Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Dog Food Duck Mini Patties Review

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Review of Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Dog Food Duck Mini Patties

According to our data, this Vital Essentials recipe provides complete & balanced nutrition for all life stages. In other words, this formula is AAFCO approved.

Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Dog Food Duck Mini Patties is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

Review of Ingredients

In our review of Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Dog Food Duck Mini Patties, we'll examine all 7 ingredients and highlight the nutritional contribution of each ingredient.

While the first few ingredients typically dominate the recipe's composition, ingredients in small quantities can still have a meaningful impact on the overall nutritional profile of the recipe.

  1. Duck is a highly digestible protein source that provides essential amino acids, which support muscle development and energy in dogs.

  2. Duck gizzards are a nutritious source of protein and contain various vitamins and minerals that are vital for a dog's health.

  3. Duck heart is a nutrient-rich organ meat that provides a good source of protein, B vitamins, and iron for your dog.

  4. Duck liver is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals that help support overall health and wellbeing.

  5. Herring oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which promote a healthy skin and coat, support brain function, and contribute to overall heart health in your dog.

  6. Mixed tocopherols are natural antioxidants used to preserve the freshness of dog food, ensuring your pet receives the highest quality nutrients possible.

  7. D-alpha tocopherol is a natural form of Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect your dog's cells from damaging free radicals.

Review of Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min) of 48.00%: The high crude protein content in this pet food is primarily derived from the duck, duck gizzard, duck heart, and duck liver. These are all rich sources of animal protein, which not only provide the necessary amino acids for a dog's diet but also contribute to the high percentage of protein guaranteed in the analysis. The organs like gizzard, heart, and liver are particularly dense in nutrients and protein.

Crude Fat (min) of 31.00%: The crude fat content is quite significant and is likely to come from both the duck meat, which is naturally fatty, especially the skin and darker parts of the meat, and the herring oil. Herring oil is a concentrated source of omega-3 fatty acids and contributes to the overall fat content. Mixed tocopherols, which are a form of vitamin E and used as a preservative, may also have some minor contributions to the fat content, though their primary role is to preserve the fat in the food from oxidizing.

Crude Fiber (max) of 1.00%: The crude fiber content is very low, which is typical for a grain-free and meat-based diet. Since there are no plant-based ingredients like vegetables or grains that typically contribute to fiber content, the maximum of 1.00% crude fiber is likely due to the connective tissues and minor indigestible parts of the duck ingredients.

Calories of 4615.00 per kg: The calorie content of this pet food is relatively high, which reflects the high protein and fat content. Animal tissues, particularly those with a higher fat content, are calorie-dense. The duck meat and organs, along with the herring oil, are the main contributors to the caloric value. Since fats provide more than double the energy per gram compared to proteins and carbohydrates, the significant amount of fat from both the duck and herring oil plays a key role in the high caloric content of the food.