Primal Dog Food Reviews, Recalls & Coupons for 2023

Meet Primal Dog Food

Primal is a premium raw food company that positions itself as an industry leader in the area of all-natural organic pet foods. They believe that dogs should eat in a way that closely mimics how they would if they were out in the wild.

The Primal dog food contains the highest quality ingredients and 100% edible-grade meats and certified organic produce.

The company refers to their food as “species-appropriate nutrition,” so everything they include in their food is put in there for a specific reason.

All the food gets made with fresh, antibiotic and steroid free muscle meat, organs, and bones without any added hormones.

Lastly, they do not use any pet-grade meats in any of their products. This means that you as a human would be able to eat this food and it would be considered healthy for you.

All of their protein gets naturally sourced from ranches in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.

Primal’s Quality Guarantee:

No grain, gluten, corn, wheat, soy, synthetic vitamins, steroids, hormones, antibiotics, or crates get used in the process of creating their food.

All the animals are grass fed, vegetable fed, wild caught, ethically raised, manufactured in the USA, human-edible, certified organic, and sustainably sourced.

Read on below for all the details that you need to know with our comprehensive Primal Dog Food Reviews.

Brand Quick Look

• Parent Company: None
• Founded in: 2000
• Made in: California USA
• Available at:  Local Retailers, and limited products available on Chewy, Amazon, Petsmart
• Types of Food: Raw, Freeze-Dried, Meaty Bones, Treats
• Real Meat in First 5 Ingredients? : Yes
• Recalled in Past? : Yes

Behind the Brand

The story of Primal Foods started in early 2000 when the founder Matt Koss saw that his dog was showing early signs of renal failure. He tried everything to help with this issue to no avail and decided it was time to take serious action.

He took his pup to a holistic veterinarian who recommended switching him to a diet of bones and raw food which closely mimics how his dog would eat in the wild.

It didn’t take long before he noticed Luna was not only eating better, but she showed signs of increased energy and overall quality of life. Once Matt saw these incredible results he felt like he had to share it with the world.

Matt set out to create a pet food brand focused on using only the best human-grade ingredients to feed our pets like they are a member of our family. Since then, Primal has changed the lives of pets and pet owners nationwide.

Primal Dog Food Reviews

1. Primal Pork Formula Nuggets
2. Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets
3. Primal Turkey & Sardine Formula Nuggets
4. Primal Lamb Formula Nuggets
5. Primal Duck Formula Nuggets
6. Primal Venison Nuggets
7. Primal Organic Chicken Nibs Jerky Dog Treats
8. Primal Beef Chips Jerky Dog Treats
9. Primal Turkey Liver Munchies Dog Treats

 

1. Primal Pork Formula Nuggets

First 5 ingredients: Pork Hearts, Ground Pork Bones, Pork Livers, Organic Kale, Organic Squash

Primal Pork Formula Nuggets is one of the complete meals from Primal’s balanced bases for dogs. The ingredients in this recipe are freeze-dried raw. This shelf-stable raw food is convenient to feed to dogs. Simply break the nuggets into your desired portion sizes, shred, and rehydrate with water, broth, or goat milk.

Primal Pork Formula Nuggets is high in protein at 39%. This convenient freeze-dried recipe has pork hearts as the most plentiful ingredient. This not only gives this freeze-dried dog food high-quality protein, but also a rich, savory flavor that dogs love. The high protein ratio helps dogs maintain lean and strong muscles. This is also ideal for dogs who need weight management.

The pork organs used come from ethically raised, crate-free pork that is free from added hormones, antibiotics, and steroids. This recipe has fresh ground pork bone for a natural source of calcium. Fresh pork is also a good source of amino and essential fatty acids.

Primal uses organic produce for food-derived nutrients needed by dogs. Primal Pork Formula Nuggets has organic collard greens, squash, and celery as the main sources of fiber and carbohydrates. It also has organic cranberries and blueberries that are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help strengthen the immune system.

Other organic superfoods such as apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and kelp among others are also included in this recipe for their numerous health benefits. These highly nutritious ingredients ensure complete and balanced nutrition without the need for artificial supplements. Vitamin E is the only supplement in this pork recipe.

