FAQs
Do you offer a Frequent Buyer Program?
What is your 100% Satisfaction Guarantee?
Why is Taurine in your dog food? Isn't it just for cats?
Why does my kibble vary in color?
What do you mean when you say your foods are 'naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, source of Vitamin E'?
How is your food for All Life Stages? How do you know puppies are getting what they need?
Do you offer a Frequent Buyer Program?
Yes. Our Natural Balance Loyalty Program is a Buy 12 Get 1 Free Program directly through participating independent retailers. Your participating store will issue you an NB Loyalty envelope with which they store your UPC’s from the bags of dry food that you purchase. Once you get to your 12th purchase, your next purchase is free.
Guidelines for the program are as follows:
• To qualify, all twelve purchases must be the same size. E.g. 10lb bags
• It is okay to rotate formulas, as long as the bags are the same size.
• For dog products, bag sizes of 10lbs or larger qualify.
• For cat products, bag sizes of 5/6lbs or larger qualify.
• The envelope must include the 13th Proof-of-Purchase (from the free bag) when it is sent in for redemption by your store.
• The envelopes must be redeemed within 14 months of the initial purchase.
• All of the purchases must be made through the same retailer who issued you the envelope.
What is your 100% Satisfaction Guarantee?
We know that one type of food won't work for all animals, so we keep working to give you the best possible choices in every category. If for any reason you are not satisfied, simply bring your receipt and unused portion back to the place of purchase for a full refund or exchange.
Why is Taurine in your dog food? Isn't it just for cats?
New studies have shown that extra Taurine is imperative for Cardiovascular Health in dogs, especially in Large and Giant Breeds. Natural Balance® has always added Taurine to our Ultra Premium Dog Food.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common acquired cardiovascular diseases in dogs. In cats, a diet deficient in taurine clearly results in DCM, but in dogs, the need for dietary taurine has not been generally recognized because dogs are known to be able to synthesize taurine from the sulfur amino acids cysteine and methionine.
Yet, during the past two years, veterinary nutritionist Andrea Fascetti and her colleagues Quinton Rogers and Robert Backus documented low plasma taurine concentrations in dogs with clinical signs of DCM. Some animals died (the prognosis is poor for dogs with this disease) while some survived when given supplemental Taurine and supportive care.
The cause of taurine deficiency in the canine DCM cases was not readily apparent, yet the common factor was diet history. Some of the dogs had been eating home-made diets, while others were eating similar commercial diets which appeared sufficient in protein and sulfur amino acid content, and had passed testing in accordance with Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) feeding trials for all life stages. These cases and findings in several pilot studies suggest that diet does affect taurine metabolism in dogs and may play a role in the development of DCM.
Recent evidence also suggests that Taurine stores and the development of DCM may be affected not only by diet, but also by a dog's size. There is a prevalence of DCM in families of dogs and specific breeds, many of which are large and giant breeds.
Dr. Backus found evidence in a study of Newfoundland dogs with taurine deficiency to support the idea that taurine metabolism may be influenced by "metabolic" body size, which takes into account that the amount of energy needed by the body is correlated with total body surface area, not just body weight. For example, calculations of metabolic body size indicate that the caloric and protein intake per unit of body weight in a large breed dog is actually lower than in a small breed dog.
Dr. Fascetti is currently investigating the influence of both diet and metabolic body size on taurine metabolism in small and large breed dogs. Information from the studies will contribute to ongoing and subsequent research on taurine metabolism in dogs, and will help clinicians interpret taurine profiles to make appropriate therapeutic recommendations. Dr. Fascetti hopes these studies will increase veterinarian and client awareness in order to prevent diet-related DCM and to improve the life expectancy of dogs afflicted with the disease.
Investigating Taurine: Dr. Fascetti and her colleagues are carrying out a variety of investigations to find out how diet composition affects taurine metabolism in dogs, and how taurine deficiency may play a role in the development of DCM, particularly in large-breed dogs. Dr. Fascetti and her clinical nutrition resident, Dr. Sean Delaney, have begun a scientific survey to determine normal ranges for plasma and whole blood taurine concentrations in dogs.
