Company HQ
- Fairfield, California
Parent company
Sourcing and Manufacturing
- United States
Type of food
PROS
- All recipes are free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
CONS
- Some recipes contain plant-based protein
- Lower than average protein content
- The brand has been previously recalled
- Price is above market average
Primal Dog Food Review
Introduction
Primal Pet Foods is a premium raw dog food company that focuses on natural, species-appropriate diets. Their products contain raw, frozen, and freeze-dried formulas using high-quality meat, organs, bones, and produce. In this Primal dog food review, we’ll cover their product lines, ingredients, recall history, customer reviews, how they compare to other raw pet food brands, and feeding guidelines.
Overview of Primal Pet Foods
Primal Pet Foods was founded in 2001 by Matt Koss in San Francisco. Their mission is to replicate the ancestral diets that dogs and cats ate in the wild before domestication. Primal believes that species-appropriate raw diets offer the best nutrition.
All of their formulas contain fresh meats, organs, and bones without any fillers, grains, artificial preservatives, or other processed ingredients. Primal sources their meat and produce from ranches and farms in the United States.
Primal has expanded from selling raw food out of ice chests at local farmer’s markets to becoming a leading raw pet food brand available online and in over 6,000 retailers nationally.
Pros of Raw Dog Food Diets
There are many potential benefits to feeding dogs a raw food diet like Primal’s:
- More moisture and protein compared to kibble
- Can improve digestion
- Better oral health from gnawing on raw bones/food
- Reduced risk of obesity
- Shinier coats and healthier skin
- More energy and stamina
Cons of Raw Dog Food Diets
However, there are also some downsides of raw feeding to consider:
- Risk of foodborne illness if handling is improper
- Need to thaw meat properly and promptly
- Can initially cause digestive upset switching from kibble
- Raw bones may crack teeth if too hard
- More expensive than kibble
- Must be kept refrigerated or frozen
Primal Dog Food Product Lines
Primal Pet Foods offers a wide selection of frozen raw formulas, freeze-dried foods, raw bones, and treats.
Primal Frozen Formulas
The frozen raw formulas are Primal’s core product line. They come in 2 lb, 5 lb, and 1 lb chubs or patties. There are over 14 raw frozen formulas based on specific meat sources:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Duck
- Lamb
- Pork
- Turkey
- Venison
- Rabbit
- Quail
- Pheasant
- Sardine & Anchovy
- Organ meat blends
- Primal Raw Boost Mixes
Within each meat recipe, there are formulas for puppy, adult, and senior dogs. There are also grain-free options.
Primal Raw Bones
Primal offers whole raw meaty bones in bulk boxes for recreational chewing. Flavors include beef, bison, lamb, pork, turkey, and chicken. The bones provide teeth cleaning.
Primal Treats
For training treats, Primal has freeze-dried liver treats in chicken, beef, and turkey recipes. Some treats contain organic coconut oil or organic hemp powder for extra nutrients.
They also have dried duck feet for longer-lasting chewing. Plus chicken jerky strips and beef lung sticks.
Ingredient Analysis
When reviewing Primal’s ingredients, all of their formulas start with fresh meat, organs, and bones. They use human-grade ingredients approved by the USDA.
Meat and Organ Ingredients
Primal formulas contain 85-88% meat, organs, and bone. Their main meats include:
- Beef
- Bison
- Lamb
- Pork
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Duck
- Venison
- Rabbit
- Pheasant
- Quail
- Sardines
- Anchovy
- Mackerel
- Haddock
Organ meats provide nutritional variety, such as livers, kidneys, hearts, and tripe. The formulas also contain ground bone for calcium.
Produce Ingredients
Primal blends in an array of fresh fruits and vegetables like:
- Carrots
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Parsley
- Tripe
- Sweet Potato
- Pumpkin
- Banana
Supplemental Ingredients
The main supplemental items blended into Primal raw recipes are:
- Digestive enzymes
- Vitamin E
- Salmon Oil
- Kelp
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Montmorillonite Clay
- Colostrum
- Coconut Oil
- Cod Liver Oil
These extras enhance the nutrient profile. Primal avoids artificial preservatives, thickeners, or cheap fillers.
Recall History
Primal Pet Foods has a generally good food safety track record, with two minor recalls since their founding in 2001.
FDA Warning Letter
In 2011, Primal received an FDA warning letter regarding their raw frozen cat food. The FDA cited issues with the nutritional adequacy statement and labelling compliance.
Primal took corrective action and updated their formulas and labels accordingly. This was not a serious safety recall.
Salmonella Recall
In March 2019, Primal recalled a single lot of their frozen raw poultry formula. It tested positive for salmonella during routine state testing.
Out of caution, Primal issued a voluntary recall. No pet illnesses were reported. Primal has since implemented more rigorous sanitation and batch testing procedures.
Overall, Primal Pet Foods upholds high safety standards for raw pet food production. Their facilities meet USDA, FDA, and FeedSafe requirements.
