Is raw dog food better than dried
Best Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Surf and Turf is one of 6 freeze-dried recipes included in our review of the Open Farm product line.
Open Farm Surf and Turf acquires the better part of its meat protein from fresh beef and wild pacific salmon. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 34% fat and 15% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 79%.
High-protein freeze-dried formula mixed with organic fruits and vegetable. Contains no rendered poultry or meat meals. All ingredients are 100% traceable. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Open Farm Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food range here
Main Ingredients Humanely raised beef, beef hearts, wild pacific salmon, beef kidneys, beef livers Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 43% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adults and puppies (including large breeds) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at OpenFarmPet.com"My picky golden doodle will eat these and I feel good about feeding them to her, so its a win-win. It seems like Open Farm's line of freeze dried products packs in nutrients and proteins sourced conscientiously."
Raw Beef is one of 5 freeze-dried recipes covered in our review of the Nulo Freestyle product line.
Nulo Freestyle Raw Beef gets most of its meat protein from fresh beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 44% protein, 29% fat and 18% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
A superior, grain-free, all life stages option. Made in a USDA-inspected facility and fast-frozen to preserve flavor and micro-nutrients. Contains no corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives and coloring. Heartily recommended.
Read our review of the full Nulo Freestyle Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef kidneys, ground beef bone Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 44% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adults and puppies (including large breeds) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I have been using Nulo for approx. 1 year now. My 4 year old Mastiff and my 5 year old Shepard Mix LOVE Nulo products. Their coats are so shinny and the previous allergies that they struggled with are GONE! I would highly recommend any of the Nulo products."
Chewys Chicken is one of 13 freeze-dried recipes evaluated in our review of the Stella and Chewy product line.
This Stella and Chewy Freeze-Dried Dinner acquires a major part of its animal protein from fresh chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 51% protein, 29% fat and 12% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.
The formula provides most of the benefits of a raw diet with the added convenience of freeze-dried patties. Made with cage-free chicken (raised without hormones or antibiotics). And includes 100% organic-certified fruits and vegetables. Recommended with confidence.
Read our review of the full Stella and Chewys Freeze Dried Dinners Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 51% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adults and puppies (including large breeds) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My Plottie girl needs to watch her figure. One and a half of these broken up and rehydrated in warm water makes a great gravy for her kibble. Plus theyre fabulously portable and lightweight, and easily stored, so I dont have to lug cans around when I travel and risk spoilage. Most of all, my 6 year old sweetie loves thesegets excited at dinnertime. Theyre expensive, but I believe theyre worth the price."
Bravo Homestyle Complete Beef Dinner is one of 3 freeze-dried recipes contained in our review of the Bravo product line.
This Bravo Homestyle recipe draws a major part of its animal protein from fresh beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 48% protein, 16% fat and 28% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 34%.
Completely free of artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Made by one of the most well-known raw pet food makers in the country. Enthusiastically recommended.
Read our review of the full Bravo Homestyle Complete Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Beef, beef liver, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, beef hearts Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 48% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adults and puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"This is an excellent food. I feed it to my working German Shepherds and the coats are gorgeous and overall condition of these elite dogs is fabulous. If you want to feed raw without the work of finding all the things needed this is the way to go. I have fed it for years!!"
Turkey Mini Nibs is one of 19 freeze-dried recipes included in our review of the Vital Essentials product line.
This Vital Essentials formula receives the lions share of its animal protein from fresh turkey. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 60% protein, 18% fat and 14% estimated carbs resulting in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 31%.
The single protein diet is ideal for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies. Can be used as a complete and balanced meal or used as a topper to improve the palatability of another product. Offers several recipes to choose from.
Vital Essentials is one of only a few commercial diets that meets AAFCO nutrient profiles by conducting actual feeding trials on live animals. A real gem and a rare find. Enthusiastically recommended.
Read our review of the full Vital Essentials Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Turkey, turkey heart, turkey liver, herring oil, mixed tocopherols Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 60% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adults and puppies (including large breeds) Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Vital Essentials is a very high quality well sourced food that apparently is very tasty as well! My dog eagerly eats his food . Very happy with this dog food!"
Beef Meal Bites is one of 4 freeze-dried recipes evaluated in our review of the Halo product line.
This Halo formula derives the better part of its animal protein from fresh beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 29% fat and 19% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 68%.
