Primal Raw Frozen Mixes (Raw)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★★

Primal Raw Frozen Mixes receives the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.

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

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

Primal Raw Frozen Turkey Mix was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Primal Turkey Mix

Raw Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 55% | Fat = 31% | Carbs = 6%

Ingredients: Turkey neck, turkey wing, turkey heart, turkey liver, organic collard greens, organic squash, organic celery, cranberries, organic ginger, organic cilantro

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first three ingredients in this dog food are all turkey meats… turkey neck, wing and heart. Like most meats, turkey is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog for life.

The fourth item is turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, turkey liver is beneficial high-protein component.

The next six ingredients include a variety of nutrient-rich organic produce ingredients…

  • Collard greens
  • Squash
  • Celery
  • Cranberries1
  • Ginger
  • Cilantro

Although we find no mention of minerals on the ingredients list, we are reassured to see a completely detailed list of nutrients (for each recipe) on the company’s website.2

Primal Raw Frozen Mixes Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Primal Raw Frozen Mixes dog food differs from the company’s Raw Frozen Formula in a most important way.

Unlike the Raw Frozen “Formula” line (which is designed for dogs of all life stages), this product was never intended to be fed as a complete and balanced canine diet.

Primal Raw Frozen Mixes 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 55%, a fat level of 31% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 6%.

Very high protein. High fat. And unusually low carbohydrates (when compared to any typical commercial dog food).

Featuring a brand average of 51%, protein percentages range from a low of 39% for the lamb recipe to a high of 64% for the sardine formula.

This is the profile of a dog food brimming with meat.

Plus (according to the company) all of it is “100% human-grade” and “antibiotic and steroid free without added hormones”.3

Bottom line?

Primal Raw Frozen Mixes is primarily a meat-based dog food using a plentiful amount of meat and poultry as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand a befitting five stars.

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

Enthusiastically recommended… for supplemental feeding only.

For more raw feeding suggestions, be sure to visit the Advisor’s Recommended Raw Dog Foods summary page.

Some Final Thoughts

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?

Please feel free to share your comments below.

  1. Cranberries not listed as organic ↩
  2. Primal Pet Foods, 4/10/2010 ↩
  3. Primal Pet Foods, 4/10/2010 ↩
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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  • ShamelessRawFoodie

    Julie – You are feeding “chicken, beef and turkey Primal raw food.”
    If you’re feeding THIS food on this comment page – Primal Raw Frozen Mixes – be sure to note Mike’s review: “this product was never intended to be fed as a complete and balanced canine diet. Primal Raw Frozen Mixes 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.”

    Maybe you’re feeding Primal Raw Formula? Formula line is complete and balanced.
    Primal Mixes and Primal Grinds are for supplemental feeding only.

    So your Westie could be itching because his food isn’t ‘complete and balanced’. Feed Primal Raw Formula (complete and balanced) and see if the itching stops.

    Also, instead of feeding “chicken, beef and turkey”, try feeding only ONE meat protein for a month or more. Maybe your dog has an allergy to one of the meats.

    You don’t say how long you have had your 9-month old Westie or how long you’ve been feeding Primal. There could be something in or around your dogs new environment that is causing itching – household chemicals, lawn chemicals, chlorinated water, tree pollen, toxic plant growth, etc. Flea dermatitis could also be a problem.

  • Julie

    I have a 9 months Westie and when I got him he was on a kiibble diet but since I wanted the best for him and I had read so many good things about raw food, I started him on chicken, beef and turkey Primal raw food. Well, sInce then he started to have itching problems. He gets desperate as soon as he finished his meal. He even uses his teeth to scratch his skin.
    I’d appreciate your comment to my concern.
    Thank you,
    Julie Parra
    Tc

  • Natalie

    You don’t want to mix raw and kibble, as previously raw digests a lot faster than kibble, 4-6 hrs opposed to 8-10 hrs of kibble. They are digested differently and if mixed together could cause bloat. You can feed raw in Morning and kibble in evening, or vice versa. It is said that dogs/cats can get the benefit of a raw diet even if their diet is 25% raw. It’s a great diet particularly for dogs w allergies. I’ve had great success w Primal venison-though expensive. I now do raw in the morning and orjen fish at night. :)

  • Cliff

    Prey Model Raw is the absolute best thing to feed your dog, but Primal is great if you can’t go all-raw. I live with my parents right now and they made me stop feeding my dog raw out of sanitary concerns, so she’s on kibble again for now, but she gets Primal treats and loves it!

