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Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Patties Entree Dog Food

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Patties Entree Dog Food
Company info
Company HQ
Green Bay, Wisconsin us-flag
Parent company
Carnivore Meat Company
Product info
Age Range: Adult
Food Form Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Cost per day: $1.13
Primary proteins
  • Beef
  • Beef Heart
  • Beef Liver
  • Beef Lung

Ingredients

Beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef lung, beef fat, beef stomach, beef kidney, herring oil, mixed tocopherols (preservative), vitamin E supplement, zinc amino acid complex, iron amino acid complex, copper amino acid complex, manganese amino acid complex.

Breed sizes

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

Overall Score

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59%

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 58%
? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 100%
? 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 52%
? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 75%
? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method %

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: 36%

Fat: 32%

Fiber: 8%

Moisture: 8%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 16%

Dry Matter Analysis

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Protein: 39.13%

Fat: 34.78%

Fiber: 8.7%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 17.39%

Calorie Weighted Basis

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Protein: 27.75%

Fat: 59.91%

Carb: 12.33%

Our Review

Pros
  • 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
Cons
  • Low protein content
  • 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.

Vital Essentials - Pet Foods (07/08/2015) -+
Date:07/08/2015
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Pet Foods
Recall Reason:Listeria monocytogenes
Vital Essentials - Frozen Chicken Patties Entree for Dogs (01/15/2016) -+
Date:01/15/2016
Company Name:Carnivore Meat Company, LLC
Product Description:Frozen Chicken Patties Entree for Dogs
Recall Reason:Potential for salmonella
Vital Essentials - Freeze-dried beef nibblets for dogs (02/23/2018) -+
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
Vital Essentials - Dog/pet food Freeze-Dried Beef Toppers and Frozen Beef Chub (04/15/2018) -+
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 Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Patties Entree Dog Food begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Beef. Beef is meat from any cattle breed. In pet food, beef can be fresh, freeze-dried, dehydrated, ground, or finely processed into beef meal.

The second ingredient is Beef Heart. Beef heart is muscle tissue from the heart of any cattle species. In pet food, beef heart serves as an excellent source of protein, iron, zinc, B vitamins, and many trace minerals to support your companion’s overall well-being.

The third ingredient is Beef Liver. Beef liver is organ meat from any cattle breed. The beef liver in pet food is a source of protein, iron, and many other essential nutrients.

The fourth ingredient is Beef Lung. Beef lung is lung tissue from cattle of any breed. In pet food, beef lung can be a good source of protein, iron, vitamin C, and other nutrients.

The fifth ingredient is Beef Fat. Beef fat is cooked, rendered fat from any breed of cattle. In pet food, beef fat is an inexpensive energy source and flavoring that can also help your companion absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

When we analyzed the ingredients in Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Patties Entree Dog Food, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per oz

Product Price

$2.57

Market Price avg.

$2.64

% From the Avg

-3%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$1.88

Market Price avg.

$1.85

% From the Avg

+2%

Price per day

Product Price

$1.13

Market Price avg.

$1.11

% From the Avg

+2%

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Patties Entree Dog Food is priced within 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 Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Patties Entree Dog Food to the other 239 freeze-dried dog food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

DM Protein

Product info

39.13%

All Products avg.

44.14%

% From the Avg

-11%

DM Fat

DM Fat

Product info

34.78%

All Products avg.

26.21%

% From the Avg

+33%

DM Fiber

DM Fiber

Product info

8.7%

All Products avg.

4.66%

% From the Avg

+87%

DM Carb

DM Carb

Product info

17.39%

All Products avg.

24.71%

% From the Avg

-30%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a meat based food that’s low 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.

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