Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Dog Food Review - THE CANINE HEALTH NUT (2023)

Nature’s Logic was founded in 2006 by Scott Freeman (pet owner) who was looking to create a dog food that did not use synthetic supplements, using local ranchers and farmers. Since then they have added in a canned, raw and as of August 2021 – a lightly cooked dog food line. All diets have been substantiated to be complete and balanced by feeding trials performed on the Chicken Meal Feast, and Beef Meal Feast kibbled diets (more information below).

All of the lightly cooked frozen dog food recipes created by Nature’s logical are higher in protein (between 27-30% on a caloric basis), and very high fat (over 60% on a caloric basis), and restricted in carbohydrates (less than 15% on a caloric basis).

This composition is typically what is fed to highly active dogs like sled dogs, and may work well for other dogs with similar activity levels. This diet would also be a good choice for dogs who needed a high-fat diet or carbohydrate-restricted diet due to certain medical conditions or intolerances. Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked recipes may also be a good option for dogs who are picky, or that need to gain weight due to their caloric density and fat content.

OVERVIEW:

Company Responded to Questions Asked via Email: No. The information gathered below was from their website December 2021.

Who formulated Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Dog Food? Nature’s Logic Dog Foods were all formulated by Scott Freeman (pet food owner), and then reviewed by David Dzanis, DVM, PhD, DACVN for legal regulatory information, along with sent to a third-party lab to test for nutritional adequacy.

Where does Nature’s Logic source its Ingredients from? Nature’s Logic sources their ingredients from a variety of vendors from within the USA, Canada, Europe and New Zealand, and Australia. They require a certificate of analysis from all suppliers that ingredients are free of chemical preservatives, herbicides and insecticides. .

Where are Nature’s Logic Dog Food Recipes Manufactured? Nature’s Logic Dog Food recipes are manufactured at CJ Foods and Simmons Pet Foods which are Copacking facilities in the USA. It is unknown if the Lightly cooked line is manufactured in these same facilities.

What Quality Control Procedures does Nature’s Logic Light Cooked Dog Food perform on their foods? All incoming raw material is checked that it meets correct specifications and requirements. As the product is being manufactured, 18 different product data checks are continually done over 40 times to ensure the product is meeting all specifications and guarantees. Then the product is not released for sale until a 3^rd party lab analyzes for pathogens.

Has Nature’s Logic Invested in Digestibility or AAFCO Feeding Trials? Some of the recipes by Nature’s Logic have gone through AAFCO Feeding Trials – in particular the kibbled Chicken Meal Feast (original) and Beef Meal Feast (original).

Nature’s Logic has chosen to “substantiate” the rest of their recipes with these feeding trials – meaning they have used feeding trials performed on the chicken and beef kibbled recipes to “grandfather” the other recipes since the composition is similar, even though ingredients are different. This is why they have a boarded nutritionist review the LEGAL aspect of all their diets prior to coming to market.

Also important to note is that prior to these feeding trials several recipes in the Nature’s Logic family of foods were labeled for “supplemental feeding only” (meaning the recipes were not formulated to be complete & balanced pet AAFCO nutritional standards). These grandfathered feeding trials allow Nature’s Logic to market ALL their foods as complete and balanced – even though the feeding trials were not performed on the individual diets in question.

No digestibility trial information is available, unsure if they were performed during the feeding trial or not.

Are Full Nutritional Profiles Found Online for the Nature’s Logic Recipes? Yes- you can see the full nutritional profile online for each Nature’s Logic recipe.

Has Nature’s Logic Dog Food ever been Recalled? No

RECIPES:

Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Frozen Beef Recipe

Ingredients: Beef, Egg, Beef Lung, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Tapioca Root, Ovine Plasma, Fish Oil, Brewer’s Yeast, Montmorillonite Clay, Egg Shell Meal, Dried Kale, Apple, Apricot, Artichoke, Blueberry, Broccoli, Carrot, Dried Chicory Root, Cranberry, Dried Kelp, Dried Parsley, Pumpkin, Spinach, Tomato

AAFCO Statement: Nature’s Logic Canine/Feline Lightly Cooked Frozen Beef Recipe provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages of dogs and cats and is comparable in nutritional adequacy to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests.

