Two brands, one mission: improving pet nutrition. Both now under Ethos Pet Brand, Natural Balance and Canidae have combined their goal, while remaining dedicated to their own unique recipes and ingredients. “Our brands offer a range of differentiated solutions for dogs and cats that are available at local, family run stores like Agway of Cape Cod and pet specialty partners such as Petco,” shares Sales Director for Ethos Pet Brands and Cape Cod resident, David McDonnell. “Our team has always believed that thoughtful, natural nutrition can genuinely improve a pet’s life. We focus on using nutrient-rich ingredients, expert formulation, and responsible sourcing to support a pet’s overall health and well-being. We’re committed to transparency, integrity, and making food the right way—so pet parents can feel confident that they are choosing the right food for their pet.”

“Every dog’s different,” emphasizes McDonnell, “so it’s important to choose what’s right for your dog. I’ve got a dog of my own on the Cape, and what works for him might not work for the dog next door. Age, activity level, lifestyle, even how picky they are at mealtime—it all plays a role.”

Natural Balance, a trusted brand for over 30 years, is backed by veterinarians. Today they offer three distinct pet food lines geared towards specific needs. “Limited Ingredient is great for dogs with ingredient sensitivities because our recipes are made with a single animal protein source and they are formulated to support skin and stomach health,” explains McDonnell. “Health Protection is a great everyday solution for complete nutrition to support whole body health and digestive wellness.”

“Specialized Nutrition is a line of science-backed formulas featuring nutrient-rich, real food ingredients that support specific health needs such as sensitive skin and stomach and joint and muscle health,” as he notes, “a common misconception about limited ingredient nutrition it isn’t complete or balanced. Natural Balance limited ingredient recipes are thoughtfully designed to be complete and balanced as a full fed meal for adult dogs. These recipes include carefully selected single animal protein sources with limited carbohydrates, plus added vitamins and minerals that deliver essential nutrients without unnecessary extras. This approach allows pet parents to simplify what they’re feeding—without compromising on nutrition, quality, or overall wellness.”

Coming this summer, McDonnell shares that they’re adding a new line of Freshly Cooked homestyle meals to Natural Balances’ offerings, “We know pet parents want high-quality, homestyle food for their dogs, but often find the logistics of refrigerated or frozen options frustrating. Freshly Cooked homestyle meals will offer complete and balanced nutrition in a convenient, shelf-stable format. They are designed to give pet parents a more convenient and affordable alternative to some of the pricier fresh options currently on the market.”

Founded in 1996, Canidae is known for their popular All Life Stages line, which McDonnell notes, “Is designed to make it easier for multi-dog families to feed their pets” and is formulated in collaboration with certified vet nutritionists. “With real meat as the first ingredient, the range of premium recipes offers great nutrition for dogs of different ages, sizes, and activity levels. Instead of juggling multiple formulas, pet parents can feed one trusted recipe designed to nourish their whole pack. We also believe that premium nutrition should still be affordable: on average, our All Life Stages recipes can be fed for about $1 per day, which gives families a great option that delivers convenience and value.”

New to the shelves is their Canidae Pure Farm to Bowl line which is made in small batches in their facility in Brownwood, Texas. “Each recipe is made from responsibly sourced proteins such as grass-fed bison or wild-caught salmon as the first ingredient to support a dog’s strong muscles,” explains McDonnell. “We also thoughtfully source nutrient-dense, regeneratively farmed ingredients such as lentils, peas, oats, and barley that help restore and promote soil health.”

When asked how these two brands stand out among others in the pet food market, he shares, “Together the brands [Canidae and Natural Balance] bring more than 65 years of combined history in pet nutrition. These are not trend-driven brands—they are brands that helped define key segments of the category like limited ingredient nutrition while also continuing to innovate to meet the evolving needs of today’s pet parents. Over decades, both brands have earned deep credibility with pet parents, by staying focused on ingredient integrity, great nutrition, and doing what’s right for pets—year after year.” 

Learn more about Canidae at canidae.com. See more from Natural Balance at naturalbalanceinc.com. Shop both brands locally at Agway of Cape Cod.