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Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food Review (Pouch)
Home Reviews Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food Review (Pouch)
Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food Review (Pouch)
By Mike Sagman
Updated: March 8, 2024
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All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Latest Update May Not Be CurrentUnable to Locate FDA-Compliant LabelData on Company Website1
Review of Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food in Pouches
Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food in pouches receives the Advisors top rating of 5 stars.
The Freshpet Vital Grain Free product line includes the 3 pouched dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Freshpet Vital Grain Free Small Breed Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Freshpet Vital Grain Free Small Breed Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Chicken, chicken liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, pea protein, eggs, cranberries, natural flavors, pea fiber, vinegar, dicalcium phosphate, salt, spinach, potassium chloride, inulin, fish oil, beta-carotene, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), celery powder, vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, biotin, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Guaranteed Analysis | 16% | 12% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 43% | 32% | 16% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 57% | 12% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Chicken is considered the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken.2
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The third ingredient includes carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fourth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The next ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The sixth ingredient lists eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The seventh ingredient includes cranberries, a nutrient-rich fruit thats also high in fiber.
After the natural flavors, we find pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.
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 Freshpet product.
With 3 notable exceptions
First, we find inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.
Next, 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.
And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on the ingredients alone, Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food looks like an above-average moist product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 43%, a fat level of 32% and estimated carbohydrates of about 16%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 43% and a mean fat level of 30%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 19% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 70%.
Which means this Freshpet product line contains
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical moist dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the pea protein, this looks like the profile of a dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
However, with 57% of the total calories in our example coming from fat versus just 31% from protein, some recipes may not be suitable for every animal.
Our Rating of Freshpet Vital Grain Free Pouched Dog Food
Freshpet Vital Grain Free is a moist dog food using a significant amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Has Freshpet Brand Dog Food Been Recalled?
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 related to Freshpet.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Freshpet Brand Reviews
The following Freshpet dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
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A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food Review (Refrigerated Rolls)
Home Reviews Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food Review (Refrigerated Rolls)
Freshpet Vital Grain Free Dog Food Review (Refrigerated Rolls)
By Mike Sagman
Updated: March 21, 2024
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Which Freshpet Vital Grain Free Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Freshpet Vital Grain Free rolled dog food receives the Advisors second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.
The Freshpet Vital Grain Free product line includes the 8 rolled dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Freshpet Vital Grain-Free Ocean Whitefish & Salmon Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Freshpet Vital Grain-Free Ocean Whitefish & Salmon Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ocean whitefish, fish broth, salmon, spinach, cranberries, blueberries, sweet potatoes, pea protein, sunflower oil, lentils, carrageenan, natural flavors, celery powder, salt, potassium chloride, inulin, paprika,choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin, biotin, calcium pantothenate, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid,dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Guaranteed Analysis | 9% | 4% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 41% | 16% | 35% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 36% | 34% | 31% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is ocean whitefish. Ocean fish, this item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.1
Unfortunately, the phrase ocean fish is vague and does little to adequately describe this ingredient. Since some fish are higher in omega-3 fats than others, its impossible for us to judge the quality of this item.
In any case, fish meat is naturally rich in the eleven essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is fish broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many canned products.
The third ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient includes spinach. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, spinach exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score2 of 91..
The fifth ingredient lists cranberries, a nutrient-rich fruit thats also high in fiber.
The sixth ingredient is blueberries. Blueberries are a good source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The eighth ingredient includes pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
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 Freshpet product.
With 5 notable exceptions
First, we find sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, theyre considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, its impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
Next, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.
In addition, carrageenan is a gelatin-like thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Although carrageenan has been used as a food additive for hundreds of years, there appears to be some recent controversy regarding its long term biological safety.
The article, The Carrageenan Controversy, published in Scientific American, does a good job of addressing this topic.
Next, this recipe includes sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Freshpet Vital Grain Free dog food rolls appears to be an above-average refrigerated product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 40.9%, a fat level of 15.9% and estimated carbohydrates of about 35.2%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 41% and a mean fat level of 28.5%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 22.6% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 70%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical refrigerated dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the lentils and pea protein, this still looks like the profile of a rolled dog food containing a notable amount of meat.
Our Rating of Freshpet Vital Grain Free Refrigerated Dog Food Rolls
Freshpet Vital is a grain-free moisture-rich dog food using a notable amount of named meats as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Highly recommended.
Freshpet Vital Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Freshpet through April.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Get Free Recall Alerts
Get free dog food recall alerts sent to you by email. Subscribe to The Advisors recall notification list.
More Freshpet Brand Reviews
The following Freshpet dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
Compare This Dog Food
How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
