Get Joy vs Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Treats: Raw Treat Showdown

Updated: July 2026 · Reviewed against verified competitor data and Get Joy product facts · See our vet & nutrition experts

Get Joy and Vital Essentials both make single ingredient, freeze-dried raw beef treats in the USA with no fillers, dyes, or artificial preservatives, so both are credible, well-made choices. The difference is the starting point: Vital Essentials leads with raw-diet philosophy and butcher-cut sourcing, while Get Joy leads with outcomes, a gut-first routine where treats, meals with Belly Biotics, and supplements work together from one brand. That means Vital Essentials suits the household running a fully raw feeding philosophy with a wide single-protein catalog, and Get Joy suits the parent who wants a gut-first system and a three-organ beef rotation behind the treat.

Both treats beat a multi-ingredient soft treat on label simplicity, so if you are here you have already made a good decision about what goes in the pouch. This article walks through where the two brands are identical, where their philosophies diverge, and how to choose.

What is the main difference between Get Joy and Vital Essentials?

The main difference is philosophy: Vital Essentials starts from format (dogs should eat raw), and Get Joy starts from outcomes (gut health drives whole-body health, and raw is how we deliver on that belief). Vital Essentials takes raw seriously. Their beef liver treats are made from responsibly sourced, butcher-cut beef liver, frozen within 45 minutes of harvesting and freeze-dried slowly to preserve nutrients, with no additives, fillers, dyes, flavorings, artificial preservatives, grains, or rendered by-products. The brand also offers one of the widest single-protein lineups in raw, which genuinely helps allergy households. This is a well-made treat from a brand with real conviction.

Get Joy matches that raw integrity and asks a different question. A Get Joy treat is never just a treat; it is the entry point to a routine. Superfood Treats in the pocket, Freeze-Dried Raw Meals with Belly Biotics in the bowl, and supplements where a dog needs extra support, all from one brand with one standard aimed at how your dog feels, not just what format they eat.

Get Joy vs Vital Essentials at a glance

Here is the head-to-head on the factors dog parents ask about most.

What is inside each treat?

Dead even again: Get Joy Superfood Beef Liver lists Beef Liver, and Vital Essentials Beef Liver lists Beef Liver. Both brands freeze-dry raw beef liver, which removes water at low temperature so amino acids, vitamins, and natural enzymes stay largely intact. The difference is what surrounds that single ingredient.

The organ rotation

Vital Essentials offers beef liver and beef bites among a wide multi-protein lineup. Get Joy's beef-only Superfood line runs liver, heart, and kidney, so a chicken-avoiding dog gets three distinct nutrient profiles without a single new protein: vitamin A and iron from liver, taurine and CoQ10 naturally present in heart, and B vitamins and selenium from kidney. Our guide to beef liver, heart, and kidney for dogs covers each organ in detail.

Format-led vs outcome-led: why does it matter?

It matters because it changes what the treat is for. Vital Essentials starts from a belief about format: dogs should eat raw, so everything is raw, and we respect that, because raw moved the whole category forward. Get Joy starts from a belief about outcomes: gut health drives whole-body health, and a large share of the immune system lives in the gut. Freeze-dried raw is how we deliver on that belief, not the belief itself. That is why a Get Joy treat connects to the rest of the routine: one brand, one standard, one system aimed at how your dog feels. When your treat and your meal share a philosophy, you never wonder whether one is working against the other.

Which is the better everyday and training treat?

Both are excellent, aromatic, single ingredient rewards that break into training-sized pieces, so the pick comes down to variety and routine. Freeze-dried raw liver is intensely aromatic, which is what makes a treat high-value when you need attention around distractions, and Get Joy's liver, heart, and kidney rotation keeps a dog engaged across long sessions. Whichever you choose, follow the 10% rule: keep all treats to no more than about 10% of your dog's daily calories per common guidance. Organ meat is nutrient-rich, particularly liver with its vitamin A content, so moderation matters more than it does with blander treats. Break treats into smaller pieces on heavy training days so the reward count stays high while calories stay controlled.

The verdict: Get Joy or Vital Essentials?

Vital Essentials is one of the most credible raw brands on the shelf, and if raw-for-raw's-sake is your framework, they execute it well. Get Joy asks a different question: not is it raw, but is it working. We choose freeze-dried raw because it preserves what organ meat offers, and we build everything around the gut because that is where whole-body health starts. Same aisle, different destination.

Frequently asked questions

What is the healthiest single ingredient dog treat?

Freeze-dried raw organ meat treats are among the healthiest single ingredient options. Freeze-drying preserves nutrients that baking destroys, and organ meats like liver, heart, and kidney carry more micronutrients per bite than muscle meat. Look for one named ingredient and no added preservatives.

Is freeze-dried raw the same as raw feeding?

Freeze-dried raw starts as raw meat and has only its water removed at low temperature, so it retains most of raw's nutritional character while being shelf-stable and easier to handle. Many raw feeders use freeze-dried for treats and travel.

Are Get Joy and Vital Essentials treats both single ingredient?

Yes, the beef liver treats from both brands list exactly one ingredient: beef liver. Get Joy also offers single ingredient beef heart and beef kidney; Vital Essentials offers a wide multi-protein lineup including poultry options, so check the bag if you are avoiding chicken.

How many organ treats can I give per day?

Keep all treats to no more than about 10% of your dog's daily calories. Organ meat is nutrient-rich, particularly liver with its vitamin A content, so moderation matters more than with blander treats.

Are Get Joy Superfood Treats safe for dogs avoiding chicken?

Yes. Get Joy's entire beef Superfood line is 100% beef organ meat with no chicken, poultry by-products, or chicken fat. Confirm new treats with your veterinarian if your dog has a diagnosed allergy.

Competitor details (sourcing, processing, ingredients, sizes) are drawn from Vital Essentials' own product pages and public retailer listings as of July 2026; prices and specs can change, so confirm current details on each brand's site. Get Joy figures are from getjoyfood.com and internal product documentation. This article is for education and is not veterinary advice; consult your veterinarian for your dog's individual needs, especially for diagnosed allergies. Learn more from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).