You are about to read our in-depth Vital Essentials dog food review, it is our honest feedback about the products. Go ahead, indulge.
Feeding dogs raw has so many health benefits, but for the average family, it’s difficult to coordinate. You have to prepare it and store it. You can’t make too much ahead because of the constraints of your kitchen. Sometimes, you may not be sure that you’re giving your dog all the proper nutrients.
Vital Essentials is a freeze-dried or frozen raw food that gives you the convenience of kibble without the problematic digestion. It comes in convenient packaging and allows you to know that you’re feeding your pet the best of both worlds. Let’s see if Vital Essentials could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Brand Quick Look
Parent Company: Carnivore Meat Company
Made in: Green Bay, WI, USA
Manufactured In: Carnivore Meat Company-owned facilities in Green Bay
Vital Essentials is part of the Carnivore Meat Company, a pioneer in providing raw foods that mimic the ancestral diet of your dog. The company has rigorous safety standards and is GSCI and EU certified. They developed a food safety program with Kansas State University, and all employees are trained in this rigorous standard.
The company got started in the search for better diets for dogs that more closely resembled the way they would have eaten long ago. Carnivore Meat Company is unique in that it produces high-quality raw foods based on plenty of research and uses only USDA certified meats to produce nutritious meals.
Carnivore Meat Company is one of the leading providers of raw pet foods in the country, continually researching and creating new ways to make feeding your dog raw much easier. You can find their private labels online and in a few specialty stores.
This grain-free freeze-dried raw dog food is designed for all breeds, sizes, and life stages, offering a convenient yet premium alternative to traditional kibble.
Formulated with USDA-certified beef and organs, it provides a nutrient-rich, meat-only diet that supports lean muscle, organ health, and overall well-being.
Herring oil adds essential omega fatty acids for heart, brain, skin, coat, and joint health. While it’s a more significant investment than standard dog food, it’s highly nutrient-dense, reducing the amount needed per serving.
Free from artificial ingredients, peas, legumes, and potatoes, it’s ideal for dogs with food sensitivities. Dogs love the flavor, and owners appreciate its ease of use, improved digestion, and the positive impact on their pets' health.
If you have a beef-lovin' pup who needs a high-protein diet, Vital Essentials Beef Mini Patties is highly recommended.
Locally sourced from America’s heartland, this contains a perfect blend of fresh, wholesome duck, bone and organ meats, with zero grains, glutens or fillers.
This grain-free freeze-dried raw food is suitable for dogs of all breeds, sizes, and life stages, with mini nibs designed for easier consumption by smaller dogs.
Made primarily from ground duck and duck organs, it provides a high-protein, single-source protein diet with 48% protein content. Duck is rich in iron and amino acids, making it ideal for active dogs, but its high fat content makes it less suitable for dogs with pancreatitis.
Herring oil adds essential omega fatty acids for skin, coat, and overall health. Free from carbs, fruits, vegetables, and artificial additives, this nutrient-dense food meets AAFCO nutritional standards.
Highly rated by pet owners, it's versatile for use as a meal, topper, or treat, though some dogs might find the nibs too hard and may need them softened.
This limited-ingredient recipe is made with chicken, organ meat and bones. Just crumbled the mini patties into Fido’s dish and add some water to make a scrumptious entrée.
This grain-free, freeze-dried raw food is designed for dogs of all breeds, sizes, and life stages. It features small patties made from raw chicken meat, bones, and organs, offering a high-protein, high-fat diet that combines the benefits of a raw, whole prey diet with the convenience of dry food.
With 45% protein and 27% fat, it's ideal for active dogs and puppies, providing essential amino acids and nutrients. Chicken liver and heart add extra flavor and nutrients, while herring oil supplies omega fatty acids for overall health.
The food is free from artificial additives and is easy to serve dry or rehydrated. Highly praised for its quality ingredients and effectiveness in improving dogs' energy and health, it’s especially favored for its palatability and minimal processing.
Featuring 55% protein and 14% fat, it uses lean rabbit meat, a novel protein that's ideal for sensitive dogs and those with pancreatitis.
The recipe includes ground rabbit bones, liver, lung, and heart, providing essential protein, calcium, phosphorus, and a range of vitamins and minerals.
Herring oil supplies omega-3 fatty acids for heart, brain, and joint health. Free from carbs, artificial additives, and fillers, it’s close to a whole prey diet.
The mini patties are easy to serve dry or rehydrated and are highly rated by pet owners for their quality, nutritional value, and palatability.
This is a grain-free, freeze-dried raw food suitable for all dogs. With 55% protein and 17% fat, it features ground turkey and turkey organs, offering a high-protein, low-fat diet that supports lean muscle development and overall health.
Turkey provides riboflavin and phosphorus, while herring oil adds omega fatty acids for heart, brain, skin, and coat health. This formula is free from plant-based carbs, vegetables, and fruits, making it ideal for dogs with sensitivities.
It can be served dry or rehydrated, and is praised for its palatability and effectiveness in resolving skin and digestive issues, though some find it pricey.
This is made from pure, raw beef, allowing your pet to get all of the benefits of a raw nutrition in a convenient patty form – your dog will surely love the meaty taste!
These are grain-free, freeze-dried raw food suitable for all dogs. Made with high-quality beef and organs, these patties offer a high-protein diet rich in essential amino acids, iron, zinc, and vitamins.
They include beef liver, heart, lung, and stomach, adding flavor and nutrients that support overall health, gut health, and immune function. Herring oil provides omega fatty acids for skin, coat, heart, and brain health.
Free from vegetables, fruits, grains, and artificial additives, the patties can be served as complete meals or rehydrated for added versatility. The larger patties can be broken into smaller pieces for treats or snacks.
Pet owners appreciate the high-quality ingredients and palatability, though some find them challenging to rehydrate. Recommended for their nutritional value, taste, and convenience
Made with only fresh, whole minnows, these treats are also gluten and grain free making it an ideal choice for pets suffering from sensitivities/allergies.
These treats are grain-free, protein-rich treats made from whole freeze-dried minnows. With a 60% protein content and no added ingredients, these low-carb treats are ideal for all dogs and can be easily broken into smaller pieces for training.
The wild-caught fish are free from antibiotics and hormones, and are packed with omega-3 fatty acids to support heart, brain, immune system, skin, and coat health.
The treats are minimally processed and shelf-stable due to a slow freeze-drying process. Highly palatable, they are loved by dogs and are suitable for sensitive pets. Though they may be considered pricey, the quality and health benefits make them a recommended choice for fish-loving pups.
What Types Of Dog Food Do They Offer?
All Vital Essentials offerings are raw, but they come in two different forms. The first is a freeze-dried option that makes storage easier and the second is frozen raw. The freeze-dried choice is more quickly served.
The frozen variants are made of fresh, raw ingredients that need thawing. Unconsumed thawed raw food needs discarding immediately to avoid contamination.
The recipes are all limited-ingredient to help dogs with allergies. They center around a single protein source and use only high-quality, premium ingredients and never any cheap fillers or artificial flavors and colors.
A unique component of Vital Essentials is that the recipes treat dogs as if they’re carnivores instead of omnivores. The research is mixed about where to officially place dogs, but Vital Essentials believes that dogs have been habituated to human diets instead of genuinely being omnivores.
Freeze Dried
Beef Mini Nibs
Beef Mini Patties
Beef Niblets
Beef Patties
Chicken Mini Nibs
Chicken Mini Patties
Chicken Niblets
Chicken Patties
Duck Mini Nibs
Duck Mini Patties
Turkey Mini Patties
Turkey Niblets
Rabbit Mini Patties
Rabbit Mini Nibs
Frozen
Turkey Patties Grain Free
Beef Patties Grain free
Chicken Patties Grain Free
Duck Patties Grain Free
Rabbit Patties Grain Free
Fusion Beef Dinner
Fusion Chicken Dinner
Treats
Minnows
Bully Sticks
Beef Nibs
Chicken Hearts
Chicken Necks
Chicken Breast
Duck Bites
Beef Tripe Nibs
Chicken Breast
Beef Liver
Turkey Giblets
Tripe Niblets
Rabbit Bites
Salmon Bites
Food Toppers
Beef Protein Mix
Turkey Protein Mix
Chicken Protein Mix
Rabbit Protein Mix In
Recall History
Vital Essentials issued a voluntary recall of a freeze-dried food variety and a freeze-dried meal topper in 2018. Last February 2018, the Carnivore Meat Company voluntarily recalled 73 cases of Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée for Dogs due to potential salmonella contamination.
