Walmart’s Vibrant Life Dog Food Review 2024: Is it Good For Your Pups?

You’ve probably seen packages of Vibrant Life dog food as you walk through the pet supplies aisle of your local Walmart shop.

The affordable price tag may have caught your attention as well as the brightly-colored packages. It looks nice, the price point is excellent, but you wonder if it’s good enough for your pup.

We’d like to know too. So we decided to take a closer look at its products. This Vibrant Life dog food review will delve deeply into the brand’s products and formulas to give you a better idea whether its foods are right for your dog.

Who Makes This Brand?

Vibrant Life Dog Food is made by Walmart and is a relatively new brand in the pet food market.  Well, not that new.

The range landed on shelves way back in 2018 but it still has not quite achieved the popularity of other brands. The reason is that Vibrant Life’s pet products are exclusively sold in Walmart and nowhere else. 

It prides itself on being a low cost brand that provides healthy nutrition for dogs without breaking the bank. All Vibrant Life products (pet food) contain grains as the brand focuses on them as its main source of carbohydrates for its formulations.

There is little information to be had about the brand itself, its manufacturing process, or where it sources the ingredients. It doesn’t have its own website, so the only details we can glean about Vibrant Life is through each dog food product we review.

 

Vibrant Life Dog Food Review

1. Chicken & Rice

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Brewers Rice, Soybean Meal, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine), Wheat Mill Run

Guaranteed Analysis:

This recipe is crafted by Vibrant Life for adult dogs of all sizes and breeds. Like all dog food recipes by the brand, it has a meat-first formulation with chicken in the starring role.

The protein is at a nice level at 26%. However, there are too many grains in this food with the total number of carbohydrates overwhelming the protein. 

150 Walmart customers gave this dry food a combined rating of 4.7 out of 5. Many dog owners love the reasonable pricing of the formulation compared to comparable recipes of other dog food brands.

Several have also mentioned that their allergy prone pooches took well to this food and even gained weight in the process. 

As for negative ratings, there are a few customers that complained their pups did not like the flavor. And several have mentioned that the meal can be hard to find since it is constantly out of stock.

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2. Small Breed Chicken, Brown Rice & Sweet Potato

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Brewers Rice, Soybean Meal, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice

Guaranteed Analysis:

Smaller breed dogs need kibbles made specifically for their needs, not only nutrition-wise but also in other aspects like kibble size. The small size of the kibbles here are perfect for the little mouths of small breeds, enabling better chewing and digestion. 

The l-carnitine in this Vibrant Life dog food is a welcome inclusion.  This particular amino acid is essential in turning fat into usable energy and supporting heart health. (Certain small breeds are predisposed towards heart disease.)

We can’t find any customer review for this dog food recipe for the reason that it is almost always unavailable. However, if we base our rating on the ingredients we’d give it a 3 out of 5 score.

While meat is the first ingredient, if you combine all of the carbs together, they will still overwhelm the amount of animal protein in the meal.

We do give positive marks to the dry food for the non-inclusion of toxic or harmful ingredients. You won’t find artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors here, nor carrageenan.

While the grains used may not be of premium quality, the food’s overall positive nutritional value is excellent.

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3. Beef & Rice

First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Brewers Rice, Soybean Meal, Chicken Meal, Wheat Mill Run

Guaranteed Analysis:

Vibrant Life’s beef and rice flavored meal is perfect for red meat-loving canines. It is specifically formulated for adult dogs and is led by a premium meat ingredient — fresh beef. It has a nutrient profile that is above average and more than the minimum required by the AAFCO. 

The ratings of 102 customers gave this pet food recipe an average score of 4.6 out of 5. Several of the reviewers were happy that their dogs loved the taste, even the normally picky ones.

Some mentioned that it’s the only thing that didn’t make their pups sick (sensitive stomachs or skin), while a few others found that the food helped in giving their pets soft and shiny fur. 

Most agreed that the recipe is a cost effective option for pet owners who want something nutritious but can’t afford the heavy price tag. Only a few gave it a low score, mostly for not containing enough information about the source of ingredients.

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4. Chicken, Oatmeal & Egg

First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Brewers Rice, Soybean Meal, Chicken Meal, Wheat Mill Run

Guaranteed Analysis:

This puppy food offers little canines the nutrition and energy they need for their developing bodies. The protein level is a little higher than those for adult dogs but just right for a small dog’s diet because it provides all the fuel required for active play.

We welcome the inclusion of DHA in the food. It’s an omega-3 fatty acid that is important for your pup’s neural development, playing a vital role in his central nervous system and retinal functions.

So far there are only two reviews on this Vibrant Life dog food, which has garnered a low average rating of 2 stars out of 5 quite unfairly.

