SmallBatchFrozen Raw Duck Sliders for Dogs

A poultry protein, fattier and richer in iron than chicken. As with other fresh meats, the wet weight pushes it up the list; duck meal is the dried form. Duck is a different family of bird from chicken and turkey, which is why it is used as a novel protein, though pets that react to chicken sometimes react to duck as well.

Organ meat from the named animal, or unnamed when the label just says liver. Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods there is, rich in vitamin A, copper, iron and the B group, and most pets love the taste, which is why it is used both as an ingredient and as a flavor coating. For allergies, the species is what matters, and beef liver is beef. Unnamed liver can come from any species and may vary by batch.

A vegetable added in small amounts for fiber and a little flavor, and in fresh or raw recipes for its water content. It is safe for dogs and cats and appears well down the list, often alongside other vegetables in a blend. It brings almost no calories and only trace nutrients at these levels, so it changes nothing about the food either way.

Broccoli florets or stems, dried and added in small amounts for fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. It is safe for dogs and cats at food levels. Very large quantities contain compounds that can irritate the gut, which matters for a dog raiding the vegetable drawer. A fraction of a percent in kibble is nowhere near that, and it does not change the food's nutrition in any measurable way.

A dark leafy green, dried and added in small amounts, mostly for the vitamins and the look of the ingredient list. Kale is safe for dogs and cats at food levels. Like spinach it contains oxalate, and in quantity it is a consideration for pets prone to calcium oxalate stones, but the fraction of a percent in a complete food is not a factor. At these amounts it is there for the ingredient list and does not change the nutrition of the food.

A leafy green added in small amounts for vitamins, minerals and color. Spinach is high in oxalate, which binds calcium and in large quantities is a concern for pets prone to calcium oxalate bladder stones. The amounts in a complete food are tiny, often a fraction of a percent, so for most pets it is a token vegetable with no nutritional or safety weight.

A fruit added in small amounts for antioxidants and a bit of fiber. Blueberries are safe for dogs and cats, and the pigments that color them are the same ones linked to antioxidant activity in people. In a complete food they appear well down the list in small amounts, so they are a modest extra and should not decide which bag you buy.