Customer Feedback
Customers tend to like Vital Essentials’ approach to the canine ancestral diet, and some have been won over by how well their dogs are doing on the limited ingredient recipes. It may take some getting used to with recipes that contain only meat, but many people begin to see an improvement in their dog’s overall health once they try it.
It’s consistently rated at four stars on many online retailers. That goes for most of the recipes that are available online at various retailers.
What Do People Like And Dislike About Them?
Many people like that the food is a highly limited ingredient and can be served to dogs with severe food allergies, not only to cheap fillers and artificial ingredients but also any grains, soy, corn, or even vegetables and fruits. This may take some getting used to, but the good news is that there’s no danger of possible enlarged heart conditions due to taurine levels in foods with peas, white potatoes, and legumes.
Other customers like that it’s a more accessible alternative to raw, especially for those who use dog sitters sometimes. It allows dogs to maintain their food standards without having to teach someone else how to feed them.
Some liked that it gave them a little more flexibility in feeding when they used freeze-dried food. One person even mentioned that it’s good for when she’ll be out of the house and wants to leave a bit of food for her pets before she gets back.
The downside is that it’s definitely not cheap. If you’re looking for a food upgrade, that may be worth it. You can also mix in kibble or homemade foods or use this food intermittently to cut down on some of the expense.
If you believe in an omnivore diet for your dog, this recipe won’t satisfy you. Make sure you know what you’re getting with Vital Essentials because some customers were caught (negatively) by surprise.
Positive
“Vital Essentials is great food but it’s expensive. My dog had a reaction to regular kibble and since feeding him this he’s 100 percent better!! I do mix it with a homemade food as well to cut down on the cost. I’d highly recommend it!!!!” SandG, chewy.com
Negative:
“We've used several different freeze dried foods but this one was not a hit in our house. Some completely refused it, others nibbled and left the rest.” Dogmom, chewy.com
Our Verdict
Vital Essentials is a raw pet food brand that focuses on providing high-quality, minimally processed dog food, primarily based on raw meat and freeze-dried options.
Their philosophy emphasizes a natural diet for dogs, often advocating a biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) approach, which means their products are rich in animal protein and closely mimic what dogs might eat in the wild.
Here’s an honest conclusion about the brand:
Pros:
High Protein Content: This brand is protein-heavy, with real animal meat and organs as the primary ingredients. This can be highly beneficial for dogs needing a nutrient-dense, high-protein diet.
Limited Ingredients: Their products are free from fillers like grains, soy, corn, and artificial additives, making them a good option for dogs with allergies or sensitivities.
Variety of Raw Options: They offer raw frozen and freeze-dried dog foods, which appeal to owners who want to feed their pets a diet closer to their ancestral eating habits.
Nutrient-Rich: The inclusion of organs, bones, and high-quality muscle meat provides a full spectrum of essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Cons:
Cost: Raw and freeze-dried dog foods tend to be more expensive than kibble or canned options. This might be prohibitive for some dog owners.
Storage and Handling: Raw dog food requires proper storage and careful handling to avoid potential contamination risks, which can be more inconvenient compared to traditional dog food.
Not Ideal for Every Dog: While a raw diet works well for some, it might not be suitable for all dogs, especially those with certain medical conditions or dietary requirements that need more specific formulations.
In conclusion, this is a great option for dog owners who want to provide their pets with a high-protein, raw, and minimally processed diet, and who are willing to invest in both the higher cost and handling effort required for raw food. However, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution, as it may not work for every dog's needs or every owner's budget.
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For an impressive duration of four years, Elaine has been embarked on a voyage as a freelance writer within the domain of dog care. The profound fondness she nurtured for animals, ignited by the cherished companionship of her family's treasured pets during her developmental years, has flourished into a genuinely satisfying vocation focused on everything related to dogs.
