A solid fresh dog food with a clean ingredient list, real named chicken as the first ingredient, and no rendering or artificial garbage. Freshpet earns points for transparency and format — refrigerated fresh food is inherently better than ultra-processed kibble. The deductions come from Pea Protein (a protein-inflating legume isolate with DCM flags), Pea Fiber (a cheap filler that has no business in a premium fresh food), undisclosed Natural Flavors, and the use of inorganic Sodium Selenite instead of selenium yeast. These are cost-cutting ingredients in what is otherwise a genuinely above-average product.

Freshpet Small Dog Chicken Recipe is one of the better commercial dog foods on the market. Real chicken first, real vegetables, no artificial junk, no rendering nightmares, no dyes, no carcinogenic preservatives. The fresh refrigerated format preserves more nutrients than any kibble ever will. That said, Freshpet still cuts corners with Pea Protein and Pea Fiber — two ingredients that exist solely to save money and inflate numbers on the guaranteed analysis. A truly premium fresh food at this price point should deliver 100% of its protein from animal sources. The 'Natural Flavors' opacity and inorganic selenium are minor but real flaws. Bottom line: this is a legitimately good food with a few cost-driven compromises. It lands at A− (88/100) — significantly better than the vast majority of what's on store shelves, but not quite the flawless fresh food Freshpet's marketing suggests.