This Dr Marty dog food review takes a close look at Nature’s Blend, the company’s freeze-dried raw food range. The brand promotes meat-rich recipes, whole-food ingredients, and formulas for puppies, adults, seniors, small dogs, and dogs with food sensitivities.
Nature’s Blend may appeal to picky eaters and owners who prefer freeze-dried food. However, it is also calorie-dense, relatively expensive, grain-free, and made with raw animal ingredients. Those points deserve careful consideration before you replace your dog’s current diet.
Here is what the label and current product information tell us.
What Is Dr Marty Dog Food?
Dr Marty Nature’s Blend is a line of freeze-dried raw dog food. Freeze-drying removes moisture at a low temperature, creating lightweight pieces that can be served dry or rehydrated with water.
The main Nature’s Blend Essential Wellness formula contains turkey, beef, salmon, duck, beef liver, turkey liver, turkey heart, flaxseed, sweet potato, egg, pea protein, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and mixed tocopherols. Its first seven listed ingredients are animal-derived.
The food is marketed as a complete meal, but it can also be used as a topper or mix-in. The company recommends gradually transitioning from the old diet rather than changing foods in one day.
Before using any variety as your dog’s only food, check the nutritional adequacy statement on the physical package. Confirm that the exact recipe is complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage.
Dr Marty Nature’s Blend Dog Food Ingredients
Nature’s Blend Essential Wellness begins with several named meats and organs:
- Turkey
- Beef
- Salmon
- Duck
- Beef liver
- Turkey liver
- Turkey heart
These ingredients supply animal protein and fat. Organ meats also contain naturally occurring vitamins and minerals.
The recipe then includes flaxseed, sweet potato, egg, pea protein, apple, blueberry, carrot, cranberry, pumpkin, spinach, ginger, sunflower seed, broccoli, kale, and other ingredients.
This ingredient pattern has some practical advantages. It uses clearly named animal sources, offers several protein sources, and does not depend on a single meat.
However, multiple proteins are not ideal for every dog. A recipe containing turkey, beef, salmon, duck, and egg would be unsuitable for a strict elimination trial. When a veterinarian is trying to identify a food allergy, a simpler hydrolyzed or carefully selected novel-protein diet is usually easier to control.
The food is also grain-free and contains pea protein. Grain-free does not automatically mean healthier, lower in carbohydrates, or suitable for dogs with allergies. Owners should evaluate the complete formulation rather than buying it solely because it excludes grains.
Protein, Fat, and Calories
According to the current official product information, Nature’s Blend Essential Wellness lists:
- 37% minimum crude protein
- Up to 27% crude fat on the displayed analysis
- 6% maximum moisture
- 2.5% minimum omega-3 fatty acids
- 4,990 kilocalories per kilogram
- 256 kilocalories per cup
The low moisture level is expected in freeze-dried food. Once water is added, the food becomes heavier and softer, but the total calories in the portion do not disappear.
At 256 calories per dry cup, serving sizes can appear small. Owners should measure the food carefully rather than filling a normal kibble bowl to the same level.
The protein and fat figures may suit active dogs that tolerate rich food. They may be less appropriate for dogs that need strict calorie or fat control. Dogs with a history of pancreatitis, obesity, digestive disease, or another medical condition should not switch without veterinary guidance.
Potential Benefits of Dr Marty Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Strong smell and taste
Freeze-dried animal ingredients often have a strong aroma. This may appeal to selective dogs that ignore ordinary kibble.
Food is only useful when the dog willingly eats it, but palatability should not be mistaken for proof of superior nutrition. A highly appealing food can also encourage overeating if portions are not controlled.
Convenient raw-style format
Owners interested in raw-style feeding may find freeze-dried pieces easier to store and portion than frozen meat. The product does not require freezer space before opening, and the company provides instructions for adding water before serving.
Its welcome guide recommends a ratio of two parts food to one part water and allowing the mixture to sit for about three minutes.
Named animal ingredients
The main formula clearly identifies its meat, fish, and organ sources. This can make the label easier to understand than a recipe using vague ingredient names.
Still, an ingredient list cannot reveal digestibility, nutrient consistency, manufacturing quality, or whether a company conducts feeding trials. WSAVA recommends also asking who formulates the diet, what qualifications they hold, what quality-control testing is performed, and whether the company can provide a complete nutrient analysis.
Several formula choices
The range now includes products aimed at different dogs:
- Essential Wellness for general feeding
- Small Breed with smaller pieces
- Healthy Growth for puppies
- Active Vitality for dogs aged seven and older
- Sensitivity Select
- Sensitivity Select Small Bites
- Essential Wellness Premium Origin
The company currently markets Healthy Growth for growing puppies and Active Vitality for dogs aged seven and older.
Age-focused marketing does not replace the adequacy statement. Puppy owners, especially those raising large breeds, should verify that the formula meets the correct growth requirements.
Important Drawbacks to Consider
Raw food safety
Freeze-drying does not make raw ingredients equivalent to cooked food. The FDA states that raw pet foods are more likely than processed foods to contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria. The agency’s guidance specifically includes freeze-dried raw products among foods that may become contaminated.
Adding water does not cook the food. Wash your hands after handling it and clean bowls, measuring tools, counters, and feeding areas with hot, soapy water.
