Complete Nutrition Chicken Recipe Fresh Dog Food, 1.5-lb roll, case of 8
Graded by The Sniff System
Freshpet Complete Nutrition Chicken Recipe Fresh Dog Food is a wet, fresh-style roll, primarily chicken-based, formulated for puppies and growing dogs.
This recipe includes quality carbohydrate sources like brown rice and ground oats, and it declares its fiber content, which is a good sign for digestive health.
Protein quality is a watch item due to the chicken's limited bioavailable amino acids, and there's no declared omega-3 source. It also contains carrageenan, a thickener some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation.
Good fit for puppies and growing dogs. Less ideal if your dog has a sensitive stomach or you prefer to avoid carrageenan.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
To support their development, Australian Shepherd puppies need a diet containing at least 22.5% crude protein on a dry matter basis, per the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for growth (AAFCO, 2024) . Good fit for puppy Australian Shepherds. Chicken leads the deck at position 1, 34% DMB protein, 32% DMB fat.
Looking at this for puppy Australian Shepherds ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
At 46/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from carbohydrate quality, worth 12 points to the final number: Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 17 points. Low protein quality. chicken delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.
Low protein quality. chicken delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..
- Lowest protein quality in Freshpet's lineup (7.9/27)
- Top 4% for crude fiber in Freshpet's lineup (6.8% DMB)
- Lowest fat quality in Freshpet's lineup (4/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 1
- carrageenanSeaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 34%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2chicken broth
Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4grainrice
Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 6ground oats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7othercarrageenan Flagged
Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →
- 8othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 9legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 9. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 10vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
Position 10: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 11mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 12mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 13mineraliron proteinate
Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 14mineralcopper proteinate
Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.
- 15mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 16mineralsodium selenite Flagged
Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →
- 17mineralcalcium iodate
Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.
- 18supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 19vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 20vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 21vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 22vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 23vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 24vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 25vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
Showing first 25 of 31. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
25 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
Freshpet recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for specific life stages (e.g., adult maintenance or growth), as indicated on each package.