Primal Raw Frozen Grinds (Raw)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★★

Primal Raw Frozen Grinds dog food receives the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.

The Primal Raw Frozen Grinds product line includes six dog foods… each designed for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.

  • Primal Beef Grind
  • Primal Lamb Grind
  • Primal Turkey Grind
  • Primal Buffalo Grind
  • Primal Sardine Grind
  • Primal Chicken Grind

Primal Beef Grind raw frozen dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Primal Beef Grind

Raw Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 47% | Fat = 33% | Carbs = 12%

Ingredients: Beef heart, beef liver, ground beef bone

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.8%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food is beef heart. The heart is a muscular organ. And although it may not sound very appetizing to us humans, beef heart is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog for life.

The second ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, beef liver is a beneficial component.

The third item is finely-ground beef bone… an excellent source of natural calcium and minerals.

Although we find no mention of added vitamins or minerals on the ingredients list, we are reassured to see a detailed list of naturally included nutrients (for each recipe) on the company’s website.1

Primal Dog Food Raw Frozen Grinds Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Primal Dog Food Raw Frozen Grinds deviates from the company’s Raw Frozen Formula in an important way.

Unlike the “Formula” series, this product was never intended to be fed as a complete and balanced canine diet.

Primal Raw Frozen Grind is a supplement… and a supplement only.

Because they probably lack some essential nutrients, supplements must not be fed continuously as the sole item in a dog’s diet.

We prefer to use a high-protein food like this as a special treat. Or as an appetizing topper… to be served over dry kibble.

In any case, we expect the nutrient percentages to reveal abundant meat content.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47%, a fat level of 33% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 12%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 52% and a mean fat level of 28%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 13% for the overall product line.

High protein. High fat. And very low carbs when contrasted with a typical (for comparison) canned dog food.

With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a raw frozen product containing a generous amount of meat.

What’s more, all of it is “100% human-grade” and “antibiotic and steroid free without added hormones”.2

Bottom line?

Primal Raw Frozen Grinds is a meat-based wet dog food using an abundance of various species as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.

The product is sold in shrink-wrapped, sausage-shaped “chubbs”.

Enthusiastically recommended (for supplemental feeding only).

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

04/11/2010 Original review
11/11/2010 Review updated

  1. Primal Pet Foods, 4/11/2010 ↩
  2. Primal Pet Foods, 4/11/2010 ↩
Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Layla,

    Although most of us tend to think of meat as skeletal tissue, heart and liver are both still considered to be meat.

    Here’s the Wiki definition of meat:

    “Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal.”

    Hope this helps.

  • Layla

    How do these grinds have a bunch of meat when the ingredient list doesn’t list any animal meat? It only lists some organs and bones. I’m confused. Do they just not list the meat content? I thought they had to list everything on the ingredient list.. but from their list it looks like it’s just ground up organs and bones lol

  • “Ryo”

    Hi, Mike. Thanks for the feedback! I myself choose to not to feed kibble, though, so I’m glad you got this out there for any unknowing person who feeds raw and kibble. Thanks so much~ :)

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Ryo… As with humans, dogs digest various foods at different rates. And these rates are notably dependent upon such things as the protein, fat and carbohydrate proportions of the meal, whether the food is cooked, raw, dry or wet as well as many other factors.

    With that understanding, there’s no scientific evidence to support the fears and rumors that different rates of digestibility have any negative impact on a dog’s health (any more than mixing raw vegetables, breads and cooked meats at the same meal have on the health of humans).

  • “Ryo”

    Just a comment….
    You said that this can be fed as “an appetizing topper for kibble”. The truth is, though, the dog will digest kibble before raw food- even if the kibble is grain-free and/or potato free…. the raw food will just sit there, which can lead to illness.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Irene… Here’s a list of some of the dehydrated dog foods in my database. For better quality and more meat, look for a 4 or 5-star product on that list. Hope you enjoy your research.

  • Irene Archer

    sorry meant to type 3 or 4 days a week…

  • Irene Archer

    Just today i called the company who makes Primal to ask them what you would add to the food if you were to buy the grinds and use them daily. In a nut shell i did not get an answer. He did say that many people feed the Primal Formulas 3 or 4 a week and then feed the Primal Grinds or Mixes 3 or 4 days a week. He said doing that you can save money and they will still get a balanced nutrition on the whole. I would like to buy the Grind meats and then supplement them with a good dehydrated dog food so the nutrition will be complete. But i am not sure which dehydrated would be best in that application. Any ideas? The idea of using the Grinds as far as i can tell is either for occasional feeding or in combination with vegetables and supplements. By using the dehydrated i would hope to get the balance to the meats. Primal meats seem to be the best as far as i can tell.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Patricia… Don’t worry. Here, there are no dumb questions.

    In my opinion, you should not be feeding this (or any other “supplemental food”) as the only food in your dog’s diet. I have no problem using a food like this as an occasional treat or special meal (or two). However, unless your naturopathic consultant can assure you the diet he recommends is “complete and balanced” (with all vitamins and minerals, etc.) for a pet at your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, senior) you are taking an unnecessary risk with your Yorkies’ health.

    If you need to know what to add to the food to make it complete (a difficult task, indeed), you’ll have to contact the manufacturer.

    In any case, be sure your “naturopath” is qualified to give advice on canine diets. Otherwise, stick with foods that meet AAFCO nutritional standards for growth or adult maintenance. Hope this helps.

  • Patricia

    I guess I am pretty dumb. This article did not really tell me what I am trying to find out. I have 3 yorkies (5LBS and under). My naturopathic vet said they should be fed the raw ground meats ( not the formulas with veggies, grains etc.) Just the pure meat, bone and organs. However I keep reading that these grinds are not to be fed as the primary diet. Nothing tells me what I should add to these grinds to have a balanced meal for my yorkies and as I already stated my naturopathic says just the raw meat, bones and organs should be fed. So who is right my naturopathic vet or AAFCO. How much more confusing can it get?

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Patricia… According to the Primal Grinds website (and probably the packaging, too), this dog food should not be considered a complete and balanced diet and must only be used for “intermittent or supplemental feeding only”. To better understand this rating, please be sure to read my article, “Understanding Dog Food Nutrient Profiles“. Hope this helps clear up the confusion.

  • Patricia

    You say this(Primal Grinds)should only be used as supplemental feeding. The pet stores say it can be fedd daily. I am confused. What should be added to these grinds to make them suitable for every day feeding?