Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Pawstruck Air Dried Dog Food earns The Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Pawstruck Air Dried product line includes three dry dog foods.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Pawstruck Air Dried Beef | 5 | A |
| Pawstruck Air Dried Chicken | 5 | A |
| Pawstruck Air Dried Fish | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Pawstruck Air 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.
Pawstruck Air Dried Beef Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, beef lung, beef liver, dicalcium phosphate, flaxseed, calcium carbonate, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salt, potassium chloride, choline (choline chloride), ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, vitamin e supplement, copper amino acid complex, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, niacin supplement, vitamin b5 (calcium pantothenate), riboflavin supplement, vitamin a supplement, vitamin b12 supplement, vitamin b12 (thiamine mononitrate), vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), calcium iodate, vitamin d3 supplement, vitamin b9 (folic acid)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 12%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 35% | 25% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 36% | 26% | 30% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 28% | 49% | 23% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in 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.
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is beef lung. Beef lung is a protein-rich organ meat that’s also low in fat.
The third ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
The fifth ingredient is flaxseed, 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.
The sixth ingredient is calcium carbonate, likely used here as a dietary mineral supplement.
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 product.
However, there are two notable exceptions…
First, salmon oil. Salmon 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, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Pawstruck Air Dried range looks like a superior dry dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 40%, a fat level of 29% and estimated carbohydrates of about 24%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 30% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 23% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%.
Below-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing a generous amount of meat.
Pawstruck Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Pawstruck through November 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Pawstruck Dog Food
Pawstruck Air-Dried is a grain-free dry dog food using a significant amount of beef as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5.
Enthusiastically recommended.
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A Final Word
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