectful risk. It also features tomato pomace, a tomato by-product which is a somewhat controversial ingredient, yet most people agree it is harmless. This product has a very high protein and fiber content. This great dog food contains around 25% protein and 7.5% fiber. However, it is important to know whether your dog is able to handle that level of protein, as some dogs can develop kidney issues from a high protein diet.
Simply Nourish Source Grain Free Salmon:
Simply Nourish knows that there are some dogs that are unable to process certain types of grains. So they decided to make a grain-free product line specifically for them. This is one of their products, the Simply Nourish Source Grain Free Salmon. It is also part of their Source product line, which focuses on a more limited diet that is high in protein, for dogs on a diet or with their own dietary restrictions.
This product features salmon, salmon meal, chicken meal, and dried peas. It contains a whopping 34 percent crude protein which is incredibly high but only useful as long as they maintain a balanced diet and do a lot of exercise. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials, adult dogs require a minimum of 18 to 26 percent protein in their diet so for a product to contain 34 percent is incredible.
It is, however, not a very good thing that Simply Nourish has added chicken meal to this recipe, not because the chicken meal is an unhealthy ingredient, which it absolutely is not, but because it is not advertised in the name of the product. There is a possibility that your pup has a chicken allergy, and the fact that it is not advertised where people can see, it could cause a problem and an urgent visit to the vet. It is likely that the chicken meal is added as a cheaper addition than the salmon meal, so that it can reach its high protein content for a cheaper price. This is not uncommon to be found in protein alternatives like fish, lamb, and venison.
It is important to know when your puppy might be in danger since it might be hard for dog owners at times to understand dog allergies. Here are the signs to watch out for in your dog if you think you might be feeding him something he cannot eat:
- Itchiness
- Hives
- Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
- Red, inflamed skin
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sneezing
- Itchy ears
- Chronic ear infections
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Constant licking
If your dog starts throwing up white foam, he might be intolerant of something you are feeding them. Make sure you stay vigilant, and if you are switching up their diet, do it slowly and diligently.
Final Thoughts
Simply Nourish is a great dog food brand with well-formulated products that are good for your dog’s health. Here’s a run through their top products one more time.
The 4 most popular sub-brands:
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Simply Nourish Adult Dry Dog Food - Lamb and Oatmeal
| 10 | Check Price |
Best Wet Food | Simply Nourish Grain Free Beef & Vegetables Stew
| 9.9 | Check Price |
Best for Puppies | Simply Nourish Puppy Dry Dog Food Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.8 | Check Price |
Best for Seniors | Simply Nourish Senior Adult Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.7 | Check Price |
The 4 sub-brands made especially for small breeds:
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Puppy | Simply Nourish Small Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.9 | Check Price |
Adult | SIMPLY NOURISH Small Breed Adult Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.8 | Check Price |
Adult | Simply Nourish Small Breed Adult Salmon and Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
| 9.6 | Check Price |
Senior | Simply Nourish Small Breed Senior Adult Dry Dog Food - Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.8 | Check Price |
If you’d like a second opinion on Simply Nourish dog food, check out this review from Muscle Dog Mafia:
