freely Dog Food Review (Wet)

freely wet product range is made up of two recipes, one of which receives the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars, the other is unrated because our review methodology favors dog foods rich in meat. Judging a plant-based diet against this criteria would always give a lower rating.

It is worth noting that studies of plant-based diets for dogs are showing some great results, as well as providing preferable options for many dogs with allergies or those wanting to choose more environmentally sustainable options.

This range of food offers both meat and vegetarian based options. Both formulas include added taurine to help support heart health and antioxidant vitamins to support the immune system.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

freely Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Lamb Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is lamb. Lamb is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” lamb and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. ¹.

Lamb is naturally rich in all 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most wet dog foods. 

The third ingredient is lamb liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The fourth ingredient is peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The fifth ingredient is sunflower oil which is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3s, they’re 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, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.

The sixth ingredient is natural flavors. Natural flavors doesn’t give us much information about the particular ingredients included in this dog food for flavoring purposes. 

We’re pleased that the flavorings used are natural, but more details are required to give any further information about these natural flavoring ingredients. Flavorings are used to make the foods more appealing and tasty for our dogs.

The seventh ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.

The eighth ingredient is salmon oil. Salmon 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, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

The ninth ingredient is potassium chloride, a nutritional supplement sometimes used as a replacement for the sodium found in table salt.

This recipe has three notable exceptions. 

Taurine is an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

We view the presence of Taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.

Next, chicory root. Chicory is rich in a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

In addition, this food includes 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, freely Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Lamb Recipe looks like an above-average wet product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 45.5%, a fat level of 27.3% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 19.3%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 38.6% and a mean fat level of 19.3%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 48%.

This means this freely dog food contains near-average protein, higher than average carbohydrate and below-average fat when compared to typical wet dog food.

Freely Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Freely through February 2025.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of freely Dog Food

This range of food includes both a meat and a vegetarian option. Both options contain quality ingredients and provide a good diet option depending on your dog’s needs.

Highly Recommended

About

Reed Howlett founded Freely Pet, LLC in 2020. Prior to this, Howlett served as the CEO of Nature’s Variety, another pet food company.

freely Pet, LLC is based in Brentwood, Missouri, and is a privately held entity. The company sources ingredients for its dog food from around the world, and all of its products are manufactured in the United States.

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