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Stella & Chewy’s Lil’ Bites Chicken Little Recipe Small Breed Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

Stella & Chewy's Lil' Bites Chicken Little Recipe Small Breed Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
Company info
Company HQ
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Parent company
Stella and Chewy’s LLC
Product info
Age Range: Adult
Food Form Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Cost per day: $1.52
Primary proteins
  • Chicken With Ground Bone
  • Chicken Liver
  • Chicken Gizzard

Ingredients

Chicken With Ground Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, Pumpkin Seed, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Blueberries, Coconut Flour, Turmeric, Chia Seed, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherols (Preservative), Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid.

Breed sizes

size-1 Toy
size-2 Small
size-3 Medium
size-4 Large
size-5 Giant

Overall Score

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61%

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 81%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 73%
? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 25%
? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 25%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 88%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 0%
? Based on the variety of sizes available. Size Variety 83%

Estimated Nutrient Content

To understand the nutrient content of pet food, we visualize its macronutrient composition in three ways. In the charts below, you’ll see a guaranteed analysis on an as-fed basis, a dry matter analysis, and a breakdown of the food’s macronutrients on a calorie-weighted basis.

Remember that all of these values are estimates based on the guaranteed analysis published by the company, and the food’s actual nutrient values may be slightly different.

Guaranteed Analysis

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Protein: 48%

Fat: 29%

Fiber: 5%

Moisture: 5%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 13%

Dry Matter Analysis

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Protein: 50.53%

Fat: 30.53%

Fiber: 5.26%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 13.68%

Calorie Weighted Basis

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Protein: 36.52%

Fat: 53.59%

Carb: 9.89%

Our Review

Pros
  • Low carbohydrate content
  • Freeze-dried food retains the nutritional value of raw meat
  • Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
  • Contains dried kelp as a natural source of essential nutrients
  • Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
  • Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
Cons
  • Low in moisture
  • Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
  • Freeze dried dog food requires rehydration, which is time-consuming
  • The brand has had multiple recalls over recent years

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Stella & Chewy's since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Stella & Chewy's - Dog and cat food (07/02/2015) -+
Date: 07/02/2015
Company Name: Stella & Chewy's
Product Description: Dog and cat food
Recall Reason: Listeria monocytogenes
Stella & Chewy's - Frozen pet foods (12/11/2015) -+
Date: 12/11/2015
Company Name: Stella & Chewy's
Product Description: Frozen pet foods
Recall Reason: Potential for listeria
Stella & Chewy's - Stella & Chewy's Raw Blend, Kibble + Wholesome Grains Red Meat Recipe, with Pumpkin & Quinoa (10/14/2020) -+
Date: 10/14/2020
Company Name: Stella & Chewy's
Product Description: Stella & Chewy's Raw Blend, Kibble + Wholesome Grains Red Meat Recipe, with Pumpkin & Quinoa
Recall Reason: Dog food has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Ingredient Review

Our review of Stella & Chewy's Lil' Bites Chicken Little Recipe Small Breed Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Chicken With Ground Bone. Chicken with ground bone is milled chicken meat with the bones ground in. This isn’t something we humans would find appealing but in pet food, chicken with ground bone can be a valuable source of protein, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to support your furry friend’s overall well-being.

The second ingredient is Chicken Liver. Chicken liver is one of a few organ meats that come from a chicken. In pet food, chicken liver serves as a source of protein, iron, and amino acids.

The third ingredient is Chicken Gizzard. Chicken gizzard is an internal organ from a chicken. While this might not sound appealing to most of us, it is rich in a number of essential nutrients including iron and zinc. Added to pet food, chicken gizzard is also a source of protein and amino acids.

The fourth ingredient is Pumpkin Seed. Pumpkin seeds are flat, oval, protein-rich seeds from inside of any variety of pumpkin. It’s not common to find pumpkin seed in pet food but when they are part of a recipe, they can increase protein content, add healthy fat, and provide plenty of important vitamins and minerals.

The fifth ingredient is Organic Cranberries. Organic cranberries are the fruit of the cranberry plant, grown without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. In pet food, organic cranberries double as a source of healthy fiber and important antioxidants. Organic cranberries are high in vitamins A and C, plus they’re a good source of potassium.

When we analyzed the ingredients in Stella & Chewy's Lil' Bites Chicken Little Recipe Small Breed Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per oz

Product Price

$3.28

Market Price avg.

$2.65

% From the Avg

+24%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$2.53

Market Price avg.

$1.80

% From the Avg

+41%

Price per day

Product Price

$1.52

Market Price avg.

$1.08

% From the Avg

+41%

Stella & Chewy's Lil' Bites Chicken Little Recipe Small Breed Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food is priced well above the average market price for freeze-dried dog food.

Nutritional Analysis

Because smaller dogs have higher metabolisms compared to their medium, large, and giant cousins, foods made for small breeds may have higher calorie density. Small dog breed foods also often have smaller kibble size for their smaller mouths.

With that in mind, we’ve compared Stella & Chewy's Lil' Bites Chicken Little Recipe Small Breed Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food to the other 156 freeze-dried dog food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

DM Protein

Product info

50.53%

All Products avg.

45.03%

% From the Avg

+12%

DM Fat

DM Fat

Product info

30.53%

All Products avg.

27.3%

% From the Avg

+12%

DM Fiber

DM Fiber

Product info

5.26%

All Products avg.

4.24%

% From the Avg

+24%

DM Carb

DM Carb

Product info

13.68%

All Products avg.

23.05%

% From the Avg

-41%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a meat based food that’s high in protein with high fat and low carbohydrate content relative to other freeze-dried dog foods.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

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