This freeze-dried raw food is free from grains, gluten, corn, wheat, or soy. This makes Primal Pork Formula Nuggets less likely to cause allergic reactions in sensitive dogs. It also has no synthetic flavors, colors, preservatives, or supplements.

This versatile recipe is convenient to serve. The nuggets can be shredded or broken into your preferred sizes. It can be rehydrated with just water, or Primal’s bone broths or raw goat milk. Rehydrated Primal Freeze-dried Nuggets can be served on its own as meal or as a kibble topper.

According to feedback from pet parents, dogs seem to love Primal Pork Formula Nuggets. Lots of picky pups got their appetites back after they were served rehydrated portions of this recipe. Even older pups with less teeth get so excited for mealtimes and find this grain-free food easy to chew and digest.

Many dog parents purchase this for the high quality ingredients, and the fact that it is made in the US. Their dogs could not be happier with their owner’s purchase, and gobble up the rehydrated pieces.

If you are interested in switching your dog to a raw diet, Primal Pork Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food is a great way to start. It is not only tasty and made with organic ingredients, but it is also convenient to serve.

2. Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets

First 5 ingredients: Chicken (with ground bone), Chicken Livers, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Kale

Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets is another one of the brand’s balanced bases. They are called balanced bases as they are complete meals that can be served as a base for Primals meal boosters like bone broths, Edible Elixirs, and raw goat’s milk. These freeze-dried nuggets are a convenient way to serve raw meals to your pup.

Made of fresh chicken meat, chicken necks, chicken gizzards, and chicken liver, this grain-free recipe packs a lot of protein at 37%. These ingredients not only make Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets ideal for maintaining lean muscle mass, it also gives this recipe a rich and meaty flavor that dogs love.

Chicken is a highly digestible protein that many dogs prefer. This recipe also has finely ground chicken bones for optimum levels or calcium. The chicken used by Primal are free from steroids, added hormones, and antibiotics. You can be assured that you are feeding your pups only high-quality freeze-dried raw protein.

Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets is low in carbs, but high in fat. Aside from the fat present in chicken, salmon oil and organic coconut oil also contribute to its 37% fat content. These are highly nutritious fats that help promote healthy skin and coat in dogs.

Fresh organic produce make this recipe a complete and balanced meal. It has organic kale, carrots, and squash as the main sources of fiber and carbohydrates. Supplementing these veggies are other nutritious produce like broccoli, apples, cranberries, blueberries, pumpkin and sunflower seeds among others. These are rich in antioxidants that help boost the immune system

The nutrition packed natural ingredients make this freeze-dried meal complete and balanced without the need to add synthetic vitamins. As the fresh ingredients are not cooked, they are able to retain all of the nutrients.

Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets is ideal for many sensitive pups as it does not have the common allergy triggers like corn, wheat, or soy. It does not have any type of grain, and thus is also free from gluten. It contains no artificial enhancers such as flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Feedback for Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets has been mostly positive. Many pet parents credit this freeze-dried raw recipe for their pups’ overall good health. Even dogs who were previously sick have shown significant improvement in their health and energy levels since being switched to this food.

Others have commented that their dogs’ coats are so much silkier and glossier. This Primal Nuggets recipe has also been good for dogs’ digestion. Owners have remarked on the better stool quality of their dogs when fed this recipe.

However, some find Primal Nuggets a bit too costly. This is especially true for households with multiple dogs or large breed dogs. Many use this versatile recipe as a kibble-topper to save on food costs while still providing their pups with Primal’s many health benefits.

3. Primal Turkey & Sardine Formula Nuggets

First 5 ingredients: Turkey (with ground bone), Turkey Livers, Whole Sardines, Organic Squash, Organic Kale

Primal Turkey & Sardine Formula Nuggets is a convenient freeze-dried complete meal that features two sources of protein. This recipe is perfect for canine fish fans. It is rich in flavor and all the nutrients naturally found in its organic ingredients.

Primal Turkey & Sardine Formula Nuggets is very easy to prepare. If you want to put your dog on a raw food diet, but prefer easy feeding times, this may be the one for you. Simply break the nuggets into smaller pieces and rehydrate with water. You may also shred the nuggets if your dog prefers such texture. This turkey and sardine recipe pairs perfectly with Primal’s meal enhancers like bone broths, elixirs, and raw goat milk.

