Farmina N&D Pumpkin Lamb & Blueberry Puppy Review

Intro

I'm The Pet Dude — a pet parent who nerds out on food labels as much as gear. This review walks through Farmina N&D Pumpkin Lamb & Blueberry for puppies (5.5 lb bag), covering the formula, kibble size, nutrition numbers, real-world positives and red flags I collected, and who I’d recommend it for. I’m strict about staying on the listing facts and owner feedback I gathered, so everything below is traceable to the product details or real-owner themes.

What it is / first look

Farmina N&D Pumpkin Lamb & Blueberry is a dry puppy food sold in a bag (5.5 pounds / 88 ounce unit). The product listing identifies it as a grain-free, pumpkin-enriched puppy recipe with lamb as the primary meat flavor. The label calls out "Medium/Maxi Kibble Size" and lists the product benefits as supporting puppy growth, digestion, and dental health. The brand/manufacturer is Farmina and the model shown is FARMINA-DOG-111.

The listing explicitly states this formula is “formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).” That means the nutrient profile on the bag is intended to meet recognized growth and maintenance standards (per the product copy on the listing).

Quick product facts from the listing you should know right away:

• Bag size / unit count: 5.5 lb (88 ounces)
• Age range description: Puppy
• Breed recommendation: Medium breeds (labelled Medium/Maxi kibble)
• Recipe highlights: Grain-free, pumpkin & blueberry enriched, non-GMO
• Protein from animal sources: 96% (listed supplemental information)
• Guaranteed analysis: Crude Protein (min) 35.00%, Crude Fat (min) 20.00%, Crude Fiber (max) 1.90%, Moisture (max) 9.00%
• Calories: 414 Kcal/cup (energy value listed)

In daily use

Feeding and digestion: The formula calls out pumpkin as a digestive aid — the listing describes pumpkin as having benefits like regulating intestinal motility and supporting digestion. The bag also lists inulin, fructooligosaccharide, psyllium seed husk and other fiber sources in the ingredient list, which are commonly used to support digestion (these ingredients are specified on the product page).

Calorie density and portioning: The listing gives an energy value of 414 Kcal per cup. One of the owner themes I collected stresses using the Farmina website or the transition/feeding guidance on the brand channels to determine portions — an example noted an unexpected weight gain when portioning was guessed rather than checked against the recommended feeding guide. The listing itself advises a transition over a period of 10 days when switching to N&D.

Kibble size and chewing: The product page provides explicit kibble size ranges. For the Puppy Medium-Maxi kibbles: diameter 12–14 mm and thickness 5–7 mm. Some people (and I’ve noted this in feedback I reviewed) expect smaller kibbles for certain medium-breed puppies; the listing itself even includes a kibble-size disclaimer explaining natural batch variation in appearance and size.

Palatability: The listing ingredient statement starts with lamb and dehydrated lamb along with herring and herring oil — the product copy emphasizes high animal-protein content and quality raw materials. In the owner themes I gathered, several owners reported that their picky puppies readily ate the kibble and that coats and digestion improved in their experience; those observations reflect the real-user themes included in the internal notes.

Packaging and opening

The listing specifies bag packaging as the container type. The product copy instructs to store in a cool, dry place in a closed package. In the internal notes there were some mixed reports about packaging condition on delivery: some buyers mentioned damaged or holey packages prior to purchasing but also reported receiving fresh product in many cases. The listing itself doesn’t guarantee packaging beyond the usual storage instructions; if packaging condition on arrival is a concern, check the seller’s return policy or the brand’s customer support guidance (the listing suggests contacting the brand's "Genius Consultant" for clarifications).

Materials & build quality

For dry food, “materials” means ingredients and formulation. Here’s what the bag lists, verbatim and summarized so you can see what you’re feeding:

Top ingredients (as listed)

• Lamb, dehydrated lamb
• Pea starch
• Chicken fat
• Dehydrated herring, herring, herring oil
• Dried pumpkin, dried whole eggs
• Pea fiber, dried carrot, sun-cured alfalfa meal

The listing calls out additional functional ingredients explicitly: chicken cartilage (source of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate), inulin, fructooligosaccharide, dried blueberry, dried spinach, psyllium seed husk, dried apple, dried pomegranate, turmeric, aloe vera gel concentrate, green tea extract, rosemary extract and mixed tocopherols as a preservative. That mix explains the product's marketing around digestive support, antioxidant content, and joint/dental support (glucosamine/chondroitin listed).

