Review of K9 Natural Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

K9 Natural Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of 3 stars.

The K9 Natural product line includes the 5 freeze-dried, raw dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

K9 Natural Chicken Feast was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food 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 ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient includes eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

The third ingredient lists flaxseed flakes, one of the best plant-based sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed is particularly rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fourth ingredient is hoki oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.

The fifth ingredient is kelp, an algae-based seaweed modest in protein content but rich in marine minerals.

The sixth ingredient includes green-lipped mussel. Mussels are clam-like animals notably rich in glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients proven to support long-term joint health.

The seventh ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.

The eighth ingredient is broccoli, a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. It’s notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.

Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.

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 this K9 Natural product.

With 3 notable exceptions…

First, sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3’s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.

Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.

There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.

Next, this food includes chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

And lastly, this recipe contains selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, K9 Natural Freeze Dried Dog Food looks like an above-average raw product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 52%, a fat level of 37% and estimated carbohydrates of about 3%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 44% and a mean fat level of 39%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 9% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 92%.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a raw product containing an abundance of meat.

However, with 62% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 36% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for pets on a low-fat diet.

Our Rating of K9 Natural Dog Food

K9 Natural Freeze Dried is a grain-free raw dog food using a generous amount of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3 stars.

Recommended.

Because of their unusually higher fat content, we cannot, in good faith, recommend either the Lamb or Beef recipes.

K9 Natural Dog Food Recall History

The following list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 directly related to K9 Natural. If there are no recalls listed in this section, we have not yet reported any events.

• K9 Natural Dog Food Recall (4/13/2018)

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

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