With fresh turkey as the main protein source, this recipe is rich in amino and essential fatty acids. Whole sardines are also included as a source of protein. Sardines are rich in omega 4 fatty acids that help dogs’ skin and coat health. Sardines also help promote joint health.

Aside from the flavor-packed sardines, turkey hearts or turkey gizzard, and turkey livers give this freeze-dried a rich and savory texture and flavor. All of these ingredients contribute to the 40% protein content of this recipe.

Compared to the chicken recipe, this turkey and sardine recipe is much lower in fat at 23%. It has no additional animal fat source. It has organic coconut oil that is a good source of short- and medium-chain fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin.

Like all of Primal’s freeze-dried nuggets, Primal Turkey & Sardine Formula Nuggets have fresh organic produce as sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and nutrients. It has organic collard greens and squash as the main sources of carbs and fiber. It also has antioxidant-rich blueberries, cranberries, ginger, and other nutritious fruits and veggies. These ingredients help strengthen the immune system.

This raw freeze-dried food has no grains, corn, wheat, or soy filler. It does not even have peas or potatoes that are common fillers for grain-free dog food. This Primal recipe is free from synthetic supplements, flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Numerous dog owners said that they buy Primal Turkey & Sardine Formula Nuggets because of the high quality ingredients and ease of preparation. As it is freeze-dried, pet parents are confident that they are feeding their dogs safe raw food that is free from harmful bacteria.

Many have also seen an improvement in their dogs’ overall health and energy levels. They attribute this improvement to the health benefits that Primal’s raw food are able to give to their pups.

Like other recipes from the brand, some find this turkey and sardine nuggets a bit too expensive. Some pet parents serve the rehydrated nuggets as a kibble topper to help save on food cost.

4. Primal Lamb Formula Nuggets

First 5 ingredients: Lamb Hearts, Ground Lamb Bones, Lamb Liver, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash

Primal Lamb Formula Nuggets is a highly nutritious raw dog food that has been freeze-dried for your convenience. It has all of the nutrients of a raw diet, without the short shelf life or risk of unwanted bacteria. This lamb recipe can be served on its own, or as a kibble-topper.

Primal Lamb Formula Nuggets has fresh lamb hearts and livers as the main protein source. These ingredients make up most of this recipe’s 39% protein content. They come from ethically raised lamb that is free from steroids, added hormones, and antibiotics.

The Lamb hearts and livers give this freeze-dried raw food a rich and delicious flavor that dogs love. Finely ground fresh lamb bones provide dogs with optimum levels of calcium. This lamb recipe has ideal levels of amino acids, essential fatty acids, and natural enzymes.

Salmon oil and organic coconut oil provide more essential fatty acids that help support dogs’ skin and coat health. Primal Lamb Formula Nuggets has fresh produce as sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and naturally derived nutrients. It has organic kale, carrots, squash, broccoli, cranberries, blueberries, and kelp among other nutritious superfoods.

This highly palatable lamb recipe is quite versatile. As it is nutritionally complete and balanced even without synthetic supplements, can be served on its own as a meal. Simply break into smaller pieces, shred and rehydrate with water. To save money, some stretch out the portions by serving it as a kibble-topper. This is perfectly fine as your dog can still have the multiple health benefits of raw food.

Primal also recommends rehydrating it with one of their Bowl Boosters. These are bone broths or raw goat’s milk. They also recommend adding Primal’s Edible Elixir. According to Primal, Edible Elixirs are aromatic whole-food toppers with specialized, functional ingredients that are targeted towards digestion, immunity, or joint health.

Primal Lamb Formula Nuggets is free from common allergy triggers such as wheat, corn, or soy. No synthetic supplements, flavors, colors, or preservatives are ever used. The fresh organic ingredients are freeze-dried raw for maximum nutrient retention.

Based on feedback from dog owners, Primal Lamb Formula Nuggets is quite gentle on sensitive stomachs. The dogs are able to keep the food down without upsetting their tummies or having loose stools.