Balanced for adults and puppies, but not large breed puppies.

Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Frozen Chicken Recipe

Ingredients: Chicken, Egg, Chicken Liver, Tapioca Root, Ovine Plasma, Fish Oil, Brewer’s Yeast, Montmorillonite Clay, Egg Shell Meal, Dried Kale, Apple, Apricot, Artichoke, Blueberry, Broccoli, Carrot, Dried Chicory Root, Cranberry, Dried Kelp, Dried Parsley, Pumpkin, Spinach, Tomato

AAFCO Statement: Nature’s Logic Canine/Feline Lightly Cooked Frozen Chicken Recipe provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages of dogs and cats and is comparable in nutritional adequacy to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests.

Balanced for adults and puppies, but not large breed puppies.

Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Frozen Lamb Recipe

Ingredients: Lamb, Lamb Lung, Egg, Lamb Liver, Lamb Heart, Tapioca Root, Ovine Plasma, Fish Oil, Brewer’s Yeast, Montmorillonite Clay, Egg Shell Meal, Dried Kale, Apple, Apricot, Artichoke, Blueberry, Broccoli, Carrot, Dried Chicory Root, Cranberry, Dried Kelp, Dried Parsley, Pumpkin, Spinach, Tomato

AAFCO Statement: Nature’s Logic Canine/Feline Lightly Cooked Frozen Lamb Recipe provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages of dogs and cats and is comparable in nutritional adequacy to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests.

Balanced for adults only and puppies, but not large breed puppies.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ( FAQ )

Where to buy Nature’s Logic lightly cooked fresh Dog Food?

Nature’s Logic Lightly cooked Dog Food recipes can be purchased online on chewy.com or via select quality dog food stores in the USA. As Nature’s Logic has a wide range of products that they sell it is a good idea to call or contact the stores ahead of time to make sure your local store carries the lightly cooked line – many only carry their kibbled products.

If purchasing through chewy.com setting up a meal plan using Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Dog Food is relatively easy, and all food will be shipped frozen on dry-ice directly to your door. You can even set up a subscription to have it automatically arrive in certain increments so you don’t run out of food. Using chewy you can order a case of eight 1 ½ lb logs of frozen food – so you will need freezer space to store what you will not be used within the next 3-5 days.

How do you store and feed Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Dog Food?

Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked foods come frozen and must be defrosted in order to feed. The best way to defrost is by placing it in the fridge overnight, however if you need food thawed faster you can rapidly thaw the diets one of two ways.

The first is by removing the food from the package and placing it into a microwave-safe container and using the defrost setting on your microwave to thaw. The second is by using a large bowl of cool water, and placing the frozen food (in the origonal plastic packaging) into the water and allowing it to slowly come to room temperature.

It is important to note that you should not heat up or reheat Nature’s Logic lightly cooked diets as this could reduce the amount of heat-sensitive vitamins and minerals like b-vitamins and vitamin E.

Is Nature’s Logic cooked Food Balanced for Puppies?

Yes, Nature’s Logic Gently Cooked recipes are balanced for puppies.

Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked vs. Kibble – how does it compare?

Ther main difference between a kibbled and a lightly cooked product comes down to two areas. First is the processing method and two is the preservation. Nature’s logic sells both kibbled and lightly cooked diets – each of these recipes has different nutritional content, and different macro composition. The Nature’s Logic Kibble is cooked at a higher temperature for a longer period fo time than the Lightly Cooked recipe – this is required for kibbled products in order to fully remove moisture from the food to create a more shelf-stable product. Kibble also has to use some type of preservative in order to keep foods from going bad while at room temperature – depending on the brand thing might be rosemary extract mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), or synthetic antioxidants like BHA or BHT. Lightly cooked recipes do not contain preservatives and instead use the freezer to keep food fresh.

The main benefits of choosing a freshly cooked diet usually come down to increased digestibility and a more robust microbiome. But we also have limited research suggesting fresh food (in particular vegetables) may also decrease cancer rates in dogs. This suggests fresh food may be healthier and more beneficial than a kibbled diet.

