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Dry pet food
Nulo

MedalSeries High-Protein Puppy Kibble Salmon & Lentils Recipe

Verified Aug 30, 2026

Dog · Dry Puppy Small Medium

This is a grain-free, high-protein dry puppy food for small and medium breed dogs, using deboned salmon, chicken meal, and turkey meal as primary protein sources. Sweet potatoes, lentils, and chickpeas provide carbohydrates and fiber, while added salmon oil supplies DHA and omega-3s to support brain, eye, and skin health. It also includes probiotics and prebiotic fibers to help support developing digestive systems and is formulated for growth and for pregnant or nursing dogs, but not for large-breed puppies.

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Over-the-counter AAFCO No recalls

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Official product page
KibbleLab Score
8.3 out of 10

Strong Choice

Nutritionally, this is a well-designed dry food for small and medium breed puppies or pregnant/nursing dogs that need higher energy and quality protein. It offers good protein and fat levels for growth, multiple animal protein sources, and nice extras like probiotics, taurine, DHA, and added antioxidants. It would not be appropriate for large-breed puppies, and because it is grain-free with lentils and chickpeas high on the list, I’d be cautious in dogs with any heart-related risk factors until we know more from ongoing DCM research.

Nutritional profile 10.0
Ingredient composition 8.0
Adequacy substantiation 7.0
Health considerations 8.0

Computed from 4 of 4 applicable checks. Missing data is skipped, never counted against a food.

The KibbleLab Score (1–10) is assessed from publicly available product data. Our evaluation is science-based, not marketing-based.

Nutritional profile Protein, fat, fiber on a dry-matter basis, for the stated life stage and format
Adequacy substantiation Complete and balanced substantiation; feeding trials valued higher
Ingredient composition Screened for unnamed sources, artificial additives, and label protein inflation. Not a quality ranking.
Health considerations Pulse-heavy grain-free (DCM) pattern and recall history
Verified manufacturer evidence A small bonus when we can verify evidence addressing WSAVA selection criteria
9.0 - 10 Top Pick
8.0 - 8.9 Strong Choice
7.0 - 7.9 Solid Option
6.0 - 6.9 Worth a Conversation
Below 6.0 Review Carefully

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At a Glance

Marketed Benefits
Where these benefits come from Benefits the manufacturer highlights in its own product marketing. KibbleLab lists them for reference and does not verify these claims.
Brain Health Eye Health Probiotic Support Immune Support Digestive Health Skin Coat Health Antioxidant Support Bone Health High Energy
Suitable For
Puppy Small Medium
Not Formulated For
What "not formulated for" means Life stages this food isn't certified complete and balanced for, based on its AAFCO statement.
Excludes Large Breed Growth
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We'll check every ingredient against your pet's sensitivities and avoidance list.

Nutritional Perspective

KibbleLab Review

Strengths

  • Provides 30% protein and 17% fat on a dry matter basis, which is very appropriate for growing puppies with higher energy needs.
  • Uses several animal protein sources, including deboned salmon, chicken meal, turkey meal, and egg, to supply a full amino acid profile.
  • Includes DHA, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and taurine, which are important nutrients during puppy growth and development.
  • Contains a guaranteed level of Bacillus coagulans probiotic plus chicory root for digestive support and stool quality.

Considerations

  • This formula is not suitable for large-breed puppies, so it should be avoided in dogs expected to reach 70 lb or more as adults.
  • The recipe is grain-free and uses lentils and chickpeas as major ingredients, which have been linked in some studies to heart issues in certain dogs.
  • Chicken, turkey, egg, and fish are all present, so this would not be a good fit for puppies with allergies to any of those proteins.
  • Fiber from miscanthus grass and legumes may be too rich for some puppies with very sensitive digestion, leading to gas or loose stool.
Scored using the rubric of an NAVC Certified Pet Nutrition Coach (PNCC). This is informational, not veterinary advice.

Full Ingredient List

Deboned Salmon, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Lentils, Chickpeas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid), Ground Miscanthus Grass, Deboned Turkey, Natural Flavor, Dried Egg Product, Yeast Culture, Dried Chicory Root, DL-Methionine, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Dried Apples, Dried Carrots, Dried Blueberries, Dried Tomatoes, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Chamomile, Dandelion, Sweet Fennel, Zinc Proteinate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Ribo lavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Manganous Oxide, Biotin, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate, Rosemary Extract.

Ingredients and analysis reflect manufacturer data at the time of our last update and can change without notice. Always check the actual product packaging before feeding.

Ingredient filtering helps identify compatible options but is not a substitute for a veterinary elimination diet.