Pet parents love it when their dogs lick their bowls clean when served with this lamb recipe. They are confident that they are feeding their pups only high-quality, nutritious food with Primal.

This peace of mind however, comes with a higher price compared to other commercially available dog food. Some find it more economical to give Primal Lamb Formula Nuggets as treats or meal toppers.

5. Primal Duck Formula Nuggets

First 5 ingredients: Duck (with ground bone), Duck Livers, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Cranberries

Primal Duck Formula Nuggets is a high-protein raw food that is shelf-stable and ready to serve. The freeze-dried raw nuggets are a breeze to serve. Simply shred the nuggets, rehydrate with water, and serve to your pup. It can be served on its own as a meal, or as a meal enhancer.

Made with antibiotic, hormone and steroid-free fresh duck meat and organs, Primal Duck Formula Nuggets provides high-quality protein for your dog’s muscle mass maintenance. At 42% protein, it has one of the highest protein content among Prima’s freeze-dried nuggets recipes.

The duck meat and organs not just give much needed protein, but also provides a lot of flavor to this recipe. Finely ground fresh duck bones give optimum levels of calcium.

Aside from the fat naturally present in duck meat, salmon oil and organic coconut oil make up Primal Duck Formula Nuggets’ 30% fat content. These healthy fats are excellent sources of omega fatty acids, as well as short- and medium-chain fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin.

Organic kale is this recipe’s main source of carbs, which is a relatively low-carb vegetable. It is followed by organic carrots, squash, apples, broccoli, blueberries, and cranberries among others. These superfoods are rich in antioxidants that promote a healthy immune system. This duck recipe also has apple cider vinegar which has multiple health benefits.

This raw freeze-dried food has no grains, corn, wheat, or soy filler. It is less likely to trigger allergic reactions in sensitive dogs. This Primal recipe is free from synthetic supplements, flavors, colors, or preservatives.

One of Primal’s highest rated dog food, Primal Duck Formula Nuggets is truly a crowd-pleaser. This grain-free duck recipe is enjoyed by many dogs. Duck is one of the most flavorful proteins and it is no surprise that a lot of pups love this raw duck recipe.

A lot of pet parents love seeing their dogs enjoying such a highly nutritious meal like this freeze-dried raw recipe. Many credit their dogs’ overall better health to this Primal Nuggets recipe.

However, as it is quite expensive, some are unable to feed it to their dogs regularly as full meals. Others opt to serve it as a meal topper, so their dogs can still get the health benefits of a raw diet without having to spend more.

6. Primal Venison Nuggets

Frist 5 ingredients: Venison, Venison Hearts, Ground Venison Bones, Venison Livers, Organic Pumpkin Seeds

Primal Venison Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food is a nutritionally complete raw meal for dogs that is conveniently freeze-dried. Made of raw venison, this ultra high-protein dog food combines the nutrition of a raw diet with the convenience of ready to serve food.

Primal Venison Nuggets have the highest protein content out of the entire freeze-dried range. At 59% protein, it is guaranteed to help your dog keep a leaner muscle mass. This recipe definitely mimics dogs’ ancestral diet.

Made with venison meat and organs that are free from antibiotics, steroids, and added hormones, you can rest assured that your pup gets only high-quality protein in every serving. It has finely ground fresh venison bones for optimum calcium supplementation.

Sardine oil and organic coconut oil also contribute to its 28% fat content. These healthy fats are excellent sources of omega fatty acids, as well as short- and medium-chain fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat.

Primal Venison Nuggets have fresh organic produce as sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and nutrients. It has organic collard greens and squash as the main sources of carbs and fiber. It also has antioxidant-rich celery, blueberries, cranberries, kelp, and other nutritious fruits and veggies. These ingredients help strengthen the immune system.

This freeze-dried raw venison recipe is free from grains, gluten, corn, wheat, or soy. This makes this Primal formula less likely to cause allergic reactions in sensitive dogs. It also has no synthetic flavors, colors, preservatives, or supplements.