A three-star rating comes from a customer who wants the product to have more size options. According to her, the ingredients look pretty good for a store brand puppy food but it needs to come in bigger sizes because she prefers to buy in bulk.

The other customer rated the dog food a one star but did not state why.

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5. Country Chicken and Vegetable Stew

First 5 Ingredients: Water Sufficient for Processing, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Meat By-products, Wheat Gluten

Guaranteed Analysis:

This wet dog food recipe provides canines with the traditional taste of chicken but with healthy vegetables mixed in. It’s a formula that’s nutritionally balanced to provide all the needs of dogs of all life stages. 

It’s meat rich, having three kinds of animal protein in the first five ingredients, and two of those are considered as premium meats.

However, there is also the inclusion of meat byproducts which, while supplying plenty of protein, don’t really inspire confidence in pet owners with sensitive dogs. (It doesn’t specify which animal meat has been used.)

46 reviewers gave this dog food an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Verified purchasers said that it’s much healthier and better overall for a dog’s health.

The cups are also convenient for feeding pets and,  apparently, dogs love the taste a lot since their owners report bowls are often licked clean. 

Two people gave it one-star ratings because they said it smelled awful. There is one other negative complaint, from someone who rated the food three-stars. The serving cups are too small, which doesn’t really provide a better value for its cost.

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6. Homestyle Pot Roast Dinner & Gravy

First 5 Ingredients: Water Sufficient for Processing, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Meat By-products, Wheat Gluten

Guaranteed Analysis:

This pot roast dinner gives dogs of all ages and breeds a nice and tasty meal reminiscent of yummy, home cooking. The savory canned pet food diet affords dogs the flavor of real beef with gravy for a sumptuous yet nutritious feast.

However, the flavor is kind of misleading. Beef is only the third ingredient, and chicken and chicken liver make up more of the dish. If your pup is sensitive to chicken, be warned.

The food also contains meat byproducts. Since the animal source of these meats have not been named, it’s best not to feed this to your dog who is sensitive to specific animal proteins. 

This tasty meal has received 4.4 stars out of 5 from customers. (Since there’s only 1 review as of the moment for the individual packs, we gathered the customer reviews from Walmart’s wet food variety pack offering and a few other sources).

It’s reported by purchasers to be a hit with their dogs, even the finicky ones. The food is filling, but since it’s not full of carbohydrates, it helps keep pups at a manageable weight.

Among the negative reviews we’ve come across, there have been complaints that the package does not indicate where the product is made.

It only mentions who distributes it (Walmart), but there is no indication of what country the food is made in. And despite the flavor on the label that says pot roast, there is more chicken content in the dinner.

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7. Vibrant Life Hearty Turkey & Vegetable Stew

First 5 Ingredients: Water Sufficient for Processing, Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Meat By-products

Guaranteed Analysis:

This stew is formulated to meet the dog nutrient profiles for maintenance established by the AAFCO.

It’s a rich stew that’s been crafted to keep dogs happy, energized, and healthy. It has a low calorie content and comes in an easy-to-use cup for convenient feeding.

We laud the animal protein content. There are four kinds of meat within the first five ingredients. Since this is canned food, water as the first ingredient is understandable.

However, we do need to point out that this product uses meat byproducts where you won’t know which animal part from which animal is included.

Like their other recipes, this one also gets a 4.4 score out of 5 from reviewers. Consumers mentioned that their dogs are happy with being switched to Vibrant Life wet food. Some of them used this recipe as a topper on dry kibble, which makes picky pups clean their bowls fast. 

On the downside, some customers were unhappy that the brand isn’t more forthcoming about where it sources its ingredients for this pet food. They wish for more transparency about the manufacturing and sourcing process.

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Vibrant Life Treats

1. Golden Rewards Duck Jerky

All Ingredients: Duck Breast, Vegetable Glycerin, Salt

Guaranteed Analysis:

This is a low fat but high-protein treat made with just three ingredients. There’s no need for artificial stuff when the jerkies provide enough natural flavors to entice your pup to sit, stay, and behave.

The average calorie breakdown is just 39.8 kcal per piece. Since the protein is so high, it can help fill your dog up between meals while giving him heaps of energy.

There is not much risk of your dog gaining weight from this because of the low-fat content (1%), but try to dole out according to directions.

This recipe has one of the highest numbers of customer reviews and one of the highest ratings. 801 consumers gave these treats an average of 4.7 out of 5.

Many feel confident that these snacks are healthy to give pets. Sensitive pups who would usually experience an allergic reaction to other meat-based treats did not react at all to these.