Raw feeding may present greater concerns in homes with young children, pregnant people, older adults, or people with weakened immune systems. Discuss those risks with your veterinarian and doctor.
High cost
Freeze-dried food is usually far more expensive per feeding day than standard kibble. The official website currently shows a regular price of approx $59.95 for one bag of Essential Wellness, with lower account-based promotional pricing. Prices and discounts can change.
Cost becomes especially important for medium and large dogs because their daily feeding amounts are higher.
Calculate value using:
Daily cost = Price paid ÷ Number of days the bag lasts
Do not compare only the package price. Compare the calories and number of complete feeding days.
Rich, calorie-dense recipe
Dogs switching from lower-fat kibble may experience loose stools, vomiting, gas, or changes in appetite. The brand advises a gradual transition.
The company’s FAQ describes early stomach problems as possible “detoxing.” That wording is not a useful medical diagnosis. Vomiting or diarrhea after a food change is more practically treated as digestive intolerance, a transition problem, overfeeding, contamination, or illness. Persistent or severe symptoms need veterinary attention. The company advises contacting a veterinarian if symptoms persist.
Limited publicly visible research details
The product page provides ingredients, nutrient figures, calorie information, feeding guidance, reviews, and company contact details. However, shoppers should still ask for information about feeding trials, the qualifications of the person responsible for formulation, manufacturing ownership, pathogen controls, and finished-product nutrient testing.
These are standard questions recommended by WSAVA for every dog food brand, not a criticism limited to Dr Marty dog food.
Is Dr Marty Dog Food Good for Puppies?
Nature’s Blend Healthy Growth is marketed specifically for growing puppies. The company says it includes meat, produce, and other ingredients selected to support muscles, mental development, energy, digestion, and immune health.
Before feeding it as the only diet, check the package for the exact growth adequacy statement. Large and giant-breed puppies need controlled calories and mineral levels. Their label should confirm suitability for the growth of large-sized dogs when applicable.
Do not add calcium, vitamins, or mineral supplements to a complete puppy food unless your veterinarian recommends them.
Is It Suitable for Senior Dogs?
Active Vitality is marketed for dogs aged seven and older. It uses a freeze-dried raw format and is promoted for digestion, mobility, immune health, and energy.
Not every older dog needs the same food. A thin senior with muscle loss has different needs from an overweight senior with pancreatitis or kidney disease.
“Senior” branding does not make a product suitable for every age-related condition. Ask your veterinarian to review the calories, protein, fat, phosphorus, sodium, and other relevant nutrients based on your dog’s health.
How to Introduce Nature’s Blend
Change diets gradually over at least 7 days unless your veterinarian provides a different schedule.
A simple transition is:
- Days 1 and 2: 25% new food
- Days 3 and 4: 50% new food
- Days 5 and 6: 75% new food
- Day 7 onward: 100% new food
Measure both foods rather than guessing. Their calorie densities may differ.
You can also use Nature’s Blend as a topper. Replace part of the original meal instead of adding it on top, or your dog may receive too many calories.
Dr Marty Dog Food Review: Final Verdict
Dr Marty freeze-dried dog food may be worth considering for a healthy dog that enjoys meat-rich food and whose owner can manage the higher cost and raw-food handling requirements.
Its strengths include named animal ingredients, several formula options, a convenient freeze-dried format, published calories, and strong appeal for some picky dogs.
The drawbacks are significant. It is expensive, calorie-dense, raw, grain-free, and built around several protein sources. It may not suit dogs needing a low-fat diet, controlled elimination trial, therapeutic nutrition, or highly affordable daily feeding.
Before ordering Dr Marty Nature’s Blend dog food, check the current adequacy statement, calculate the daily cost, and ask the company for detailed formulation and quality-control information. Start with a small quantity, transition slowly, and monitor weight, stool, appetite, and energy.
The best buying decision is not based on the number of meats shown on the package. It is based on whether the complete formula safely fits your dog’s life stage, medical needs, and long-term feeding budget.
Faqs
1. Is Dr. Marty Dog Food good for dogs?
Dr. Marty Dog Food is a freeze-dried raw food made with animal proteins, fruits, vegetables, and other whole-food ingredients. It may suit dogs whose owners prefer a minimally processed diet, but results can vary based on the dog’s age, health, and nutritional needs.
2. Is Dr. Marty Dog Food worth the price?
It may be worth buying for pet parents who prioritize premium ingredients and freeze-dried nutrition. However, it is more expensive than many traditional dry dog foods, so buyers should consider their budget and their dog’s response to the food.
3. Can Dr. Marty Dog Food be fed as a complete meal?
Some Dr. Marty formulas are designed to be fed as complete meals, while others may be intended as toppers or supplements. Always check the product label for nutritional adequacy information and follow the recommended feeding instructions.
4. How should you transition your dog to Dr. Marty Dog Food?
Introduce the food gradually over seven to ten days. Begin by mixing a small amount with your dog’s current food, then slowly increase the new food while reducing the old food to help prevent digestive upset.
5. Are there any potential drawbacks to Dr. Marty Dog Food?
The main drawbacks include its premium price, limited availability, and the possibility that some dogs may not tolerate certain ingredients. Dogs with allergies, digestive conditions, or medical dietary requirements should be evaluated by a veterinarian before switching foods.
