Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
- Duck
- Duck Gizzard
- Duck Heart
- Duck Liver
Ingredients
Breed sizes
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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
Protein: 40%
Fat: 28%
Fiber: 6%
Moisture: 8%
Ash: 0%
Carb: 18%
Dry Matter Analysis
Protein: 43.48%
Fat: 30.43%
Fiber: 6.52%
Ash: 8%
Carb: 19.57%
Calorie Weighted Basis
Protein: 31.75%
Fat: 53.97%
Carb: 14.29%
Our Review
- Low carbohydrate content
- Freeze-dried food retains the nutritional value of raw meat
- Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
- 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
- Some dogs may be allergic to fish
Recall History
The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Vital Essentials since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.
| Date: | 07/08/2015 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Carnivore Meat Company, LLC |
| Product Description: | Pet Foods |
| Recall Reason: | Listeria monocytogenes |
| Date: | 01/15/2016 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Carnivore Meat Company, LLC |
| Product Description: | Frozen Chicken Patties Entree for Dogs |
| Recall Reason: | Potential for salmonella |
| Date: | 02/23/2018 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Carnivore Meat Company, LLC |
| Product Description: | Freeze-dried beef nibblets for dogs |
| Recall Reason: | Potential to be contaminated with Salmonella |
| Date: | 04/15/2018 |
|---|---|
| Company Name: | Carnivore Meat Company, LLC |
| Product Description: | Dog/pet food Freeze-Dried Beef Toppers and Frozen Beef Chub |
| Recall Reason: | Salmonella |
Ingredient Review
Our review of Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.
The first ingredient is Duck. Duck is meat from any member of the Anatidae waterfowl. In pet food, duck can serve as a primary protein source as well as a source of animal fat, minerals, and amino acids. It is sometimes used as a novel protein, and is often an ingredient in diets formulated specifically for pets with allergies.
The second ingredient is Duck Gizzard. Duck gizzard is an internal organ from any breed of duck. 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, duck gizzard is also a source of protein and amino acids.
The third ingredient is Duck Heart. Duck heart is meat from the muscles that form a duck’s heart. In pet food, duck heart can be a good source of protein, iron, and other important nutrients. It is sometimes used as a novel protein, and is often an ingredient in diets formulated specifically for pets with allergies.
The fourth ingredient is Duck Liver. Duck liver is one of a few organ meats that come from a duck. In pet food, duck liver serves as a source of protein, iron, and amino acids. It can be a source of novel protein in recipes formulated for pets with allergies.
The fifth ingredient is Herring Oil. Herring oil is derived from the boiled fatty tissue of herring fish. In pet food, herring oil is added as a source of Omega-3 essential fatty acids.
When we analyzed the ingredients in Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Entree 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
$2.86
Market Price avg.
$2.64
% From the Avg
+8%
Price per 100 kcal
Product Price
$2.28
Market Price avg.
$1.85
% From the Avg
+23%
Price per day
Product Price
$1.37
Market Price avg.
$1.11
% From the Avg
+23%
Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food is priced above the average market price for freeze-dried dog food.
Nutritional Analysis
Your adult dog needs a balance of macro and micronutrients to thrive. A food formulated for adult maintenance or all life stages is made to meet these needs. While there can be a lot of variation in actual calorie density, adult dog foods are generally intended to provide for basic calorie needs of the average active dog. In addition to satisfying their energy needs, these foods provide the protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, and other nutrients your adult dog needs to survive. Again, not all adult foods are the same, so you may have to search around for the right fit for your dog.
With that in mind, we’ve compared Vital Essentials Duck Mini Nibs Entree Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food to the other 239 freeze-dried dog food recipes in our database:
DM Protein
Product info
43.48%
All Products avg.
44.14%
% From the Avg
-1%
DM Fat
Product info
30.43%
All Products avg.
26.21%
% From the Avg
+16%
DM Fiber
Product info
6.52%
All Products avg.
4.66%
% From the Avg
+40%
DM Carb
Product info
19.57%
All Products avg.
24.71%
% From the Avg
-21%
Analysis Overview
Overall, this is a meat based food that’s moderate in protein with high fat and low carbohydrate content relative to other freeze-dried dog foods.
Disclaimer and Disclosure
At Pet Food Sherpa, our primary goal is to provide pet owners like you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about pet nutrition. As such, we do not accept gifts or incentives as motivation to include certain products in our reviews.
We do, however, participate in affiliate marketing programs and we partner with select brands to fund our site. We choose the products we review carefully and review them thoroughly before publishing a review or accepting any form of payment.
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