Farmina N&D Low-Grain Chicken Review

Intro

I’m The Pet Dude: a pet parent and gear nerd who reads ingredient lists the way other people read instruction manuals. Farmina’s N&D Natural & Delicious Low-Grain Chicken (the 26.4 lb / 12 kg bag) is a premium-feeling, ancestral-grain kibble that aims to sit between a grain-free and traditional cereal formula. It’s marketed for adult, medium-breed dogs and leans heavily on animal proteins, organic spelt and oats, and pomegranate. In this review I’ll cover what’s in the bag, how it performs day to day for different dogs, the safety signals I’d flag before feeding it, and which pups are the best fit.

What it is / first look

On first look, Farmina positions this as a science-backed diet: the listing says the N&D Ancestral Grain line was developed by Farmina professional Research in collaboration with the Chair of Animal Nutrition at the University of Naples Federico II. The product description gives a clear macroscopic breakdown: the recipe is comprised of 60% high-quality animal ingredients, 20% organic spelt and organic oats, and 20% vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and minerals. The bag on this listing is a single 26.46-pound (12 kg) bag—unit count is 422.4 ounces—and the packaging identifies the recipe as "Chicken, spelt, oats and pomegranate."

The listing explicitly says this recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance, which matters for people feeding for everyday adult-maintenance needs. The bag is labeled for medium-breed adult dogs; the listing fields show Age Range Description: Adult and Breed Recommendation: Medium Breeds.

What’s in the bag (short version)

• Primary animal sources: Boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken; also herring and dehydrated herring, chicken fat, dried whole eggs.
• Grains: Whole spelt and whole oats (listed as organic).
• Functional extras: dried pomegranate, dried apple, dried spinach, turmeric, glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate, L‑Carnitine, taurine, inulin and fructooligosaccharide.
• Other: Made/sourced in Italy (listing notes).

Full ingredient order is provided on the listing and includes specific functional ingredients and preservatives: mixed tocopherols are used as a preservative, and rosemary extract and green tea extract are present as natural antioxidants in the formula.

In daily use

I base the daily-use notes here on the product spec and the internal owner reports collected in our research. That combination gives a practical picture of how dogs respond and how the bag functions in a typical household.

Palatability and eating habits

Many dogs appear to take to the chicken- and fish-forward flavor profile—internal reports include several mentions of picky dogs eating it and of breeds that typically prefer fish liking the kibble. That said, there are a few dogs that simply didn’t accept it and needed a swap; palatability isn’t universal. If your dog is an extreme picky eater, expect the possibility that this isn’t a guaranteed hit.

Digestive tolerance and stools

Here’s a mixed signal: several owners report improvements in stool quality and digestion—especially dogs with sensitive stomachs seeing fewer episodes of vomiting or loose stools after switching. Conversely, a small number of dogs experienced extended diarrhea for up to two weeks or otherwise didn’t tolerate the formula well. There’s also commentary that the kibble can be on the greasy side for some dogs, which may factor into stool changes. If your dog has a history of food-sensitive GI signs, introduce the food slowly and have a professional’s contact ready.

Joint support and older dogs

The formula contains glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate; internal reports specifically flagged visible improvements in older dogs with stiffness and arthritic signs after switching to this recipe. Several owners feeding big, active or senior dogs noted better mobility and coat condition over the short-to-medium term. Those ingredients are present on the ingredient list, and for owners targeting joint support they are a meaningful inclusion.

Bag behavior and storage

The listing identifies this product as sold in a bag (26.46 pounds; dimensions 23.62 x 23.62 x 33.46 inches on the product page). Multiple owners noted occasional out-of-stock situations with their preferred size and flavor, and one owner specifically wanted the mini kibble but could not find the mini in this large-bag size. If you rely on a specific kibble size or your retailer, plan ahead so you don’t run short.

Materials & build quality (ingredients & formulation)

For pet food this section is the ingredient and formulation deep dive. The listing spells out both the compositional percentages and the full ingredient list; I’ll stick to those figures:

• Formula composition (as stated): 60% high-quality animal ingredients, 20% organic spelt and organic oats, and 20% vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and minerals.
• Key animal ingredients named: boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, herring (and dehydrated herring), dried whole eggs, chicken fat.
• Functional and supplemental ingredients: dried pomegranate, dried apple, dried spinach, turmeric, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, taurine, L-Carnitine, inulin and fructooligosaccharide, psyllium seed husk.
• Antioxidants/preservatives: mixed tocopherols; rosemary extract and green tea extract are also present.
• Grains: whole spelt and whole oats are explicitly identified as organic—this is a low-grain (ancestral grain) formula, not grain-free.

That 60/20/20 split gives a clear signal the brand focused on a high-animal-ingredient formula with an ancestral-grain philosophy rather than going full grain-free. The inclusion of pomegranate and other fruits/vegetables is interesting for antioxidant and polyphenol support; the label specifically calls out pomegranate inclusion.

Transparency & sourcing

The listing notes the formulation work was done by Farmina professional Research with academic collaboration and states the product is sourced and made in Italy. The ingredient list is complete on the listing, including additives like vitamins and chelated minerals. Those are important markers for formulation transparency.

Safety considerations

Safety is my baseline. I flag potential choking, ingredient sensitivities, and anything that could make a food unsuitable for certain medical conditions. Everything below comes from the product details and our collected owner reports.