This freeze-dried design includes no fillers or generic by-products. Its made with real beef and contains no corn, wheat, soy, antibiotics, artificial flavors or preservatives. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Halo Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Bites Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef lung, beef kidney Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 43% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adults only Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Halo is very high quality and I use these as both training treats and a meal topper to help my dog eat. Not all dogs are big eaters. I like this brand a lot as does my vet and I buy many of their product. My dog is always very excited when he sees the bag come out."
Pureformance Chicken Recipe is one of 4 formulas rated in our review of the Grandma Lucys freeze-dried product line.
Grandma Lucys Pureformance Chicken gets the better part of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 36% protein, 15% fat and 41% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 41%.
Prepared in a family-owned California facility. This fully grain-free formula is made in small batches to ensure quality and consistency. Free of generic by-products and preservatives. Made with premium ingredients throughout. Easy to recommend.
Read our review of the full Grandma Lucys Pureformance Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients USDA Chicken, chickpeas, flax, carrots, celery Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 36% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adults and puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dogs love this stuff as soon as I place the bowl on the floor they gobble it up quick. And my dog that was overweight has lost some pounds eating this food. I will continue to feed my dogs this food from now on."
Turkey Recipe is one of 5 freeze-dried formulas analyzed in our review of the Sojos Complete product line.
This Sojos Complete formula gets most of its animal protein from fresh turkey and egg. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 31% protein, 13% fat and 48% estimated carbs which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 43%.
Sojos is totally free of genetically engineered and artificial ingredients. Also contains no preservatives or fillers. An excellent option for adult dogs with food and skin sensitivities. Easily recommended.
Read our review of the full Sojos Complete Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Turkey, sweet potatoes, whole egg, broccoli, apples Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 31% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult dogs Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"This is the best dog food ever! I have a 14 yr old Sheltie with major stomach issues and this cleared it up. He loved the Wild venison best but when I couldn't get the venison anymore we switched to the turkey and he loved it too!"
Duck Recipe is one of 7 dry formulas analyzed in our review of the Bixbi Rawbble product line.
This Bixbi Rawbble freeze-dried formula draws the majority of its animal protein from fresh duck. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 54% protein, 32% fat and 6% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
We like the simple, single protein design, which makes it ideal for use as a limited ingredient diet. Its made with poultry thats raised without antibiotics or added hormones. Free of all rendered meal by-products while it also contains no corn, wheat soy, artificial preservatives or coloring agents. A top, grain-free, freeze-dried option. Easy to recommend.
Read our review of the full Bixbi Rawbble Dog Food (Freeze-Dried) range here
Main Ingredients Duck with ground bone, duck liver, duck heart, pumpkin, fenugreek seed Type Grain-free, freeze-dried Protein Percentage 54% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Adult and small or medium breed puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Amazon.com"My guy LOVES this. He is the pickiest eater and we crumble this on top of his food and then shake it up, His bowl has been consistently empty at the end of every day. It is such a relief knowing he is eating enough daily. I HIGHLY recommend. It is on the pricier side but it is so worth it."
Fresh vs Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food (The Pros & Cons)
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Quick Summary
- Freeze-dried raw dog food is mainly raw meat and other food components which have undergone a dehydration process in low temperatures to remove its moisture.
- Fresh dog food is made by cooking high-quality ingredients without any sort of preservatives.
- Fresh vs freeze dried pet food: Both are made with the same ingredients. When it comes to preparation, one is cooked and then served, while the other is dried and kept in the fridge to extend its shelf life.
In the fresh vs freeze-dried raw dog food debate, the general consensus among pet parents is that whole, unprocessed meals are better than their dried dog food counterpart. Both fresh and freeze-dried dog food have high nutritional valuethey just have slight differences in how they are prepared.
Even with this however, I still often get some questions on how a balanced meal for a dog should be served. Do you cook your own dog food each time? Or should you make these meals by batch, freeze dry them, and then serve as needed? How do fresh vs freeze-dried raw dog food compare?
Below, I wrote an overview for pet owners who are torn between these two different methods of meeting your dogs food nutrition.
Fresh vs Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food
When it comes right down to it, fresh and freeze dried pet food may be made with the exact same ingredients. One is served as soon as its made while the other is dried and kept in the fridge to extend its useful life. I understand why it must be hard to pick which one is better, but generally, the dog owners lifestyle with your pet and his dietary needs should dictate your decision. To further help you, heres the pros and cons of each:
Pros and Cons of Fresh Food
- A raw diet is often likened to fresh food, but theyre not always the same. Raw foods typically serves uncooked fresh meat while fresh food may be cooked. If cooked, serving fresh food to your dog lowers the risk of pathogens or bacteria in the meal.