Reviews of Primal Dog Food
Primal Dog Food earns mostly positive reviews for their product quality and good customer service. However, some dogs dislike the taste or texture.
Positive Reviews
- Owners praise the ingredient transparency and locally sourced meats
- Dogs enjoy the taste and natural flavors
- Improved digestion, coat, weight, and energy on raw Primal diet
- Convenient pre-portioned daily servings
- Good customer service and refunds if dog dislikes
Negative Reviews
- Some finicky dogs reject the texture or smell
- Bones may be too hard for some dogs
- Thawing and handling raw meat is messy/smelly
- Occasional shipping/quality issues with frozen items
- Expensive compared to kibble diets
Overall, most dogs adapt well to Primal’s raw food with health benefits reported. But it may not suit all dogs, especially picky eaters. Check your dog’s preferences before transitioning to a completely raw diet.
Primal Vs. Other Brands
Primal is one of the most popular pre-made raw dog food brands available. How does it compare to competitors?
Vs. Stella & Chewy’s
Stella & Chewy’s is another leading raw pet food company with comparable quality. They have more limited proteins than Primal. Primal has better pricing and availability.
Vs. Northwest Naturals
Northwest Naturals is a smaller raw brand that is only sold frozen. Primal offers more protein diversity and has freeze-dried options.
Vs. Nature’s Variety
Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw is very similar to Primal’s formulas. However, Primal has more transparency about independent batch testing.
Primal remains a top choice among pre-made raw brands for their variety, transparent sourcing, safety protocols, and nutritional analysis.
Primal Feeding Guide
Switching your dog to a Primal raw food diet takes some transition time and proper handling. Here are some feeding tips:
Feeding Amount Guidelines
Primal provides feeding guides on their website based on your dog’s weight. Expect to feed around 2-3% of your dog’s ideal body weight per day in raw food. Start conservatively and adjust amounts based on your dog’s hunger.
Transitioning Tips
Gradually mix in Primal raw food over 7-10 days while decreasing old food. This allows your dog’s stomach to adjust. Keep an eye on stool quality.
Storage and Handling
Always thaw Primal frozen food in the refrigerator or cool water, not at room temperature. Once thawed, use within 3-5 days. Discard any spoiled raw food. Wash hands/bowls thoroughly after handling.
Portion into airtight containers to block freezer burn. Follow all food safety guidelines when serving raw meat.
Conclusion
Overall, Primal Dog Food provides high-quality raw formulas packed with premium meat, organs, and bones. Their variety of proteins and formulas offers balanced complete nutrition. While expensive, Primal can be a healthy option for dogs thriving on species-appropriate raw diets. Be sure to transition gradually and maintain proper handling. Consult your vet if considering switching to a raw feeding approach.
Brand Overview
Primal Pet Foods offers raw diets for cats and dogs. The company’s product line features raw frozen patties and nuggets, as well as freeze-dried nuggets. Primal Pet Foods are available in a variety of flavors including uncommon options such as quail, rabbit, duck, and venison.
How Much Does Primal Dog Food Cost
We’ve compared Primal dog food price to the other dog food brands in our database.
Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food Price Comparison
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per oz | $2.75 | $2.62 | +5% |
| Price per 100 kcal | $2.22 | $1.83 | +21% |
| Price per day | $1.33 | $1.10 | +21% |
Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food is priced above the average market price for dog food.
Primal Nutrient Profile Comparison
We’ve compared Primal dog food recipes nutrient profile to the other 197 dog food brands in our database.
Freeze-Dried Dog Food
| Brand Avg | Market Avg | % From the Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DM Protein | 43.95% | 44.10% | -0% |
| DM Fat | 22.78% | 26.39% | -14% |
| DM Fiber | 5.13% | 4.66% | +10% |
| DM Carb | 28.14% | 24.57% | +15% |
Recall History
The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Primal Dog Food Review since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.
Primal – Cat Food (05/28/2011). Read FDA Report.
Primal – Cat food-Feline Turkey Raw Frozen Formula (03/13/2015). Read FDA Report.
Primal – Freeze Dried Pet Food (12/22/2017). Read FDA Report.
FAQs
Is Primal dog food grain-free?
Yes, all Primal formulas are 100% grain-free. They use no rice, corn, wheat, soy or other grains.
Where is Primal Pet Foods manufactured?
Primal products are made in their own human-grade factory in San Francisco Bay Area in California.
Does Primal use non-GMO ingredients?
Primal states that all of their meats, produce, and supplements are sourced from non-GMO verified suppliers.
Are Primal raw formulas complete and balanced?
Yes, each Primal recipe contains the proper ratio of meat, organs, bones, fruits, and vegetables to be complete.
Does Primal offer veterinary diets?
No, Primal does not offer prescription veterinary diets. But some formulas may be appropriate for dogs with certain health conditions. Check with your veterinarian.