Because the fresh ingredients are freeze-dried uncooked, there is no need to use synthetic supplements as the food is able to retain all of its natural nutrients. Primal Venison Nuggets are also easy to prepare. Simply break into smaller pieces, shred, and rehydrate with water. You can also use Primal’s Bone Broth or Raw Goat Milk to rehydrate the food.

Reviews for Primal Venison Nuggets have been mostly positive. Like other Primal Freeze-dried recipes, pet parents purchase this product for the quality of the ingredients and the convenience it offers. It is a lot quicker to prepare than frozen raw food.

However, some owners find the venison nuggets much tougher to break into pieces compared to other Primal recipes. While numerous dogs seem to like its flavor, a few prefer other proteins over venison.

7. Primal Organic Chicken Nibs Jerky Dog Treats

Primal Organic Chicken Nibs Treats are slow-cooked moist pieces of chicken goodness that can be enjoyed by dogs and cats alike These bite-sized treats get their appetizing flavor and texture from low-temperature, slow cooking techniques. If your dog prefers moist and chewy treats, these nibs could be the one for him.

The complete list of ingredients of these chewy chicken treats include organic chicken, organic honey, and sea salt.

Primal Organic Chicken Nibs is high in protein at 38%. With a clean ingredient list that does not have any fillers, treat time can be both healthy and tasty. Its bite sized pieces make it perfect as training rewards.

It has no grains, gluten, corn, soy, or artificial enhancers such as colors, flavors, and preservatives. This makes it perfect for dogs who are prone to reactions caused by these common allergy triggers.

As Primal Organic Chicken Nibs are high in protein, many pet owners enjoy giving their pups more of this chewy treat. They are ideal for dogs who are on a low-carb diet, or those under weight management.

However, some owners find the 14-day refrigerated shelf life of this product to be too short. Households with single smaller breed dogs may not be able to consume all of the 4-oz bag’s contents within 2 weeks.

8. Primal Beef Chips Jerky Dog Treats

Primal Beef Chips Jerky Dog Treats meaty dog treats that are moist and chewy. Made of slow-cooked beef hearts, these treats are not only packed with flavor, but also highly nutritious. It is perfect as a training reward or a light and chewy snack.

The complete list of ingredients of these grain-free dog treats include beef heart, honey, and sea salt.

This beef heart snack is high in protein at 46%. Primal Beef Chips Jerky Dog Treats get their appetizing flavor and texture from low-temperature slow cooking techniques. This also helps retain all of its natural nutrients.

Primal Beef Chips Jerky Dog Treats are made with USDA beef that is ethically raised without antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones. It contains no grains, corn, or wheat. These tasty treats are ideal for sensitive pups as it is a limited-ingredient food product.

Dogs absolutely love these beefy Primal treats. It has even passed the strict standards of some picky pups. However, this is another product from Primal with a shelf life that is too short for some.

It is recommended that Primal Beef Chips Jerky Dog Treats be kept refrigerated and consumed within 14 days from opening.

9. Primal Turkey Liver Munchies Freeze-Dried Dog Treats

Primal Turkey Liver Munchies Freeze-Dried Treats are grain-free treats for both dogs and cats. These treats are crunchy and packed with flavor.This single-source protein product is made from turkey raised in the US without antibiotics or added hormones.

With no other ingredient aside from freeze-fried turkey liver, Primal Turkey Liver Munchies Freeze-Dried Treats is very high in protein at 76%. It is also quite low in fat at 11%. These turkey liver munchies get their concentrated meaty flavor and high-density nutrition from the low-temperature freeze-drying technique.

This crunchy turkey liver treat is perfect for dogs with allergies as it has only one ingredient. It is free from grains, gluten, corn, soy, as well as artificial enhancers such as flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Dogs just love munching on these Primal Turkey Liver Munchies Freeze-Dried Treats. They enjoy the rich liver flavor and its crunchy texture. The pieces can be easily broken into small ones if you wish to give them as training rewards.

Pet parents love that it is made with only turkey liver and nothing else. They feel confident giving their pups this high-protein treat as it is absolutely free from any questionable ingredients.

What Types of Dog Food Does Primal Foods Offer?

Primal offers a seemingly endless array of raw products for your dogs to enjoy. We are amazed by the number of offerings this company has from freeze-dried foods to bones and even goat milk. Primal displays passion for what they do and they care about sourcing and providing only the best for your pups.