Nutrients and analysis

• Crude Protein (min): 35.00%
• Crude Fat (min): 20.00%
• Crude Fiber (max): 1.90%
• Moisture (max): 9.00%
• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (min): 0.50%; EPA (min): 0.30%
• Calcium (min): 1.10%; Phosphorus (min): 0.91%
• Glucosamine hydrochloride (min): 1400 mg/kg; Chondroitin sulfate (min): 1100 mg/kg
• Protein energy split listed: Protein 32% of ME, Fats 44% of ME, All Other 24% of ME
• Energy: 414 Kcal per cup

Farmina states meat comes from certified farms, is GMO-free and suitable for human consumption (per the listing copy). The brand messaging on the listing also emphasizes natural antioxidants (tocopherol-rich extracts) rather than artificial preservatives, and that the N&D Quinoa diets are made without cereals (this particular recipe is pumpkin-based and grain-free).

Safety considerations

Pet safety is always first. Below are the safety-relevant facts from the product page and the owner feedback I collected.

Allergens and ingredients to note

• Allergen information on the listing: Chicken Meat, Eggs (these appear under the listing's "Allergen Information" field).
• The ingredient list does include dried whole eggs and chicken fat — so if your puppy has an egg or chicken allergy, this product is not appropriate.

Reported adverse reactions (serious; from internal notes)

The internal notes include at least one severe report where two dogs experienced extreme gastrointestinal distress and one had convulsions after eating a small amount of the kibble. The listing itself does not list such reactions, but the owner feedback themes I collected contain that critical account. Because the listing lists the AAFCO formulation statement and a comprehensive ingredient panel, there is not an obvious single ingredient to blame, and the listing recommends a 10-day transition when switching food. If you observe vomiting, severe diarrhea, or neurologic signs in your dog after introducing any new food, seek professional care immediately.

Digestive sensitivity

Other owner themes I reviewed mention stomach upset for some puppies during or after transition; conversely, several owners reported improved gas and firmer stools after switching. The listing itself emphasizes pumpkin and specific fibers in the formula for digestive regulation. Because individual dogs react differently, the listing recommends a gradual 10-day transition.

Choking / kibble size

The listing provides kibble sizes: Puppy Medium-Maxi kibbles are 12–14 mm in diameter and 5–7 mm thick. If your puppy has an unusually small mouth or is a very tiny puppy, these kibbles may be on the large side; the listing recommends the appropriate kibble size ranges per life stage and breed size.

Storage and freshness

The listing instructs to store in a cool, dry place in a closed package. Some buyers in the internal notes noted concerns about damaged packages on arrival, though others say their bags were fine; the listing includes an explicit note about batch-to-batch kibble color variation because only natural ingredients are used and no artificial colors are added.

Who this is for / who should skip

I break this down by life stage and breed size using only the listing facts and owner feedback themes.

Puppies — primary target

The Age Range Description on the listing is Puppy and the diet is formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages including growth of large-size dogs. The product lists benefits for growth, digestion and dental health and includes joint-support ingredients (glucosamine and chondroitin), which are commonly included for growing puppies, particularly larger breeds. That makes this a candidate for medium-breed puppies and, per the listing copy, it’s formulated to be suitable even during growth of large-size dogs.

Breed size guidance

• Breed recommendation on the listing: Medium Breeds (the bag is labeled Medium/Maxi kibble).
• The description states the Farmina Nutrition System classifies breeds into Mini, Medium and Maxi ranges to develop tailored feeding — so if you have a medium or medium-to-large growing puppy, the Medium/Maxi kibble is the style Farmina intended here.