  • Gordon

    Anna – If you’re searching for the best raw dog food, then I’m guessing you’ve found BARF!

    If one can’t go raw, ZiwiPeak air-dried or canned is the second best!

    I know, just a tad bias you might think. But check these products out and compare how good their ingredients are!

  • Anna

    I can’t imagine why someone would buy raw (the best way to feed) and put it over kibble, the worst. Even ‘good’ kibble isn’t good. There is not enough moisture. Animals should get most of their moisture from their food not a water dish. If you can’t quite go raw check out The Honest Kitchen and Dr. Harveys. We use both….great foods. Bye bye diarrhea, vomitting and itching. I am thinking about adding some frozen raw….researching for best.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Karm… From the sound of your questions about how we set our standards about raw dog food, I’m concerned you might believe we actually manufacture dog food here. The truth is… we only rate and review food products on this website.

    Yes, it’s true. Handling raw dog food meats (like found in Primal) carries with it some risk of Salmonella contamination. But there’s at least a similar degree of risk when handling raw meats of any kind. Even while preparing human food. So, when handling raw dog foods (meat), I would advise practicing the same sanitary precautions you would use when handling raw meat for your own family. That at least minimizes any risks of exposure to Salmonella or other pathogens (germs).

  • Karm

    I have recently trasitioned my 8.5 bichon to a Primal diet: Turkey and and Sardine Formula. Recently, it was brought to my attention dogs should not be fed raw food due to salamonella that may be present in the food.
    A respected major university in my state that diagnoses and treats sick dogs will not allow the dog to be admitted if they are on a raw diet.
    I was told it can be transmitted to children and adults who have low immune systems-particularly those in hospitals. I was also informed it can be transmitted through the dog feces.
    I suppose any diet could potentially be harmful if it is not properly handled. How are your standards set and implemented to assure a safe diet?
    I’d appreciate your comments to my concerns.
    Thank you.
    Regards,
    Karm

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Elena… There are certainly many advantages to fresh and raw feeding. But unfortunately, no method is with its own problems. With homemade feeding, the nutritional supplements themselves must be dispensed with care. Not only can too little of something cause a deficiency, but too much of a certain nutrient can also be dangerous. Be sure you’re using a quality supplement, following directions carefully and measuring each dose accurately.

  • ELENA

    I FEED MY DOGS TWICE A DAY WITH FRESH CHICKE AND BEEF ALONG WITH SOME ORGAN MEAT. I ALSO GIVE THEM BRAVO FOZEN AND SOME PRIMAL LAMB. THE FRESH BEEF AND CHICKEN DO NOT HAVE ANY ADDED MINERALS, BUY I GIVE THEM MULTIVITAMINS AND FISH OIL. THEY ARE VERY HEALTHY BUT I AM WONDERING IF THEY ARE GETTING ALL THE MINERALS/NUTRIENTS. PLS ADVISE

  • Amber Irwin

    I’m not sure if I would recommend putting raw food over kibble, unless the kibble is grain free. Grains slow down the dogs digestive system, and the raw food digests much better at a faster pace to ensure no bacteria just sit in the stomach (from the raw meat).

    Usually it is better to feed about 4 hours apart, or longer depending on the amount of grain in the kibble. I fed my dog a nice big bison bone with meat on it with her kibble (Wellness, with grains, not core), and she had runny stool until I put her on a bland diet to fix her system. Just my 2 cents.