Primal Nuggets

The nuggets come from their complete formula line which is meant to be as close to simple dog food as possible. Your dog's whole nutrition comes from feeding them this one type of food, so it's simple and easy for busy dog owners.

The food also comes pre-portioned, so you don’t have to think about chopping or portioning anything out. These nuggets also come in an endless amount of variety so jump aboard.

• Chicken
• Beef
• Duck
• Lamb
• Pheasant
• Pork
• Rabbit
• Turkey and Sardine
• Venison
• Quail

Let’s take a more in-depth look into the rabbit formula for example. Primal’s goal is to make sure that all of their food contains real muscle meat as the first ingredient with supplemental organs and vegetables to follow. The rabbit formula succeeds in doing that with the first five ingredients being: Rabbit, organic collard greens, organic squash, organic celery, and rabbit livers.

As you dive deeper down the list of ingredients, they do not get worse like a lot of pet foods; there is nothing that sounds like a chemical or anything unhealthy at all, and we are seriously impressed by this dog food.

 

Primal Pronto Scoop and Serve

The primal pronto line is also part of the complete formula, and it looks like dry dog food, but it’s frozen, thawed, and served. Similar to the rest of Primal foods, it contains all-natural human-grade ingredients and comes with plenty of nutritional information to make you feel good about your decision to go raw.

We like this option because it mimics dry food so if you’re trying to transition your pup away from hard food and they are giving you a tough time this might be the best option for you. The food only comes in a four-pound bag though, but if you are feeding your pup a more balanced and nutritious diet, they shouldn't have to eat as much.

Here’s a list of flavors and options:

• Beef
• Turkey and Sardine
• Pork
• Lamb
• Duck
• Chicken

Let’s take a closer look at the pork formula for example. This food provides a wholly balanced raw diet for your dog so you could feed them this food alone and they would receive all the protein, fat, fiber, and carbs they need to live a healthy life.

With every food you look at your get a guaranteed analysis breakdown of the nutrients in each food. This one contains 13% protein, 7% fat, 1% fiber, and .2% carbs. We like to see more fiber in our dog's diets because most hard food contains between 3-6% fiber, so that's a little disappointing, but you could always supplement something in or choose a different formula.

Starter Packs

There is limited information available online about what a starter pack is but mostly it's a trial pack that contains a few different flavor nuggets so your pup can try it before you buy it. The canine starter pack comes with a beef, chicken, pork, and turkey/sardine nugget to try. That is all the information we could find on the company website.

Bone Broth

Primal recommends adding bone broth to your dog's diet because it adds necessary moisture, digestion support, and joint support to their regular diet. You can add it into your commercial food or supplement it alongside some of Primals offerings. Bone broth is a great way to help ensure your pet is always hydrated and healthy .

Here are some of the flavors they offer:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Pork
• Turkey

Let’s take a look at the beef bone broth. There isn’t any information about the extracting and preparation process behind the creation of this bone broth, but we would assume it happens through boiling the boils and sifting out any imperfections.

In addition to regular beef bones, the broth contains a variety of vegetables like squash, bok choy, and celery. The bone broth gets sold frozen at local retailers, and they recommend thawing it when you are about to use it and introducing bone broth slowly to their diet. It comes in an easy to pour, resealable pouch.

Raw Goat Milk

According to Primal, goat milk is known as the “universal milk” because it’s rich in vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, trace elements, enzymes, proteins, and fatty acids. All of the milk is sourced ethically and humanely from free-range goats and can get fed to dogs in every stage of life.

They recommend adding goat milk as supplementary nutrition to your dog's already healthy diet.

Raw Frozen Mixes

This food blend is intended for use as a supplement you can add to your dog's diet. They come frozen in a long block similar to ground beef or sausage that you would buy at a grocery store, and they recommend mixing it in with commercial pet food to help add more nutritional value to the food. It comes in some of the following flavors:

• Lamb
• Sardine
• Chicken
• Beef

Raw Meaty Bones

Upon first glance, these bones appear to be raw pieces of meat, so they look a bit intimidating, but Primal says they are useful for tooth, gum, and jaw health in canines. They are rich in calcium and are great as an extra treat every once in a while. They come in the following options:

• Chicken Necks
• Turkey Necks
• Chicken Backs

Let’s take a more in-depth look at the turkey neck option. These necks look exactly like what you would pull out of the turkey at Thanksgiving (because they are). Primal says your dog can completely consume the bone because they are soft and they do not splinter and become sharp. They do recommend your dog only eats these when supervised though.

