Rating: 
Primal Raw Frozen Formulas dog food earns the Advisor’s highest rating of 5 stars.
The Primal Raw Frozen Formulas product line lists nine dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Primal Canine Beef Formula
- Primal Canine Duck Formula
- Primal Canine Quail Formula
- Primal Canine Lamb Formula
- Primal Canine Rabbit Formula
- Primal Canine Venison Formula
- Primal Canine Chicken Formula
- Primal Canine Pheasant Formula
- Primal Canine Turkey and Sardine Formula
Primal Canine Frozen Raw Duck Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Primal Canine Duck Formula
Raw Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Duck, duck necks, duck wings, organic kale, duck hearts, organic carrots, organic yams, duck livers, organic broccoli, organic apples, blueberries, cranberries, organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, organic trace minerals, organic parsley, organic apple cider vinegar, salmon oil, organic coconut oil, organic quinoa sprout powder, organic kelp, alfalfa, mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 15% | 10% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 47% | 31% | 14% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 34% | 56% | 10% |
The first three ingredients in this dog food include duck. Duck is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of duck”.1
Duck is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is 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 fifth ingredient is duck hearts. 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 sixth item mentions carrot. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh item lists yams. In much of North America, the word yam can be used interchangeably with the term sweet potatoes.
So, assuming this item is indeed sweet potatoes, it can be considered a good source of complex carbohydrates. In addition, yams are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.
The eighth ingredient is duck liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
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 three notable exceptions…
First, we find 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, we note the inclusion of coconut oil. Depending upon the quality of the raw material, coconut oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids.
Coconut oil has been reported to have a beneficial effect on a dog’s skin and coat, improve digestion, and reduce allergic reactions.2
And lastly, although we find no mention of minerals on the ingredients list, we are reassured to see a detailed list of nutrients (for each recipe) on the company’s website.3
Primal Dog Food Raw Frozen Formulas
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Primal Raw Frozen Formulas 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.
Since this recipe contains a number of quality organic ingredients, we feel compelled to accord this line somewhat favored status as we consider its final rating.
That’s because organic ingredients are produced under controlled government standards — standards which greatly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47%, a fat level of 31% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 14%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 51% and a mean fat level of 28%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 13% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And low carbohydrates when compared to a typical raw dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a raw frozen food containing an abundance of meat.
Those attempting to mimic a dog’s natural ancestral diet this Primal Dog Food Raw Frozen Formula makes a reasonable choice.
Bottom line?
Primal Raw Frozen Formulas is a meat-based dog food using an abundance of various species as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those desiring a lower fat content for their pet’s diet may wish to avoid the higher fat ratios associated with the beef, chicken and lamb recipes.
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
04/10/2010 Original review
11/10/2010 Review updated
03/23/2012 Review updated
03/23/2012 Last Update
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor from the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, 2008 Edition ↩
- Dr. Bruce Fife, Healthy Ways Newsletter, Vol 4:3 ↩
- Primal Pet Foods, 3/23/2012 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.