28 people gave these snacks a one-star rating. Several complained that the jerkies were rock hard and tough to chew. A few were also disappointed to find out that instead of being made in the USA as they first thought, the treats are made in China.

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2. Small Life Biscuit Wrapped with Chicken

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Breast, Wheat Flour, Vegetable Glycerin, Palm Oil, Sugar

Guaranteed Analysis:

These biscuit treats are made with real chicken to provide your dog with a huge dose of meaty flavor and a large portion of protein to keep his energy up. There are only a total of eight ingredients in this food and none of them is artificial. 

Chicken breast heads the list of ingredients, which we heartily approve of. There is no artificial stuff mixed in. Instead, the treats rely on the mixture’s natural flavors to entice your pup. We do have to note that there is sugar included, so take care to dole these out sparingly.

662 reviewers from Amazon gave these dog treats a combined rating of 4.6 stars out of 5. According to dog owners, their dogs will ”go through fire for the treats.”

The chicken wrapped around the biscuits give the treats an interesting and tasty twist that makes them great as rewards for good behavior or as training treats.

Among the negative reviews, however, are complaints about the toughness of the snacks. Some dogs, particularly the small ones, have a hard time breaking them down and digesting them. The products are also made in China, which did not go over well with some consumers.

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3. Griller's Mark with Real Beef

First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Chicken, Rice Flour, Vegetable Glycerin, Pea Protein

Guaranteed Analysis:

This is a savory snack that’s made with real beef and chicken. It can be used as a training treat, a reward for good behavior, or just because your dog is too cute to resist.

The treats also contain a powerful antioxidant ingredient in the form of cranberry, which makes the snacks even more nutritious.

While most of the ingredient makeup is good, there is one thing that we do not like in it. The snacks contain BHA, which is a synthetic type of antioxidant that doubles as a preservative.

While the FDA allows BHA to be added to dog food products, it is also listed in the state of California as one of several chemicals known to cause cancer.

This dog food product only has 13 reviews so far but a majority of them gave the snacks a combined rating of 4.8 out of 5.

Most pet owners highly recommend the treats for being well-loved by their pooches. It has been reported to be a hit even with usually finicky pups, although we guess that the sugar in it is partly responsible.

There are no one- or two-star reviews. The most negative review comes from one person who gave it a 3-star rating but did not state why.

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What Products Does Vibrant Life Offer?

As of the moment, the product range is pretty limited. The new brand recently added a few wet food recipes from its previously all dry dog food offerings, but the total dog food options number only seven. It does boast of a pretty solid treat lineup for pups who like to snack. 

Dry Food

• Beef & Rice Recipe
• Chicken & Rice Recipe
• Chicken, Brown Rice & Sweet Potato Recipe
• Chicken, Oatmeal & Egg Puppy Recipe

Wet Food

• Country Chicken & Vegetable Stew
• Homestyle Pot Roast Dinner & Gravy
• Turkey & Vegetable Stew

Treat

• Small Biscuits Wrapped With Chicken
• Smoked Chicken Jerky
• Golden Rewards Duck Jerky
• Golden Rewards Chicken Jerky
• Pigs In Blankets
• Freeze-Dried Chicken Breast
• Crunchy Chicken
• Griller’s Mark With Real Beef
• Griller’s Mark With Real Chicken
• Marbled Meaty Bites
• Chicken & Pumpkin Twist
• Soft Baked Bites With Real Cheese & Bacon
• Superfood Blend Peanut Butter
• Superfood Blend Chicken
• NutriBark Dog Treat Bar – Peanut Butter Bacon Apple Flavor
• NutriBark Dog Treat Bar – Chicken & Cranberry
• Water Buffalo

Recall History

The pet food brand has been in the market for a relatively short time and has had no recall to date. However, it is under Walmart which has had several recalls in the past for its other dog food brands. 

Is This A Good Brand?

The brand has its place in the market, but like any brand, it may not be suitable for every dog.

It's essential to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that the food for your dog meets their specific nutritional needs and supports their healthy lives.

Both the dry and wet food offerings from this company contain things that are not what we’d call quality ingredients — meat byproducts, brewers rice, wheat meal run, soybean meal, and so on. 

There is also a problem with transparency. The brand isn’t very forthcoming about where it gets its meats, produce, and so on. And we also have to say that knowing the brand’s treats are made in China isn’t very comforting.

As for price, there’s no denying that the dog foods are inexpensive. The treats are reasonably priced as well. That’s a big plus in the brand’s favor.

While some dogs may thrive on this brand, helping them to live long and stay healthy and happy, others may experience health issues.

Therefore, if you notice any adverse reactions or concerns, don't use this food and seek alternatives that better support your dog's unique requirements.