Rating: 
Redpaw Dog Food receives the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4.5 stars.
The Redpaw Dog Food product line lists 5 kibbles… 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.
- Redpaw Perform 32 Dog Food
- Redpaw Training 26 Dog Food
- Redpaw PowerEdge 26K Dog Food
- Redpaw PowerEdge 32K Dog Food
- Redpaw PowerEdge 38K Dog Food
Redpaw PowerEdge 32k Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Redpaw PowerEdge 32K
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Menhaden fish meal, ground corn, poultry fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract), chicken meal, pork meat and bone meall, pork blood meal, dried beet pulp, chicken liver, brewers rice, fish oil, brewers dried yeast, flaxseed, salt, potasium chloride, Lactobacillus acidophilis, bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus salivarius, Enterococcous faecium, vitamin A, D3, E, B12 supplements, niacin, pantothenic acid, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, zinc oxide, iron carbonate, manganous oxide, copper oxide, cobalt carbonate, calcium iodate, sorbic acid, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 32% | 20% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 36% | 22% | 34% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 29% | 44% | 28% |
The first ingredient in this dog food includes fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. They’re rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deep water species.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The second ingredient includes corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in a dog food.
The third ingredient is poultry fat. Poultry fat is obtained from rendering… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.
The fourth ingredient is chicken meal. Like fish meal, chicken meal is considered another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The fifth ingredient is pork meat and bone meal… a dry “rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents”.2
Meat and bone meal can have a lower digestibility than other meat meals. Scientists believe this decreased absorption may be due to the ingredient’s higher ash and lower essential amino acid content.3
However, we are pleased to note this specific ingredient is sourced from a named species and is likely of better quality.
The sixth ingredient is blood meal. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing to humans, blood is naturally rich in protein (albumin), vitamins and minerals.
The seventh ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
The eighth item 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 ninth ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice represents the small grain fragments left over after milling whole rice.
This is an inexpensive cereal grain by-product and not considered a quality ingredient.
The tenth ingredient is fish oil. Fish 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, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
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, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.
Next, the company appears to have applied friendly microorganisms to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Redpaw Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Redpaw Dog Food looks to be an above-average kibble.
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 36%, a fat level of 22% and estimated carbohydrates of about 34%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 34% and a mean fat level of 22%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 38% for the overall product line.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.
However, although not all the products contain corn, three do include brewers rice. And one (PowerEdge 38K) uses corn gluten meal to enhance its protein.
Yet don’t be turned off by these minor blemishes. For without these slight imperfections, Redpaw would have surely qualified for our highest rating.
Bottom line?
Redpaw Dog Food is a grain-based dry kibble using a significant amount of fish or chicken meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended.
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
10/04/2011 Original review
10/04/2011 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.