Vital Essentials Minnows Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Treats, 2.5-oz bag

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At a Glance

  • Raw
  • Grain-Free
  • Gluten Free
  • Natural
  • Limited Ingredient Diet
  • High-Protein
  • Immune Support
  • Skin & Coat Health
  • Made in USA
  • All Lifestages
  • All Breeds

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$22.99 List Price
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About This Item

Details

  • These freeze-dried raw dog treats are packed with extra protein from premium, responsibly sourced minnows for the peak nutrition your pup deserves.
  • Protein-rich muscle and organs deliver a natural source of vitamins and minerals for energetic play, healthy skin, a shiny coat, strong teeth, and essential gut health.
  • Vital Essentials pet treats are made in the USA using responsibly sourced, humanely harvested ingredients.
  • Made with a single animal protein and no additives, fillers, dyes, flavorings, artificial preservatives, grains, or rendered by-products—great for picky eaters and dogs with allergies.
  • Frozen within 45 minutes of harvesting, Vital Essentials protein is freeze-dried raw to lock in vital nutrients, flavor, and freshness with minimal processing.

Ingredient Information

Feeding Instructions

Raw Feeding Made Simple

Feeding just 20% raw can boost your pet’s health, and Vital Essentials makes it easy. Made with whole-animal, butcher cut protein and no fillers or artificial additives. Feed as a special treat for simple, raw nutrition.

Even 20% Makes A Difference

Every pet deserves the benefits of raw protein. Try adding raw meals weekly, mix raw in with kibble, or offer it as a treat. Even a small amount—just 20% of their daily intake—can make a big difference in their health.
- IN FREEZER WITHIN 45 MINUTES OF HARVEST , - MINIMALLY PROCESSED , -FREEZE-DRIED A FULL 48 HOURS, - PACKED WITH ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS

No Shortcuts. Only Butcher Cuts.

Vital Essentials butcher cut protein is made with carefully sourced, farm-raised meats. It’s ground once and freeze-dried a full 48 hours at their state-of-the-art USA facility to lock in the nutrients your pet deserves.

Today’s Special: Lifelong Vitality

Support your pet's health with Vital Essentials. Protein-rich diets promote strong muscles—ideal for active pets. Help boost immunity, musculature, and heart health with their range of butcher cut protein freeze-dried raw recipes.

About Vital Essentials

Vital Essentials creates healthy, delicious, and biologically appropriate food using real, ethically sourced meat and premium ingredients. Made right here in the USA, because your best friend deserves nothing less.

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Questions & Answers

20 Customer Questions

In what country are these actually processed?

Answer by Chewy • Jan 14, 2020
These treats are sourced, made, and packaged in the United States.

Can cat eat these too?

Answer by Chewy • Apr 12, 2023
While these treats are geared toward dogs, the freeze-dried minnows are suitable for cats as well.

Fish bones? Are these dried whole minnows? Do we need to worry about bones?

Answer by Chewy • Mar 20, 2019
The bones in these minnows are completely safe for pets to eat and digest.

How many can you feed a day to small dog?

Answer by Chewy • Dec 20, 2020
Vital Essentials Snacks are designed as a treat and are not intended to be fed as a complete and balanced diet. There will be approximately 82 kilocalories per cup.
Reviews
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4.7
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
2116 Ratings
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Customers Mention

Chewy identifies key considerations with the help of artificial intelligence and our veterinarians.

Flavor

89% Positive

Ingredients

88% Positive

Nutritional Value

89% Positive

Texture

85% Positive

1117 Customer Reviews

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Tonja on Dec 26, 2025

Freeze dried fish are healthy

3 out of 4 dogs approved. One tried to bury the fish repeatedly. Speedy really loves salmon so I thought he would like the minnows but I was so wrong! He loves

