Beyond the Kibble Exploring Organic Dog Food Alternatives
Best Organic Dog Foods
Tender and True Chicken and Liver Recipe is one of 6 dry recipes included in our review of the Tender and True dry product line.
Tender and True Chicken and Liver derives the vast majority of its animal protein from both chicken meal and fresh chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 18% fat and 45% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 62%.
Tender and True is USDA certified organic which makes each recipe a rare find for discerning dog owners.
Read our review of the full Tender and True Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic chicken meal, organic tapioca starch, organic dried pea, organic chickpea Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 29% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog had eczema and allergies. Since switching to the pesticide free dog food, chicken and liver flavor, her eczema is gone. I highly recommend going organic. I really like that the chickens were humanely raised as well."
Gather Free Acres is one of 3 dry recipes included in our review of the Gather product line.
Gather Free Acres gets the lions share of its meat protein from fresh chicken and dehydrated chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 17% fat and 42% estimated carbs creating a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
In addition to Gathers certified organic ingredients, each recipe also contains a balanced blend of healthy omega 3 and omega 6 fats. A top choice.
Read our review of the full Gather Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic dehydrated chicken, organic peas, lentils, chicken fat Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 33% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog Daisy has a sensitive stomach and has been having all sorts of problems due to her food that she didnt even like. I switched her to this food and she has made a 180 turn around for the better. Im very happy with this product."
Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Recipe is one of 8 dehydrated recipes included in our review of the Honest Kitchen product line.
This Whole Grain Chicken formulation derives the bulk of its meat protein from dehydrated chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 27% protein, 15% fat and 50% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
In addition to its multiple organic ingredients, each recipe is processed in a human grade food processing facility.
And each component is non genetically modified (non-GMO) and free of any chemicals or preservatives. All meat ingredients are hormone and antibiotic free, too.
See all available recipes.
Read our review of the full Honest Kitchen Dog Food (Dehydrated) range here
Main Ingredients Dehydrated chicken, organic barley, dehydrated potatoes, organic flaxseed, organic oats Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusiv Protein Percentage 27% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My German Shepherd is a fussy eater, with his fair share of allergies. Ive tried all different brands and this one makes my Shermy happy. Its a great price, easy meal prep and super filling for him. This is the first brand of food I dont have to add anything or convince him to eat what I put down for him. I think I finally found a food we will be sticking with!"
Stella and Chewys Venison Blend is one of 13 raw recipes included in our review of the Stella and Chewys Freeze-Dried Dinner product line.Venison, lamb, lamb liver, venison liver, venison lung
This Venison Blend recipe derives the largest share of its animal protein from both venison and lamb. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 47% protein, 32% fat and 13% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
Stella and Chewys promises all its frozen and freeze-dried raw recipes include vitamins and minerals sourced from 100% certified organic fruits and vegetables.
A top-rated, freeze-dried dog food for those not requiring organic meat. Recommended with confidence.
See all 13 available recipes
Read our review of the full Stella and Chewys Freeze Dried Dinners Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Venison, lamb, lamb liver, venison liver, venison lung Texture Raw Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 47% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My pretty pittie is allergic to everything, beef, chicken, lamb, tomato (which is in most dog food) grain, etc. It was also recommended that we go with raw food. We have tried many brands of venison, duck, bison and wild boar. This by far is her favorite food. It is easy to store because most of the other brands were frozen. We feed her 2 1/2 "pucks" broken up and mixed with grain free dry food 2x a day. We typically add water to the pucks but she also enjoys them dry right out of the bag."
Carna4 Chicken is one of 6 dry recipes included in our review of the Carna4 product line.
This Carna4 formula derives most of its animal protein from both fresh chicken and chicken liver. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 32% protein, 17% fat and 43% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 52%.
Features a number of plant-based, organic ingredients. A quality formulation worthy of consideration.
Read our review of the full Carna4 Dog Food (Dry) range here
Main Ingredients Fresh chicken, chicken liver, eggs, organic sprouted barley seed, wild salmon Type: Grain-inclusive (barley, rice) Texture Dry Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 32% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Amazon.com"You will notice the difference in your dog within a few days of switching them to this dry kibble. All of our dogs (2 Seniors, 1 Adult and 3 Puppies) all love the food. They are happier, healthier looking and acting (shiny eyes, shiny coat, more energy, no tummy troubles ie. vomiting/diarreah no itching skin or scratching)."
Organic Chicken and Liver Recipe is one of 2 wet products included in our review of the Tender and True Canned product line.
This Tender and True organic formula derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh chicken. Based on dry matter, this recipe contains 39% protein, 23% fat and 31% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
A smooth, finely-chopped pate consistency. Its 100% complete and balanced nutrition with added vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients.
Fully organic. Contains no grain, GMOs, corn, wheat, or soy. Also free of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. A quality wet diet. Recommended with confidence.
Read our review of the full Tender and True Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, water sufficient for processing, organic pea Flour, organic chicken liver, organic chicken heart Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 39% Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog is the pickiest dog i have ever had, never wanted to eat anything, always turning his nose up at everything I put him in front of him. Someone suggested Tender and True and it has been a complete turnaround, he cant wait to eat. Cleans the bowl as if her were starving. I highly recommend this product."
