Primal Raw Dog Food Review

I prefer to feed my dog Ace a homemade raw diet. A raw food diet for dogs consists of raw meat, bones, organs, fat and sometimes fruits and veggies.

A homemade raw diet is more affordable than a pre-prepared, commercial raw diet. However, I do feed Ace commercial raw food from time to time for variety and convenience.

I recently purchased a bag of Primal raw dog food from Natural Pet Center here in Fargo. I bought a 6-pound bag of the frozen raw chicken formula.

Ace’s review of Primal raw dog food chicken formula:

Awesome! Five out of five stars!

My review of Primal raw dog food chicken formula:

Pros

• Organic veggies
• Recognizable ingredients (see below)
• Re-sealable bag
• 100 percent human-grade ingredients, according to Primal’s web site
• All poultry, meat and game are antibiotic and steroid free without added hormones, according to Primal’s web site
• Convenient to feed
• Easy to store
• Easy-to-read feeding guide
• Advertised as a complete diet containing meat, bone, produce and supplements
• Primal offers a “frozen grind” variety without fruits and veggies

Cons

• The meat is not organic (Although, I normally don’t buy organic for my dog anyway)
• Cost (Roughly $30 for 6 pounds); Although it is comparable to other brands, I can save money on raw dog food by making it myself
• Lots of fruits and veggies in the raw frozen formulas could make allergen detection difficult (check out Primal’s “frozen grinds” if allergies are an issue)

Overall, Primal gets our approval!

More about Primal raw dog food

What are the ingredients of the canine chicken formula?

The ingredients are all real, recognizable and pronounceable foods. I could go out and buy every single one of these on my own:

chicken, chicken necks, chicken gizzards, organic kale, organic carrots, organic yams, chicken livers, organic broccoli, organic apples, cranberries, blueberries, organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, minerals (zinc sulfate, copper carbonate, sodium selenite), organic parsley, organic apple cider vinegar, salmon oil, organic coconut oil, organic quinoa sprout powder, dried organic kelp, alfalfa, natural vitamin E

What other flavors does Primal offer?

Primal makes frozen raw dog food from a variety of protein sources including duck, beef, lamb, pheasant, quail, rabbit, venison and turkey & sardine. There are also several varieties for cats. I like the idea of the venison version because large game animals are the primary food source for wild gray wolves.

Do the bags come in different sizes?

Primal raw dog food comes in a few options:

• 6-pound bags containing a dozen 8-ounce patties
• 3-pound bags containing four dozen 1-ounce nuggets
• 5-pound chubs
• 2-pound chubs (for certain varieties)

Does my dog really need fruits, veggies and minerals?

There is controversy whether dogs are omnivores or carnivores. To give dog owners more flexibility, Primal offers three options – grinds, mixes and formulas.

‘Raw frozen grinds’

Raw frozen grinds contain ground meat, organs and bones without added minerals, fruits or veggies. These grinds are not intended to be complete, balanced diets, according to the company’s web site.

‘Raw frozen mixes’

Raw frozen mixes contain ground meat, organs and bones and a small variety of added fruits and veggies. These mixes are also not intended as a balanced diet, according to the company’s web site.

‘Raw frozen formulas’

This is what I bought for Ace, and it includes a “balanced diet” of ground meat, organs, bones, fruits, veggies and minerals.

Will I buy Primal raw food again?

Primal is a good option if you choose to feed a pre-prepared raw dog food diet. I’m sure I will be buying it again from time to time, and I really like the idea of buying the frozen grinds and adding my own fruits and veggies if I choose.

Like I said, it just gets to be a little too expensive for me when I can save some money by making the food myself. You may be interested in my post on raw dog food cost.

Do you feed your dog a commercial raw dog food brand?

Here’s what the Primal food looks like in Ace’s bowl. It looks like canned dog food or meatloaf. He loves it!