Choosing the right dry dog food is crucial for your canine companion’s health and well-being. Red Mills Go Native Dry Dog Food, with its 4-star rating, stands out as a noteworthy option in the premium pet food market. This review delves into its nutritional profile, ingredients, and overall quality to help you make an informed decision for your dog.
Red Mills Go Native Dry Dog Food is positioned as a top-tier pet food, earning a commendable 4-star rating, placing it among the top 10% of reviewed pet foods. The brand appears to focus on higher protein and lower carbohydrate content, utilizing primarily named animal products as its main ingredients, with a substantial meat inclusion. This approach aligns with the nutritional needs of dogs, making it a recommended choice for many pet owners.
What We Like About Red Mills Go Native
- Lower Carbohydrate Content: With less than 34% carbohydrates, this food is suitable for dogs who benefit from a lower-carb diet.
- Absence of Common Allergens: The formulas are free from potential allergens such as corn, soy, gluten, and dairy products, which is beneficial for dogs with sensitivities.
Areas of Consideration
- Numerous Controversial Ingredients: Some ingredients used in the formulas have been flagged as potentially controversial, warranting a closer look.
- Absence of Organic Minerals: The food may not contain organic minerals, which are often preferred for their bioavailability.
- Potential Lack of Probiotics: There seems to be a lack of added probiotics, which can aid in digestion.
- Uncertainty Regarding Some Ingredients: Certain ingredients raise questions about their exact source or quality.
Recipe Ratings and Analysis
Red Mills Go Native offers five distinct recipes, each with a slightly different ingredient composition. The recipes are rated based on their protein and carbohydrate levels, with higher protein and lower carbs receiving better scores.
- Red Mills Go Native Puppy Organic Salmon with Spinach & Ginger: Rated 4.5 stars, this recipe features salmon as the first ingredient and boasts a carbohydrate content of 28%.
- Red Mills Go Native Chicken With Potato & Broccoli: Rated 4 stars, with chicken as the primary ingredient and 34% carbohydrates.
- Red Mills Go Native Duck with Apple & Cranberry: Also rated 4 stars, this duck-based formula has 37% carbohydrates.
- Red Mills Go Native Organic Herring with Carrot & Kale: This herring recipe is rated 4 stars with 34% carbohydrates.
- Red Mills Go Native Salmon with Spinach & Ginger: This salmon recipe is rated 4 stars and contains 32% carbohydrates.
It’s worth noting that the recipes have similar ratings, indicating a consistent quality across the product line.
In-Depth Recipe Review: Chicken With Potato & Broccoli
To provide a thorough evaluation, we’ll focus on the Red Mills Go Native Chicken With Potato & Broccoli recipe.
Nutrition Label Analysis
The guaranteed analysis on the nutrition label provides key insights into the food’s composition. For this recipe, we observed:
- Protein: 31%
- Fat: 20%
- Fiber: 2%
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 34% (calculated)
On a dry matter basis, the nutritional profile is:
| Nutrition | Our Ideal | Dry Value | Alignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 30% or more | 34% | Good |
| Fat | 15% or more | 22% | Good |
| Carbs | Less than 28% | 34% | Concern |
| Fiber | Less than 5% | 2.2% | Good |
While the protein and fat levels are excellent, the carbohydrate content is slightly higher than the ideal of less than 28%. However, it remains within a reasonable range for many dogs, especially compared to some other commercial dog foods.
Ingredient Overview
This recipe contains 25 listed ingredients. We’ve categorized them to highlight their quality and potential impact:
Prefer:
- Fresh Chicken: A high-quality, digestible animal protein source rich in essential nutrients.
- Dehydrated Chicken: A concentrated form of chicken, providing a substantial protein boost.
- Chicken Fat: A preferred fat source for dogs, offering essential fatty acids.
Concerned:
- Potato Starch: Often used as a filler in grain-free foods, it offers limited nutritional value.
- Pea Starch: Similar to potato starch, it’s a starchy filler with questionable nutritional benefits for dogs.
- Sodium Chloride (Salt): While enhancing flavor, excessive salt can be detrimental to a dog’s health.
- Yeast Extract: Its benefits are debated, and some dogs may experience allergies or bloating.
Notice:
- Hydrolysed Liver Protein: An unspecified animal protein source, the quality of which can be uncertain.
Neutral:
- Sweet Potato, Whole Linseed, Dried Seaweed, Dried Apple, Dried Spinach Powder, Dried Ginger Extract, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulphate, Alfalfa, Dried Blueberry, Dried Carrot, Dried Cranberry, Dried Marigold, Oregano, Dried Rose Hips, Turmeric, Yucca Schidigera.
These ingredients, while not problematic, are generally considered fillers or supplementary components that do not significantly detract from or enhance the overall nutritional value.
It’s important to note that this recipe appears to be free of common allergens like corn, soy, gluten, and dairy. However, the presence of potato starch and pea starch as carbohydrate sources in a grain-free formula is a common practice, though not always ideal.
Estimated Meat Content
The protein level alone doesn’t always indicate the quality or quantity of animal ingredients. In this recipe, out of the top 7 ingredients, 1 (14%) is a plant-based protein source, while the protein level on a dry matter basis is 34%. Based on this, the estimated meat content is considered medium to high, suggesting that a significant portion of the protein comes from animal sources.
Red Mills Go Native Dry Dog Food Product Line Review
Averaging across all five recipes, the Red Mills Go Native line offers approximately 34% protein, 23% fat, and 33% carbohydrates. While the carbohydrate content is slightly higher than ideal, the protein and fat levels are well within the preferred range.
Conclusion
Red Mills Go Native Dry Dog Food is a commendable choice for pet owners seeking a high-quality, above-average dry dog food. Its key strengths lie in its attractive protein and carbohydrate levels, the use of primarily animal-based major ingredients, and a medium to high estimated meat content. While some ingredients like potato starch and pea starch are present, they are common in grain-free formulations. The absence of common allergens further enhances its appeal.
Do we recommend Red Mills Go Native Dry Dog Food? Yes, it is a good quality, above-average pet food that we recommend.
This review reflects our own views and opinions, intended for informational reference only and not as a purchase recommendation. For specific dietary needs or health concerns, always consult with your veterinarian.
