Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Entree Dog Food Mini Nibs Review

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Review of Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Entree Dog Food Mini Nibs

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 Raw Duck Entree Dog Food Mini Nibs 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 Raw Duck Entree Dog Food Mini Nibs, we'll examine all 10 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 liver is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals that help support overall health and wellbeing.

  4. 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.

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

  6. Vitamin E supplement is an essential nutrient that helps support your dog's immune system, skin health, and overall wellness.

  7. Zinc amino acid complex is a more digestible form of zinc that can support your dog's immune system, skin health, and coat quality.

  8. Iron amino acid complex is a highly bioavailable source of iron for dogs, which supports red blood cell production and oxygen transport throughout the body. It helps maintain overall health and vitality for your furry friend.

  9. Copper amino acid complex is a highly bioavailable source of copper, an essential trace mineral that supports your dog's immune system, skin and coat health, and promotes red blood cell production.

  10. Manganese amino acid complex is a highly bioavailable form of manganese, an essential trace mineral that supports healthy bones, joints, and metabolism. This ingredient ensures that your dog receives the proper amount of manganese for optimal health.

Review of Guaranteed Analysis

The Crude Protein minimum of 45.00% in the Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Entree Dog Food Mini Nibs is likely contributed by the primary ingredient, duck, along with duck gizzard and duck liver. These are all high-quality sources of animal protein, which are essential for a dog's muscle development and overall health.

The Crude Fat minimum of 24.00% can be attributed to the natural fats present in duck, which is a rich source of animal fat. Additionally, the inclusion of herring oil, which is high in essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, also contributes to the fat content. These fats are crucial for maintaining healthy skin, coat, and supporting overall wellness.

The Crude Fiber maximum of 5.00% is relatively low, which is typical for a meat-based diet. Since this product does not list any specific fibrous ingredients such as vegetables or grains, the fiber present is likely incidental and comes from the connective tissues or minor amounts of undigested plant material that may be present in the duck's diet before processing.

The caloric content of 4272.00 kilocalories per kg is a measure of the energy provided by the food. This high caloric density is a result of the high protein and fat content, with the majority of the calories likely coming from the duck and herring oil. These ingredients are energy-dense, providing the calories needed to sustain a dog's energy requirements.

The additional supplements listed, such as mixed tocopherols (preservative), vitamin E supplement, and various amino acid complexes, are there to ensure the food meets the nutritional requirements for dogs but do not significantly contribute to the guaranteed analysis values of protein, fat, fiber, or caloric content. These are more focused on providing a balanced micronutrient profile.

Review of Affordability

According to our data, Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Duck Entree Dog Food Mini Nibs costs approximately $35.99 per pound. The following table provides our estimate of the monthly cost to feed this recipe exclusively as your dog.

Adult WeightPuppyAdult
5 lbs $111.70$174.53
10 lbs $187.85$293.52
15 lbs $254.61$397.83
20 lbs $315.93$493.63
30 lbs $428.21$669.07
40 lbs $531.32$830.19
50 lbs $628.12$981.43
60 lbs $720.15$1125.24
70 lbs $808.42$1263.15
80 lbs $893.57$1396.21
90 lbs $976.10$1525.16
100 lbs $1056.36$1650.56

Estimates are based on average prices and caloric requirements.