Reference ranges for taurine concentrations in cats are known, yet healthy ranges in dogs have not been determined. Understanding normal ranges for taurine is essential to understanding the factors that affect taurine metabolism in dogs and the link between taurine deficiency and DCM. Blood samples will be collected from client-owned animals along with each dog's age, breed, weight and other measurements, medical history and a complete diet history. The effect of metabolic body size and diet on the taurine levels will be determined.
Last year Dr. Backus found diet-associated taurine deficiency and cardiac insufficiency in more than half of a group of 21 privately owned Newfoundland dogs, which excreted extraordinary amounts of taurine in their urine. Drs. Backus and Fascetti are now planning a larger project to estimate the prevalence of a possible widespread taurine deficiency in the Newfoundland breed. Non-invasive clinical tests and feeding trials will determine if taurine deficiency in Newfoundlands might result from 1) a reduction in protein digestibility, 2) a diminished capacity to synthesize taurine from sulfur amino acids, or 3) loss of taurine in urine. Pedigree analysis may reveal a genetic basis for taurine deficiency.
Another breed susceptible to DCM is the Doberman pinscher. In a three year project partially funded by the Doberman Pinscher Foundation of America, Morris Animal Foundation and the CCAH, graduate student Dr. Cristina Torres is working on developing a taurine-deficient adult dog model that can be used to further study DCM in humans and animals. Dogs in the study are given purified diets and monitored for taurine concentrations and cardiac changes. Upon depletion of taurine, the dogs are supplemented with taurine until their physiology returns to normal. The study investigates possible causes for taurine deficiency and will determine the quantities of dietary taurine and sulfur amino acids needed to prevent DCM in purified and commercial diets.
Why does my kibble vary in color?
Natural Balance pet foods contain a large variety of meats and vegetables, all of which are given to natural color variations. For example, there are many varieties of potatoes including the Russet Burbank (long russet), the White rose, Katahdin and Red Pontiac. The color of their skin ranges from bright orange, creamy yellow to white, off white, buff color and red. (we use the whole potato since the skins are rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements and they provide a natural source of fiber)
Furthermore, the color of many vegetables depends on the geographic area in which they are grown and the method of harvesting. The same varieties of vegetables grown in Idaho, Maine, California or Washington will vary in color.
The color of meat also can and does vary greatly. All of us are quite familiar with the difference in “white” and “dark” portions of turkey. This color difference also holds true for meat from mammals.
One of the easiest ways to overcome the problem of color variations is to include color stabilizing chemicals and/or, more commonly used, is the addition of a dye to mask the natural variations. Using dyes does insure that the product has the same cosmetic appearance from batch to batch regardless of the color of the actual ingredients, but is there a benefit?
While coloring agents are thought not to pose a health hazard, we at Natural Balance feel that there is absolutely no reason to include these dyes or chemicals in any of our products. Edith van Marthens DVM
What do you mean when you say your foods are 'naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, source of Vitamin E'?
Vitamin E (tocopherols) is actually a family of compounds, and based on their chemical structure they are known as alpha, beta, delpha, and gama Vitamin E. Vitamin E can not be produced by humans, cats, dogs, etc. thus it must come from dietary sources. The term "mixed tocopherols" indicates that all of the essential components of the Vitamin E group are present. Without all of them, the health of the animal would be in great danger, and many nutritionally caused deficiencies would be apparent in a relative short time. Edith van Marthens DVM
How is your food for All Life Stages? How do you know puppies are getting what they need?
In Nature, your pets would not have the choice of puppy or kitten formulas; they would simply live on a diet of mostly meat and and some grain. In a natural free environment, animals instinctively eat more or less, depending on their age and activity level. Puppies will require a higher caloric intake than an adult, therefore we suggest feeding puppies, up to 6 months of age, two or three times a day. Natural Balance Products are scientifically formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for all stages of your pet's life. We recommend that you do not add vitamins, minerals or any other supplements, except upon the advice of a veterinarian.