Who should skip or be cautious

• If your dog has a known egg or chicken allergy: the listing's Allergen Information explicitly lists Chicken Meat and Eggs.
• If you have a very small-breed or tiny puppy: the kibble size is in the Medium-Maxi range (12–14 mm diameter) and some owners commented kibbles felt large for certain puppies.
• If your dog has had a previous severe reaction to new foods in the past: owner feedback contains a report of a severe adverse event; the listing recommends slow transition and, as always, immediate attention is appropriate for serious reactions.

Verdict

Bottom line: Farmina N&D Pumpkin Lamb & Blueberry is a high-protein, grain-free puppy kibble with an ingredient list focused on animal proteins (96% of protein from animal sources listed) and functional ingredients for digestion (pumpkin, inulin, psyllium) and joint support (glucosamine & chondroitin). The bag is marketed for medium-breed puppies and the kibble size is Medium/Maxi. The brand emphasizes natural antioxidants, GMO-free ingredients and certified-farm meat sources on the listing.

What I like (from the listing and positive themes): the formula is transparent about guaranteed analysis and nutrient additives, includes joint-support ingredients and omega targets (DHA, EPA), and provides a clear kibble-size chart for owners to match life stage and breed. Several owners I reviewed reported good palatability, improved stool consistency, and coat condition after switching.

What to watch out for (from internal notes and the listing): Allergen flags for chicken and eggs; some owners found the kibbles large for certain puppies; and there are isolated but serious reports of acute adverse reactions after introduction. The product does instruct a 10-day transition, and the bag lists storage guidance.

Check before you buy (quick checklist)

• Confirm life stage: Product is labeled Puppy (Age Range Description: Puppy).
• Check breed fit: Bag recommendation is Medium Breeds and kibble size is Puppy Medium-Maxi (12–14 mm diameter).
• Allergens: Listing shows Chicken Meat and Eggs in the Allergen Information field.
• Calories and portions: Formula lists 414 Kcal per cup — use the brand feeding guide to portion and avoid accidental overfeeding.
• Transition plan: Listing recommends a 10-day transition from old food to N&D to reduce digestive upset.
• Packaging on arrival: If the bag arrives damaged, the listing suggests contacting the brand’s support channels; internal notes include some delivery-damage concerns.
• Serious adverse reaction plan: If your dog shows severe vomiting, diarrhea, or neurologic signs after trying the food, seek professional care immediately — such reports exist in the owner feedback I reviewed.

Colors / packaging variations

The product listing includes multiple product images. Available colors may include packaging variations in brown, green, blue and white accents depending on the bag and batch images. If bag color or artwork matters to you, expect some variation between product photos and production batches.

• brown
• green
• blue
• white

Note: the listing includes a kibble color disclaimer — because ingredients are all-natural, kibble shades can vary from batch to batch and this does not affect nutritional quality per Farmina's product copy.

Final thoughts — how I’d use it

If I were choosing a puppy food for a medium-breed puppy and wanted a grain-free, lamb-forward formula with added digestive fibers and joint support, this bag checks a lot of boxes on paper: 35% minimum crude protein, 20% fat, DHA/EPA levels listed, and glucosamine/chondroitin inclusions. The 96% animal protein-from-animal-sources stat on the listing is attractive for owners prioritizing animal proteins.

I’d be cautious about portioning — one of the owner themes I collected described unexpected rapid weight gain from guessing portion sizes rather than following the brand’s guidance. Because the formula is calorie-dense (414 Kcal/cup), using the proper feeding guide and monitoring body condition is important.

Finally, given the severe single-batch-style report in the internal notes, I recommend the standard safety practices: transition slowly over 10 days as the listing suggests, start with a small trial portion, and stop feeding and see a professional immediately if you notice severe GI distress or neurologic signs. If your dog has egg or chicken allergies, the listing explicitly lists these allergens and you should avoid this formula.

That’s the factual rundown — ingredients, numbers, pros, and the real-world themes I gathered. If you want a shorter comparison to other bags or help picking portion sizes for your puppy’s weight, tell me their current weight and breed and I’ll stick to the listing math and guidance.