Highly Recommended
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.
Our Verdict
Freshpet Vital Grain Free product range is made up of four recipes with ratings varying from 4.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5 stars.
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.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Freshpet Vital Grain Free Chicken, Beef, Salmon and Egg | 5 | A |
| Freshpet Vital Complete Meals Small Breed Grain Free Chicken | 4.5 | A |
| Freshpet Vital Large Breed Chicken, Beef, Egg and Salmon | 5 | A |
| Freshpet Vital Grain Free Beef | 4.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Freshpet Vital Complete Meals Small Breed Grain Free Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Freshpet Vital Grain Free Small Breed Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, pea protein, eggs, cranberries, natural flavors, pea fiber, vinegar, salt, dicalcium phosphate, spinach, potassium chloride, inulin, fish oil, beta-carotene, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium lodate), celery powder, vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, riboflavin, biotin, calcium pantothenate, niacin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 16% | 12% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 43% | 32% | 16% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 57% | 12% |
Ingredients 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”.1
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 that’s 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 three 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, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s 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 44.9% and a mean fat level of 31.1%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 16.1% 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.
Freshpet Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Freshpet through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Freshpet Vital Grain Free 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.
Compare Freshpet Vital Dog Food
How does Freshpet Vital 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.
