Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets product range is made up of seven recipes with ratings varying from 3.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
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.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets 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 broccoli, organic blueberries, organic cranberries, organic sunflower oil, organic apple cider vinegar, montmorillonite clay, dried yeast, cod liver oil, fish oil, organic coconut oil, organic rosemary extract, vitamin E supplement, organic ground alfalfa, dried organic kelp, liquid lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, liquid lactobacillus casei fermentation product, liquid lactobacillus reuteri fermentation product, liquid bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, taurine
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 45% | 33% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 49% | 36% | 7% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 34% | 61% | 5% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken (with ground bone). 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 is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient lists organic carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fourth item is organic squash, 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 apple, 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 Score2 of 91.
The eighth ingredient lists organic pumpkin seeds, which are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and, more importantly, linoleic acid — an essential omega-6 fat.
The ninth ingredient is sunflower seeds, a good source of plant-based fatty acids that are also rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
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 Primal product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, we find montmorillonite clay, a naturally occurring compound rich in many trace minerals. Montmorillonite has been approved for use in USDA Organic Certified products.
Reported benefits include the binding of certain mold-based toxins and even controlling diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Next, we note the inclusion of coconut oil, a natural oil rich in medium-chain fatty acids.
Medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to improve cognitive function in older dogs.3
Because of its proven safety4 as well as its potential to help in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and chronic skin disorders, MCT can be considered a positive addition to this recipe.
In addition, this food has alfalfa, a flowering member of the pea family. Although alfalfa is high in protein (18%) and fiber, it’s uncommon to see it used in dog food. This hay-family ingredient is more commonly associated with horse feeds.
Next, 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, except for the vitamin E, we find no mention of added vitamins or minerals on the ingredients list, but we’re reassured to find a detailed list of naturally present nutrients on the company’s website. 5
Nutrient Analysis
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.
Based on its ingredients alone, Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Nuggets Chicken Recipe Dog Food looks like an exceptional raw product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 48.9%, a fat level of 35.9% and estimated carbohydrates of about 7.2%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 52.3% and a mean fat level of 29.5%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 10.2% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other raw dog foods.
Even when you consider the mild protein-boosting effect of the alfalfa, this looks like the profile of a raw dog food containing an abundance of meat.
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 Nuggets Dog Food
Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets is a grain-free raw dog food using a generous amount of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein, thus receiving 5 stars.
For even more raw diet suggestions, be sure to visit the Advisor’s Recommended Raw Dog Foods summary page.
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A Final Word
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