Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto dog food is made up of five recipes with ratings that vary from 3.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 stars.
This product line contains vital nutrients to support the overall health of your dog. All formulas are free from synthetic vitamins and minerals.
Pros
- High in protein
- Contains animal organs
- Includes organic vegetables, fruits and seeds
Cons
- Small range
- More expensive than some dog food
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (Puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Beef Recipe | 5 | M |
| Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Chicken Recipe | 4.5 | M |
| Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Lamb Recipe | 3.5 | M |
| Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Pork Recipe | 5 | M |
| Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Puppy Recipe | 4.5 | G |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Chicken Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken (with ground bone), chicken livers, organic carrots, organic squash, organic kale, organic apples, organic parsley, organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, organic sunflower oil, organic broccoli, organic blueberries, organic cranberries, organic apple cider vinegar, cod liver oil, dried yeast, montmorillonite clay, fish oil, organic coconut oil, organic ground alfalfa, dried organic kelp, vitamin E supplement, liquid lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, liquid lactobacillus casei fermentation product, liquid lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product, liquid bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, organic rosemary extract, taurine.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 8%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 39% | 30% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 41% | 31% | 20% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 56% | 15% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1.
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken livers. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is organic carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fourth ingredient is organic squash. Squash is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth ingredient is organic kale. Kale is a type of cabbage in which the central leaves do not form a head. This dark green vegetable is especially rich in beta-carotene, vitamins C, vitamin K and calcium. And like broccoli, kale contains sulforaphane, a natural chemical believed to possess potent anti-cancer properties.
The sixth ingredient is organic apples. A nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.
The seventh ingredient is organic parsley. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, parsley exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score 2 of 91.
The eighth ingredient is organic pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and, more importantly, linoleic acid — an essential omega-6 fat.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
This recipe has two notable exception.
It contains dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we have not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.
Since this recipe contains a number of organic ingredients, we feel compelled to grant this line a more favorable status as we consider its final rating.
That’s because organic ingredients must comply with notably more stringent government standards – standards which significantly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Chicken Recipe looks like an above-average freeze-dried product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 42.4%, a fat level of 32.6% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 17%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 41.3% and a mean fat level of 27.8%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 22.9% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 68%.
This means this Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto range contains above-average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat when compared to typical freeze-dried dog food.
Primal Pet Foods Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Primal Pet Foods through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Pronto Dog Food
This range of food offers recipes which are high in protein, derived from good quality animal meats. These recipes include real whole foods and organic produce.
About
Primal Pet Foods Inc. is based in Fairfield, California. It was founded in 2000 by Matt Koss and acquired by Kinderhook Industries, LLC. in 2021.
Kinderhook owns Prairie Dog Pet Products, Himalayan and Holistic Hound, and will combine all four brands under a new name, Primal Pet Group.
All Primal Pet Foods products are manufactured in Fairfield, CA and Abilene, TX.
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A Final Word
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