Top 5 Ingredients Explained

01
Salmon
Salmon is commonly used as a high-quality animal protein and rich source of omega‑3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) in dog and cat foods, supporting skin and coat condition, joint and cognitive health, and overall muscle maintenance. While very nutritious, salmon can be an allergen for some pets and raw salmon may pose risks from parasites, thiaminase-related thiamine loss, and region-specific pathogens (e.g., salmon poisoning); owners should avoid feeding uncooked bones and consider sourcing to minimize contaminant and sustainability concerns.
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02
Chicken
Chicken is a common animal-based protein in dog and cat foods, supplying essential amino acids, B vitamins, and energy-dense fats that support muscle maintenance, growth, and overall health; for cats it also contributes toward dietary taurine but must be present in sufficient amounts or provided via supplementation. It is prized for its digestibility and palatability, though some pets develop sensitivities or allergies to chicken, and nutritional value and safety depend on ingredient quality and processing—raw chicken carries pathogen risks and whole bones can pose choking or GI hazards.
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03
Turkey
Turkey is commonly used as a primary animal protein in dog and cat foods, offering highly digestible, high‑quality protein and supplying essential amino acids along with B vitamins, phosphorus and zinc to support muscle maintenance and metabolism. Its fat level varies by cut so products can be lean or richer; some pets may develop allergies to poultry, cooked bones are hazardous, raw meat carries bacterial risk, and owners should rely on balanced commercial formulations (and ensure adequate taurine for cats) if turkey is a main ingredient.
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04
Sweet Potato
Sweet potato is used in pet foods as a digestible carbohydrate and source of soluble fiber, vitamins (notably beta‑carotene), minerals and antioxidants, often helping with stool quality and serving as a binder or energy ingredient. It is generally well tolerated by dogs and can support gut health, but because cats poorly convert beta‑carotene to vitamin A and require preformed vitamin A from animal sources, sweet potato is not a substitute for meat-based nutrients; its relatively high carbohydrate content also means portion control is advised for overweight or diabetic pets and it should be cooked for best digestibility.
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05
Lentil
Lentils are a plant-based source of protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber and micronutrients (notably folate and iron) commonly used in pet foods to add bulk, promote satiety and help moderate post-meal blood sugar. They can be a useful ingredient for dogs when properly processed and balanced with animal-derived amino acids, but lentil protein is less digestible and incomplete for obligate carnivores like cats; high legume inclusion can also increase gas or digestive upset and has been discussed in the context of diet-associated heart concerns in dogs, so lentils should be used in nutritionally complete, vetted formulations.
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Nutritional Breakdown

How to read As Fed versus Dry Matter As fed shows the numbers straight off the label, water included. Dry matter removes the water so you can compare a wet food and a dry food fairly.
As Fed
Crude Protein (min)
30.00%
Low High
Crude Fat (min)
17.00%
Low High
Crude Fiber (max)
4.50%
Low High
Moisture (max)
10.00%
Low High
3628
kcal / Kg
428
kcal / Cup
Moderate
Calorie density category
What is calorie density How many calories the food packs per unit. Denser foods mean smaller portions for the same calories.

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Product Details & Brand

Product Specs

Lifestage Puppy
Breed size Small
Breed size Medium
Texture Kibble
Food type Dry

AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy
What is AAFCO Association of American Feed Control Officials. It sets the nutritional adequacy standards US pet foods are measured against.

Complete & balanced Yes
AAFCO life stages Growth (puppy/kitten), Gestation / Lactation
Exclusions Excludes Large Breed Growth
Substantiation Formulation
Nulo MedalSeries Salmon & Lentils Recipe Puppy Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth and gestation/lactation except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

Brand

Nulo is a premium pet food brand focused on grain-free and high-meat-protein recipes for dogs and cats. It is positioned as a performance and wellness brand, emphasizing quality ingredients, ancestral diet alignment, and the inclusion of probiotics to support digestive health.

Price tier $$$$

Manufacturer

Company name Nulo, Inc.
Parent company Apax Partners
Founded 2009
Headquarters Austin, Texas, USA
Website nulo.com
Manufacturing type Co Packer
Manufacturing country United States
Manufacturing region Midwest and Southern regions
Manufacturing oversight

Nulo partners with trusted manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada that maintain high food safety standards including HACCP and SQF certification. Nulo oversees ingredient sourcing and quality control to ensure nutritional accuracy and consistency across batches.

Manufacturing details are compiled from public sources and not independently verified; they may not reflect contract manufacturing or co-packing.

Recall History

No recalls on record

No recall is listed for Nulo MedalSeries High-Protein Puppy Kibble Salmon & Lentils Recipe.

Source: FDA animal food recall listings back to January 2019 · Checked daily, last on Aug 31, 2026

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KibbleLab food report
GREAT BOWL.
8.3 /10 Grade A
MedalSeries High-Protein Puppy Kibble Salmon & Lentils Recipe
Nulo · kibblelab.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

Has Nulo ever been recalled?

We have no recalls on record for Nulo. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.

How does KibbleLab rate foods?

Our scores are based on ingredient composition, nutritional profile, AAFCO compliance, and health considerations. We don't penalize by-products, grains, or synthetic preservatives. Brands cannot pay for higher scores.

Is KibbleLab a substitute for veterinary advice?

No. KibbleLab provides data-driven food analysis, not medical advice. Always consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes, especially for pets with health conditions.

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KibbleLab provides informational content only. This is not veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before changing your pet's diet.

KibbleLab may earn affiliate commissions through product links. No one can pay for a higher score, or to change what we recommend for your pet.

Product data sourced from manufacturer websites, AAFCO statements, and FDA recall listings. Last verified dates reflect our most recent data check. We track the FDA's animal food recall listings back to January 2019 and publish every pet food recall automatically. A filing that isn't pet food may not appear here.