Rating: 
Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried raw dog food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried product line lists two raw dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried Beef Dinner Bites
- Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried Chicken Dinner Bites
Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried Chicken Dinner Bites raw dog food was selected to represent both recipes in the line for this review.
Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried Chicken Dinner Bites
Raw Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, apples, chickpeas, peas, flaxseed, chicory root extract, cranberries, salmon oil (a source of DHA), dried kelp, potassium chloride, salt, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, mixed tocopherols (a natural source of vitamin E), vitamin D3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 40% | 30% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 42% | 32% | 18% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 56% | 13% |
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. And the ground bone is an excellent source of natural calcium.
The second ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The third ingredient is apple… a nutrient-rich, high-fiber fruit.
The fourth ingredient lists chickpeas… also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, bean and lentils, the chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume family of vegetables.
Chickpeas contain about 22% protein which must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The fifth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein… a factor that must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The sixth 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.
Chicory root extract is naturally rich in a substance called inulin… a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
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.
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 two notable exceptions…
First, we note the inclusion of salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
And lastly, this food also 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.
Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried Raw
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried Raw looks to be an above-average dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 42%, a fat level of 32% and estimated carbohydrates of about 18%.
As a pair, the brand features an average protein content of 42% and a mean fat level of 32%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 18% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 76%.
Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a raw food containing a generous amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Dogswell Nutrisca Freeze Dried Raw meat-based freeze-dried dog food using a notable amount of chicken or beef as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
For even more raw diet suggestions, be sure to visit the Advisor’s Recommended Raw Dog Foods summary page.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
09/20/2011 Original review
09/20/2011 Last Update
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.