Vital diets generally contain fewer preservatives, making them suitable for dogs with allergies or kidney disease. Furthermore, vital diets tend to produce soft stool for easier elimination.
This grain-free rolled food offers 4 stars on the DogFood Advisor dashboard by using named meats as its primary protein source, inulin and fish oil providing both soluble dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids that provide essential benefits.
Contents
Freeze-Dried Nibs & Patties
Vital Essentials’ freeze-dried nibbles offer food the way nature intended, in an affordable and convenient raw option. Produced without grain fillers or additives, Vital Essentials freeze-dried nibbles provide healthy nutrition to promote strong bones, healthy digestion, shiny coats and clean teeth – creating the basis of any proactive health program.
This product includes beef, which is rich in essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. Additionally, tripe is often recommended as an ingredient suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies to poultry-derived proteins.
Locally sourced from America’s heartland, this grain-free product features fresh farm raised beef, bones and organ meat for a complete and balanced raw food meal that can easily be blended with dry kibble for gradual introduction to raw feeding. A great solution for pets who require transitional support when changing to raw eating!
Raw Diets
Raw diets have become an increasingly popular way for pet owners to feed their animals, often touted as being healthier and cheaper than commercial cooked diets. Proponents believe raw food is more natural for dogs and cats as carnivores than cooked food which may contain additives and preservatives.
A raw diet for pets typically includes meats, bones, fruit and vegetables along with supplements. Many homemade raw diets can be prepared by their owner while commercially available diets typically use multiple sources for meat sources and are considered more balanced than homemade options.
There are significant risks associated with feeding raw diets to pets, including the possibility of contamination with bacteria (E.coli, Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens) and parasites (Helicosporidium, Giardia species Sarcocystis species and Taenia hydatigena). Pets fed raw diets have also been shown to shed multi-drug resistant strains of E. coli in their feces (Leonard et al 2015) while those immunosuppressed due to disease or medications should avoid such diets altogether.
Raw Meat Toppers
Many pet owners choose raw diets for their dogs due to the many advantages they provide. Raw diets align more closely with a pet’s evolutionary dietary requirements and offer better interaction between digestive systems and metabolism.
Protein is at the core of raw diets. It plays an integral part in muscle growth, tissue repair and energy production processes as well as providing essential vitamins and minerals. Raw meat such as bones or organ meats provide additional sources of these vital vitamins and minerals.
Protein-rich raw diets provide essential dietary elements for our pet companions. Raw bones offer calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium while organ meats contain high concentrations of vitamins B-C-E-A-D K along with selenium manganese copper zinc iron chromium niacin selenium manganese manganese copper zinc iron chromium and niacin that complement each other nicely in offering our pets optimal nutrition. These additional proteins should ideally supplement primary protein sources for maximum benefit!
Treats
Treats should only be consumed sparingly to maintain optimal nutrition for their pet. Veterinary nurses can assist owners in determining how many treats are safe by consulting reference guides and websites, encouraging owners to opt for treats produced by pet food brands instead of human foods such as xylitol, garlic cloves, grapes (with or without raisins) and chocolate which could harm them.
Freshpet Vital’s moist food features an extensive variety of named meats for balanced nutrition. It is verified non-GMO and uses ethically sourced, humanely raised chicken; additional protein sources come from eggs, pea protein and poultry liver as well. However, carrageenan may be present.
To reduce caloric intake, clients can feed their dogs small pieces of cooked lean meat or vegetables that can easily be digested to satisfy hunger without adding too many extra calories to their diets. Treats can also be used as incentives during training sessions.
