Review of Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food

Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.

The Northwest Naturals product line includes the 7 freeze-dried raw dog foods listed below.

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

Recipe and Label Analysis

Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Beef 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.

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Ingredient Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.¹

Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is beef heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing to us humans, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.

The third ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The next ingredient is ground beef bone, an excellent source of natural calcium.

The fifth ingredient is beef kidney, an organ meat low in fat and rich in protein and essential minerals.

The next ingredient is broccoli, which is 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.

The seventh ingredient includes carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The eighth ingredient is apple, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.

The ninth item lists lettuce. This green leafy vegetable is naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. In fact, lettuce boasts an exceptionally high nutrient Completeness Score² of 88.

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 Northwest Naturals product.

With 5 notable exceptions…

First, flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also 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.

Next, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

In addition, garlic can be a controversial item. Although many favor the ingredient for its claimed health benefits, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.³

So, one must weigh the potential benefits of feeding garlic against its proven tendency to cause subclinical damage to the red blood cells of the animal.

Next, we find fish 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.

And lastly, this food contains 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.

Nutrient Analysis

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

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 43%, a fat level of 36% and estimated carbohydrates of about 13%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 50% and a mean fat level of 36%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 6% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 74%.

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 a significant amount of meat.

However, with 61% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 30% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for pets on a low-fat diet.

Our Rating of Northwest Naturals Freeze Dried Dog Food

Northwest Naturals 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 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Northwest Naturals Dog Food
Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Northwest Naturals.

• Northwest Naturals Dog Food Recall | February 2018 (2/24/2018)

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

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More Northwest Naturals Brand Reviews

The following Northwest Naturals dog food reviews are also posted on this website:

• Northwest Naturals Dog Food Review (Raw Frozen)