Red Mills Go Native Dry Dog Food is a grain-free option that has earned a commendable 4-star rating, placing it among the top-tier pet foods. This product line appears to prioritize higher protein content and lower carbohydrates, featuring primarily named animal products as its main ingredients, with a significant amount of meat. For dog owners seeking a quality kibble, Red Mills Go Native presents a compelling choice.
This review will delve into the specifics of the Red Mills Go Native dry dog food, focusing on its nutritional profile, ingredient quality, and overall suitability for canine companions.
Recipe Analysis and Ratings
Red Mills Go Native offers five distinct recipes, each with a unique blend of ingredients. The brand’s rating system highlights recipes with higher protein and lower carbohydrate levels as superior. Among the available options, the “Red Mills Go Native Puppy Organic Salmon with Spinach & Ginger” stands out with a 4.5-star rating, primarily due to its 28% carbohydrate content and salmon as the first ingredient. Other recipes, including “Chicken With Potato & Broccoli,” “Duck with Apple & Cranberry,” “Organic Herring with Carrot & Kale,” and “Salmon with Spinach & Ginger,” all received a solid 4-star rating, indicating a consistent quality across the product line.
The general observation across these recipes is a comparable balance of nutrients, suggesting that owners can choose based on their dog’s specific preferences and dietary needs, confident in the overall quality.
Nutritional Breakdown of Red Mills Go Native Chicken With Potato & Broccoli
To provide a comprehensive evaluation, we’ll examine the “Red Mills Go Native Chicken With Potato & Broccoli” recipe. The guaranteed analysis on the packaging indicates 31% protein, 20% fat, and 2% fiber. While moisture content is listed, it doesn’t directly reflect the carbohydrate level. By calculating the dry matter basis, we can better estimate the nutritional ratios.
On a dry matter basis, this recipe contains approximately 34% protein, 22% fat, and 34% carbohydrates. While the protein and fat levels meet our ideal criteria of being 30% or more for protein and 15% or more for fat, the carbohydrate level of 34% is slightly higher than the preferred maximum of 28%. However, it remains a reasonable level for dogs.
Ingredient Deep Dive: What’s Inside?
Red Mills Go Native Chicken With Potato & Broccoli features 25 ingredients, which have been categorized based on their perceived quality and potential impact on pet health. The brand prioritizes fresh and dehydrated chicken as primary protein sources, which are highly digestible and beneficial for dogs. Other “Prefer” ingredients include chicken fat, noted for its high omega-6 content, and whole linseed, a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids with anti-inflammatory properties.
However, the ingredient list also includes several ingredients that warrant attention:
- “Concerned” Ingredients: Potato starch and pea starch are used as carbohydrate fillers, offering limited nutritional value. Sodium chloride (salt) is added for flavor but can be problematic in higher doses. Yeast extract is a controversial ingredient with potential links to allergies.
- “Notice” Ingredient: Hydrolyzed liver protein is an unspecified animal byproduct, raising concerns about its source and quality.
Notably, the formulation does not appear to include organic minerals or probiotics, which can aid in digestion and overall health.
Estimated Meat Content
To ascertain the true meat content, it’s important to look beyond just the protein percentage, as plant-based protein sources can inflate this figure. In the Red Mills Go Native Chicken With Potato & Broccoli recipe, plant protein constitutes a relatively small portion (1 out of the top 7 ingredients), suggesting that the majority of the protein comes from animal sources.
Based on this analysis, the estimated meat content is considered medium to high, indicating that your dog is likely to benefit from a substantial amount of quality animal-based ingredients.
Overall Product Line Assessment
Averaging across all five recipes, Red Mills Go Native Dry Dog Food offers approximately 34% protein, 23% fat, and 33% carbohydrates. These figures show that the product line is generally aligned with ideal nutritional profiles, with protein and fat levels being notably higher than the ideal benchmark, while carbohydrate levels are close to the preferred range.
Recommendation
Red Mills Go Native Dry Dog Food is a good quality, above-average pet food that we recommend for its attractive protein and carbohydrate levels, substantial meat content, and the use of primary animal-based ingredients. While some ingredients raise minor concerns, the overall formulation and nutritional balance make it a solid choice for many canine diets.
Disclaimer: This review is based on the provided information and represents our independent opinion for informational reference only. It is not intended as a purchase recommendation.