Is Nature’s Logic a Raw Dog Food?

Nature’s Logic sells a variety of pet food products including: kibble, raw frozen, and lightly cooked. As all of Nature’s Logic recipes undergo a test-and-hold procedure for pathogens the main difference between the slightly cooked and raw recipes will be the number of potential AGEs or advanced glycation end products within the food. AGEs are produced in food when it is cooked – the higher the temperature and longer a food item is cooked for – the more AGEs are produced. Some meat products like Turkey naturally have more AGEs than others like Beef even in their raw form. So though AGEs are less in raw foods, they are not completely gone and we currently do not know what the “safe” limit of AGEs within a diet should be, just that very high amounts have been linked to certain inflammatory conditions. We also know that carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables contain less AGEs than meat-based products.

No research has shown a significant difference between raw and lightly cooked foods for digestibility, the microbiome, or the immune system.

Can Nature’s Logic be Used as a Topper?

Yes, Nature’s Logic recipes have been designed to allow for flexibility so that pet parents can feel comfortable combining different types of dog food in order to fit their dog’s needs and their budget. Lightly cooked foods are an excellent option for dogs who are picky or those that need to gain weight as a meal topper. You can also set up a topper meal plan for your pup if you’d like to gain some of the benefits of fresh food but need to fit within a tight budget. Using Nature’s Logic LIghtly cooked foods to supplement your pup’s regular diet, or even as the occasional treat can be a great way to add variety to the bowl as well.

How much does Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Dog Food Cost?

The cost of feeding Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked dog food will depend highly on the size and activity level of your dog. But if we assume we are feeding the average 50 lb dog, which eats around 1000 calories per day the price of feeding Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked is about $13 per day, or $390 per month.

Depending on what you are currently feeding your pup this might be more or less expensive. But to receive a quote of how much to feed your own pup you can contact the Nature’s Logic customer service or your local dog food store that sells these products.

Are Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Dog Food Recipes Good for Dogs with Allergies?

Allergies in dogs can be complicated, and finding the right diet for your pup if they have allergies can be difficult – the reason for this is there are two main types of allergies – food and the environment. And though both of these allergies have similar clinical signs like itching, yeast infections, bacterial infections, and skin irritation – they are actually managed much differently nutritionally.

For dogs with environmental allergies, we focus on giving dogs all the nutritional building blocks they need in order to repair and strengthen the skin barrier. This means we usually want a higher protein, higher fat diet, which is rich in omega 3 fatty acids to help with inflammation. As all of Nature’s Logic recipes are higher in protein and fat and contain fish oil which is an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids – any of the Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked recipes would be a good option for a dog with environmental allergies.

However, for dogs with food allergies, this will be highly dependant on what the dog is allergic to. None of these recipes are single-protein – all contain the main protein along with sheep blood and egg – they also use whole food ingredients rather than supplements. Research tells us that the most common allergies we see in dogs are: chicken, beef, egg, wheat, soy, and dairy. And as all of these recipes contain at least one of those ingredients, these recipes may not be a good choice for a dog with food allergies.

Are Nature’s Logic Lightly Cooked Meals Good for Dogs with Loose Stools or Diarrhea?

There are many different causes of loose stools in dogs – but most commonly dogs with sensitive stomachs do best on a low-fat highly digestible diet. As all of the Lighlty Cooked Nature’s Logic meals are high in fat, this suggests that dogs with fat sensitivity may not do well on them. And though these recipes may also not be good for dogs with allergies to certain common proteins, they are carbohydrate-restricted – so for dogs with intolerances to wheat or soy – these products may work well.

About the Author: Nikki is a Registered Veterinary Technician (Veterinary Nurse) and Dog Mom with over a decade of experience with dogs and cats. Since graduation from college (BS Biology, AS Animal Health -2013) she has adopted two mixed breed dogs – Ranger and Ash, and has focused her time learning about pet food and nutrition.

Nikki shares information on a range of dog nutrition topics: from how to create a homemade complete and balanced dog food recipes, to how to choose a dog food. Nikki strives to give dog parents the information they need in order to make the best nutrition decisions for their pup!

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