- Fresh pet food is packed with flavor and your dogs thrive on the taste. Its perfect for picky eaters who may not like kibble because of the texture.
- Fresh and raw diets are something you can make at home without the need for specialized equipment. This makes it cheaper in terms of preparation. However, the ingredient themselves may change the overall cost of the dog foods. While getting certified organic produce is healthy for your dog, the cost may be a little more compared to dry kibble.
Preparing fresh meals for your pet can be time intensive. If you have a busy life, you may need to set aside a few hours of your time each week to prepare the meal or subscribe to dog food delivery services. Also note that fresh meals also run the risk of pathogens. Also note that food loses some of this nutrients when exposed to heat. B vitamins and vitamin C tend to run off with water and the cooking process can dilute their effect.
Pros and Cons of Freeze-Dried Pet Food
- Freeze dried pet food have a long shelf life. When frozen raw or even cooked, the meal can last anywhere from 6 to 12 months. This makes it possible for pet foods to be prepared in large batches and just thawed out as needed.
- Freeze dried food is essentially dehydrated dog food prepared through cold temperatures. The lack of moisture makes it more shelf stable for longer periods of time. In order to put back the moisture, you simply have to add water to the pet food.
- Dehydrated food tends to retain all the health benefits that come with whole food. In fact, it contains at least 90% of all the micro nutrients of the fresh version. Even better, most of the freeze dried foods are obtained at peak ripeness for optimum nutrition.
- The freeze drying process includes the use of a vacuum chamber which effectively dries out the food but still retain its natural state. Before serving, all you have to do is re-introduce moisture by adding water. This gives the food the same water content as fresh meals which actually helps your dog feel fuller, faster.
- Dried food can be made with zero starch added into the dogs diet. With a generic dogs kibble, a large part of the ingredient would be starch. This is actually one of the secrets why dry food has an extended shelf life. With freeze drying however, you get the added shelf life while providing your do with a grain-free fare.
Of course, freeze-dried dog food has some drawbacks. A common issue is that the process of freeze drying the food is expensive. You will need specialized equipment to get the job done and the initial cost may be shocking.
Theres also the worry of pathogens which is common when it comes to a raw diet. Freeze-drying dog food should be an extra step of killing off the bacteria.
Which is Better? Fresh vs Freeze Dried Dog Food
Of the two, freeze dried seems to be the better option when it comes to the consistency of nutrients and the ease of serving the food. Note though that to sustain your dogs healthy skin and happy disposition, the content of the food matters more than anything. A complete and balanced diet of fresh meals will be better than freeze dried meals with zero nutritional value. However, you must know how much fresh food to feed a dog to give Fido the most benefit.
So what should you do when offered a variety of dog meals by different pet food companies? You always look at the ingredient list before anything else. Ideally, the recipe should be formulated by a board certified veterinary nutritionist. At the end of the day, you always want to serve your dog a diet that matches their unique needs [1] perfectly. A complete and balanced meal is only possible if you make adjustments based on the dogs breed, his activity levels, his life stage, and any health conditions he may have. To start, check if the food meets AAFCO standards [2].
Frequently Asked Questions
Is freeze dried raw as good as raw for dogs?
Low temperature dehydration process is generally seen as a healthier alternative to other cooking methods such as air drying or warm air dehydration. Compared to a raw pet food however, the distinction really lies on the ingredient list and the preparation. Typically, freeze dried has lower chances of containing pathogens.
Is freeze dried raw dog food better than kibble?
Compared with kibble, freeze dried dog foods is definitely the better option. Kibble tends to contain starch and has a decreased nutritional value.
Which is better for dogs: dehydrated or freeze dried?
Opt to feed freeze dried to your dog if given the option. This is because freeze dried food retains more nutrients and with a wider variety. This is because not all organic fruits and vegetables can be dehydrated, but practically all of them can be freeze dried.
Is freeze dried raw food actually raw?
No. Freeze-dried dog food brands are different from raw feeding or raw diets. Despite the name, theyre also nothing like frozen food. Being able to feed raw basically means giving your pet the exact meal they would naturally get in the wild. With freeze dried however, youre stripping the food of the moisture content.
