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Review of Redbarn Naturals Stews Dog Food
Redbarn Naturals Stews Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Redbarn Naturals Stews product line includes one canned dog food, a recipe claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient guidelines for all life stages.
Redbarn Naturals Wildwood Stew Quail Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Quail, vegetable broth, quail broth, dried egg product, natural flavor, peas, sunflower oil, agar-agar, calcium carbonate, carrots, dandelion, salt, parsley, sodium phosphate, salmon oil, potassium chloride, choline chloride, bay leaves, turmeric, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, magnesium proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, niacin supplement, calcium pantothenate, biotin, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 4% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 44% | 22% | 25% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 36% | 44% | 21% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is quail. Quail is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of quail”.2
Quail is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second and third ingredients are vegetable and quail broths. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common addition component in many canned products.
The fourth ingredient is dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
After the natural flavor, we find peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The seventh ingredient is sunflower oil. 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.
The eighth ingredient is agar agar, a natural vegetable gelatin derived from the cell walls of certain species of red algae. Agar is rich in fiber and is used in wet pet foods as a gelling agent.
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.
With 2 notable exceptions…
First, 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.
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, Redbarn Naturals Stews looks like an above-average wet product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44%, a fat level of 22% and estimated carbohydrates of about 25%.
Which yields a relatively conservative fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
So this product contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a wet dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
Our Rating of Redbarn Naturals Stews Dog Food
Redbarn Naturals Stews is a grain-free canned dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Has Redbarn Naturals Dog Food Been Recalled?
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Redbarn.
- Redbarn Expands Recall to Include Multiple Brands of Dog Chews (3/8/2018)
- Redbarn Bully Stick Dog Chews Recall (2/10/2018)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Redbarn Brand Reviews
The following Redbarn dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Redbarn Air Dried Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Redbarn Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Redbarn Naturals Dog Food Review (Rolls)
- Redbarn Whole Grain Dog Food Review (Dry)
Compare This Dog Food
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