Dry Dog Food Options That Arent Kibble
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If you love the convenience of dry food, there are other options besides feeding your dog plain old kibble. These kibble alternatives employ methods such as freeze-drying, dehydration, or gentle cooking to provide your dog with fresh whole ingredients without the need for refrigeration.
Below youll find more information on fresh food alternatives to kibble, their pros and cons, and how each drying method works to create recipes that are nutritionally balanced and complete.
What Do Fresh, Non-Kibble Dry Foods Have in Common?
Freeze drying, air drying, and dehydration involve the use of different drying methods to preserve the dog food. The main difference between them is whether you use pressure or heat or a combination of the two to remove moisture from the food.
Removing moisture helps eliminate pathogens that can cause illness. But it also means that your dog will need to drink more water compared to when youre feeding them a wet food diet. Make sure to have fresh water on hand to keep your dog properly hydrated.
These dry foods offer a convenient alternative to any current wet, dry, or homemade dog food. Companies like A Pup Above formulate recipes with the goal of feeding your dog fresh whole ingredients that have undergone minimal cooking and processing.
Normally, the use of high temperatures during the manufacturing process can lead to the loss of proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. A Pup Above uses 100 percent human-grade ingredients and the sous-vide cooking method to cook the food slowly and evenly, thus retaining its nutrients.
Aside from convenience, there are other advantages to feeding freeze-dried, air-dried, or dehydrated food. Whats important is that you read the food labels carefully and consider the pros and cons of these non-kibble alternatives, including the following:
Pros
- Lightweight and longer lasting
- No need to freeze and defrost the food before serving
- Prevention of mold and bacteria due to the removal of moisture
- Have a similar nutrient profile as the original raw ingredients
- Free of artificial preservatives
- Can feed smaller portions since the food is nutrient-dense
- Convenient for traveling or camping with your dog
Cons
- Can be expensive
- Freeze-dried food crumbles easily
- Rehydration may be necessary
On the last point, some companies recommend rehydrating the food while others suggest this step isnt necessary. If recommended or desired, adding bone broth or distilled water to the food is a good option since moisture aids in digestion.
Deciding whether to rehydrate the food may come down to whether your dog prefers crunchy or soft food. Keep in mind that, even with reduced moisture, these non-kibble alternatives still have a higher moisture content than kibble.
How Do Different Food Drying Methods Work?
Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Through a three-step process, freeze-drying removes moisture from the food while the food stays frozen. The first step is freezing the raw ingredients to make sure any water in the food remains in a solid state. Freezing the food minimizes alterations to nutrients in the food.
The second step involves using a combination of pressure and cold temperatures to transform the frozen liquids into a gaseous state (i.e., water vapor), known as sublimation, which is the process of turning solids directly into a gas without going through the liquid phase.
The third and final step is drying the food a second time by raising the temperature. The result is a product thats as close to the original food as possible, but it tends to be more expensive than traditional raw food diets due to the cost of freeze-drying the food.
Air-Dried Dog Food
Air drying works by slowly and gently evaporating the moisture from the food. This drying method reduces damage to essential nutrients and enzymes that are affected by using heat or other cooking methods.
Air-dried food provides similar benefits as a raw food diet and is more resistant to crumbling than freeze-dried food. Since the drying process results in nutrient-dense food, you can feed your dog smaller portions than when youre feeding kibble. Smaller portion sizes can help offset the cost of air-dried food.
Dehydrated Food
Dehydration removes moisture by applying very low heat for an extended period of time to preserve the food. The heat draws liquid from the food which then evaporates. Dehydration produces food thats no longer raw, but the temperatures used during the drying process are too low to consider the food cooked.
With dehydration, theres some nutrient loss because youre applying heat to the raw, natural ingredients. Nevertheless, the food retains many of the enzymes, vitamins, and amino acids of the original, unprocessed food.
NutriDry Food
By combing the methods of air drying and dehydration, A Pup Above has developed a unique cooking process called Nutridry. The Nutridry cooking process works by gently drying out whole foods to create Cubies, which preserve the nutrients and flavor of fresh food.
Cubies contain non-GMO veggies and ingredients that promote joint, immune, and digestive health such as flaxseed, cranberry, salmon oil, and sweet potato. A Pup Above formulates each recipe to meet AAFCO guidelines and provides a feeding guide so you know how much to feed your dog.
Cubies are half the cost of air-dried food and 30 percent less than the cost of freeze-dried food. The food arrives in a convenient and ready-to-serve package and doesnt need to be rehydrated. When mealtime comes around, you can be confident in feeding your dog, food thats been developed by veterinarians and tested for nutrition and palatability.
A Pup Above was founded by pet parents Ruth and Javier Marriott and their pup, Lola Marie Marriott. Ruth and Javier were tired of not knowing what was in Lolas bowl and Lola was tired of not liking anything they put in her bowl! Together, they created A Pup Above, a food thats delicious, nutritious, and fully transparent, from farm to bowl. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, A Pup Above specializes in its unique sous-vide cooking method, which gives the food more flavor, more nutrients, more healthy protein, and higher moisture. A Pup Above can be found nationwide at independent pet retailers.