Recreational Bones

These bones look more like the typical dog bones you would buy from the pet store, and they are not intended to get consumed completely. Instead, your dog would chew on them and receive all the nutritional benefits from the meat on the bone, and you would discard the inner bone.

These provide necessary exercise to your dog's jaw, and they help massage their gums and clean their teeth. They come in a wide variety of different sizes, flavors, and shapes for your pup.

Treats

Primal offers nutritional treats that contain all the best ingredients as their food does. They prepare these treats using low-temperature, slow cooking techniques, so all of the nutritional value remains even when the food is freeze-dried.

They recommend using the treats as a healthy alternative to processed treats and for obedience training rewards. They come in some of the following flavors:

• Turkey Liver
• Jerky Pork Nibs
• Organic Chicken Nibs
• Beef Nibs
• Chicken Chips
• Dry Roasted Venison Lung
• Dry Roasted Buffalo Liver

Primal Recall History List:

Since Primal’s founding in 2000, there have been three recalls. Here they are in reverse chronological order.

• December 2017 – Primal recalls freeze dried chicken, duck, and turkey formula for ground bone sizes being too large in the food.
• March 2015 – Primal recalls a raw turkey formula for low thiamine levels.
• May 2011 – Primal recalls chicken and salmon formula and chicken and salmon nuggets for possible salmonella contamination.

Customer Reviews

Primal products have a limited availability online, so we were only able to find reviews on Chewy.com of a specific freeze-dried nugget product. There are also many testimonials available on their website, but there is no validity to those reviews. Here are some real-life reviews of what customers think of Primal Foods.

Positive

It’s a hit!  – One of my two dogs has allergies. I've switched his food several times. This is one of the only dog foods which does not make him itch. When switching their food, I did it gradually. I would offer the kibble they were coming off of in the morning and this in the evening. It was evident that they enjoyed the taste of this food much more than their current variety. So glad to have found this product! – Chewy Customer

Premium stuff  – This is good stuff. I crush up 2 or 3 blocks and mix with kibble and add warm water. My lab likes it a lot and does well on it. I feel good about the quality. However, even using such a small quantity, a $30 bag lasts a little over a week.. which is extravagant. I will have to find an alternative and use this more sparingly. – Chewy Customer

Negative

Not what I thought it would be – I have always purchased the frozen variety and thought this would be a better option. It seems to take forever to get the nuggets to soak in the water. I'm going back to the frozen ones at my local pet store. More expensive, but less hassle. – Chewy Customer

Time-consuming and does not readily absorb liquid – My dog didn't like this as well as the frozen. It's a lot of extra work to cut it up small enough to get it to absorb the liquid. Then I had to squeeze the liquid into it and leave it overnight. Good for traveling but inferior to frozen. – Chewy Customer

Is primal dog food good for dogs?

It is excellent quality, and dogs love the taste. They also have treats, and my dogs are fans of those as well. Primal is an amazing company with high CLEAN products.

What is primal dog food?

Primal Formulas are produced using only the freshest, 100% human-grade ingredients. Our poultry, meat and game are antibiotic and steroid free without added hormones. We incorporate certified organic produce, certified organic minerals and unrefined vitamins to fortify our complete and balanced diets.

Is primal dog food human grade?

Primal produces both complete diets and mixes and grinds that require the owner to add their own ingredients to the food to make it complete. These formulas have fresh, 100 percent human grade ingredients. The poultry, meat, and game are antibiotic and steroid-free, with no added hormones.

Is Primal Raw Dog Food Safe?

Yes. They simply cook their food and use heat as a kill step against pathogens. They meet the same FDA safety standards as the can and kibble guys do, while also maintaining the nutritional value of a raw food diet.