Viva Raw Dog Food Review (Raw Frozen)

Viva Raw product range is made up of five recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Viva Complete Beef was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. ¹.

Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is beef heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing to us humans, heart tissue is pure muscle – all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.

The third ingredient is beef kidney, an organ meat low in fat and rich in protein and essential minerals.

The fourth ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The fifth ingredient is ground beef bone, an excellent source of natural calcium.

The sixth ingredient includes organic carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The seventh ingredient lists organic cranberries, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.

The eighth ingredient is organic broccoli. Broccoli is a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. It’s notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.

Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.

The ninth ingredient lists organic green beans, a healthy vegetable notable for its vitamin, mineral and natural fiber content.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With six notable exceptions…

First, we find organic sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3’s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.

Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.

There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.

Next, cod liver oil is a fish oil known to be rich in both EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamins A and D.

In addition, organic wheat grass is prized for its vitamin and mineral content. Yet unlike wheat, wheat grass is gluten-free.

Organic flaxseed oil, one of the best non-fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids – essential to a dog’s health.

Since this recipe contains a number of organic ingredients, we feel compelled to grant this line a more favorable status as we consider its final rating. That’s because organic ingredients must comply with notably more stringent government standards — standards which significantly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.

And lastly, except for the vitamin E, we find no mention of added vitamins or minerals on the ingredients list, but we are reassured to find a detailed list of naturally present nutrients on the company’s website.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Viva Raw looks like an above-average raw frozen dog food.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 64.4%, a fat level of 29.6% and estimated carbohydrates of about -2%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 63.2% and a mean fat level of 30.1%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of -1.3% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 48%.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.

Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a raw dog food containing a superior amount of meat.

Viva Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Viva through July 2024.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Viva Dog Food

Viva is a grain-free raw dog food using a generous amount of named meats and organs as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Highly Recommended

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