3 out of 4 dogs approved. One tried to bury the fish repeatedly. Speedy really loves salmon so I thought he would like the minnows but I was so wrong! He loves the freezer dried beef and salmon dinner but minnows need to be buried. Shasta and Corra loved them. All I have to do is touch the treat bag and they sit and wait. Big hit with them. Would buy again not only for the big dogs, but the entertainment of watching Speedy put in the work to bury it was great exercise for his 11 year old self.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars
By Athena on Jan 4, 2026

My dog spits these out

Goose normally inhales most things you toss his way. We try to give him one ingredient treats mostly, and he loves liver, lung, salmon, salmon skin, cod, etc. so

Goose normally inhales most things you toss his way. We try to give him one ingredient treats mostly, and he loves liver, lung, salmon, salmon skin, cod, etc. so I figured he would love these. He immediately spits them out after it enters his mouth. Unfortunate because the quality appears to be there. Thought this would be a nice switch up from our usual, but goose said no thanks

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Katie on Jan 18, 2026

Did they change?

I've purchased these twice. First time, my dog LOVED them. They seemed like a good treat. The second time, they were darker in color and two times after eating

I've purchased these twice. First time, my dog LOVED them. They seemed like a good treat. The second time, they were darker in color and two times after eating them, he threw up. Though he loved these treats, I dont want to take the risk and try them again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Kristine on Nov 18, 2025

Peaches will do anything for a minnow

Peaches will do absolutely anything for a minnow her training stepped it up we call it her jackpot when she's outside we all jackpot and she comes running cuz she

Peaches will do absolutely anything for a minnow her training stepped it up we call it her jackpot when she's outside we all jackpot and she comes running cuz she knows she's getting a minnow time to put her in her kennel because we're going away wheel jackpot she knows she's getting a minnow again she absolutely loves them and will do anything for a minnow sit, give paw, high five play dead, spin, dance, down, minnows are the best

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Shirley on Jan 19, 2026

Natural For Hunters

Mut loves the minnows as does her sister from another species Coco the dog! Her house mates not so much as they don’t know what to do with the little fish, just

Mut loves the minnows as does her sister from another species Coco the dog! Her house mates not so much as they don’t know what to do with the little fish, just look at it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Maureen on Jan 17, 2026

Healthy Treats YAY

I put them in my treat bag and he gibbles them up when we're out. He'd rather have bacon bits etc at home but I feel so good knowing he's eating a whole dried small

I put them in my treat bag and he gibbles them up when we're out. He'd rather have bacon bits etc at home but I feel so good knowing he's eating a whole dried small fish.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Jessica on Jan 15, 2026

My dogs love anything of this brand

Any and all the treats we’ve gotten from this company my dogs love!!!! Even the freeze dried chicken hearts my dogs love every single flavor from this brand!!!!

Any and all the treats we’ve gotten from this company my dogs love!!!! Even the freeze dried chicken hearts my dogs love every single flavor from this brand!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Pearl on Jan 13, 2026

High reward

My dog has always been a fish fan, these are wonderful and don't shed their scales as much as other freeze-dried fish do. They also don't smell as strongly eith

My dog has always been a fish fan, these are wonderful and don't shed their scales as much as other freeze-dried fish do. They also don't smell as strongly either.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars
By Crystal on Oct 15, 2025

Not consistent

I bought five of these because I have to have them to give my cat his medicine. I poke a little hole in it and put themedicine in it. I usually give him a couple

I bought five of these because I have to have them to give my cat his medicine. I poke a little hole in it and put themedicine in it. I usually give him a couple first before the medicine so that he’ll get busy eating them but lately my cat refuses to eat it or takes a bite and spits it out. They’re darker in color. Somethings changed about them and I just cannot get him to eat them anymore. So now I’m having to fight him to give his pill. They’re just not consistent with being fresh and tasting the way my cat expects them to taste.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Josh on Dec 6, 2025

great little snack

a little more expensive than it's counterpart however, the quality and size is there. we have 10 cats inside and about 6 of them like a few of these on the occasion,

a little more expensive than it's counterpart however, the quality and size is there. we have 10 cats inside and about 6 of them like a few of these on the occasion, the large bag ensures I'll have enough for a month or so lol.