Kibble size and choking / dental fit

Two things to know: the listing is for the Medium-breed size (bag labeled for medium breeds), and internal owner notes include reports that the standard kibble size is too large for some dogs; one owner specifically said they wanted the mini kibble but couldn’t find it in this large-bag size. If you have a small-mouth dog or a toy breed, be cautious: the listing’s bag is not guaranteed to contain a small/mini kibble, and that mismatch can be an actual eating hazard or make feeding awkward.

Digestive reactions and allergens

The formula includes whole spelt and whole oats (both organic) and a range of animal proteins (chicken, herring, egg). Internal notes show two consistent safety signals: (1) several dogs with sensitive stomachs did very well after switching and showed reduced vomiting or improved stool; (2) a smaller subset of dogs experienced diarrhea after the switch, and one report called the kibble "very greasy," which owners associated with loose stools. If your dog has known grain sensitivities or specific protein allergies, check the ingredient list carefully: the product is low-grain, not grain-free, and it lists multiple animal proteins.

Medical diets and special needs

The listing states the recipe is formulated to meet AAFCO maintenance profiles. That tells you it’s intended for everyday adult feeding. It doesn’t make medical claims like "renal diet" or specific therapeutic use. If your dog has a medical condition (kidney disease, pancreatitis, food allergies), consult a qualified professional before using this as a primary maintenance diet; the listing does not make therapeutic claims or substitute for professional-prescribed diets.

Weird listing detail to check

The product specification oddly lists "Batteries: 1 Lithium Ion batteries required." This is almost certainly an error on the product page—dry dog food doesn’t require batteries—so don’t worry about powering your kibble. Still, I call it out because it’s a listing inaccuracy you might spot when checking online product pages.

Who this is for / who should skip

Use these short profiles to match dog to food. These recommendations are pulled from the listing (age/breed guidance and ingredient callouts) and from the owner experience notes we collected while researching.

Best fit: adult medium-breed dogs who can tolerate ancestral grains

• This recipe is listed for Adult dogs and specifically recommends medium breeds—so that’s the baseline fit.
• Owners feeding medium-to-large active dogs and dogs needing extra joint support like glucosamine/chondroitin reported positive outcomes.
• If you want a formula with a strong animal-ingredient profile and organic ancestral grains rather than a grain-free formula, this matches that brief (60% animal ingredients / 20% organic spelt & oats / 20% veg-fruit-mineral).

Good candidate: older or arthritic adults where joint support is helpful

• Glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate are included on the ingredient list, and several owner reports highlight improved mobility after switching.

Who should skip or be cautious

• Small-breed or toy dogs unless you confirm a mini kibble size for the bag you’re buying—internal notes show some dogs found the kibble too large and the mini variant wasn’t always available in the large bag.
• Dogs with known grain intolerance or Celiac-like sensitivities: this is a low-grain formula using spelt and oats (both organic), not a grain-free recipe.
• Dogs with fat-sensitive pancreatitis histories: several owners described the kibble as greasy; if your dog requires strict fat control you should consult a professional because the listing doesn’t provide guaranteed fat percentages on the page.

Verdict

Farmina N&D Low-Grain Chicken positions itself as a high-animal-ingredient, ancestral-grain adult maintenance diet with visible formulation care: organic spelt and oats, pomegranate, added joint-support ingredients, and AAFCO maintenance formulation. In my read of the specs and the owner experiences collected in our research, the formula delivers where it intends to—many medium-breed and larger dogs seem to thrive, coats and mobility improve for some, and dogs with previously sensitive stomachs sometimes stabilize after switching.

It’s not flawless. A minority of dogs don’t accept the flavor; a few dogs experienced diarrhea after transitioning; and the kibble size in this bag can be too large for small dogs. Also watch retailer stock—some owners had trouble finding consistent availability in the preferred bag or kibble size.

Check before you buy (quick checklist)

• Confirm the bag size (this listing is for a 26.46 lb / 12 kg bag) and whether the mini-kibble variant is available in that size—owners reported the mini wasn’t always sold in this bag size.
• Scan the ingredient list for proteins and grains if your dog has allergies: this recipe contains chicken, herring, egg, and organic spelt and oats.
• If your dog needs a therapeutic or special diet, check with a professional—this formula is labeled as AAFCO maintenance, not a prescription diet.
• Introduce it slowly. Internal owner reports show both improved GI tolerance and, for a smaller set of dogs, a short-term diarrhea issue when switching abruptly.
• Note the listing calls out that the product is sourced and made in Italy; confirm shipping/stock with your retailer since some owners noted availability hiccups.

Colors and packaging

The product listing contains multiple image files for the bag. Available colors may include the packaging variants shown in the product images. If the bag color matters to you (for storage matching or shelf visibility), double-check the retailer photos before checkout.

• available colors may include: blue
• available colors may include: green
• available colors may include: white
• available colors may include: red
• available colors may include: brown

Final thoughts

As a whole, Farmina N&D Low-Grain Chicken is a strong candidate for adult, medium-breed dogs that do well on ancestral grains and where owners want added joint-support ingredients and a meat-forward formulation. It’s a sensible middle ground between grain-free and traditional cereal diets. Do a careful ingredient check for allergies, confirm kibble size for smaller mouths, and introduce it gradually so you can watch how your dog tolerates the switch.

If you want help matching feeding amounts to your dog’s weight or dealing with an active medical issue, reach out to a qualified professional—this review is ingredient- and experience-focused, not a substitute for professional medical advice.