As fresh dog food increases in popularity, you may wonder if your dog should make the switch too. But a fresh dog food diet may not be the best choice for every pup. Why?
Not all fresh food diets are created equal. Some may be missing key nutrients, or they may fail to consider the needs of dogs with health conditions who require additional support through their diet.
Ahead, we discuss the pros and cons of fresh food for dogs. And remember, before switching your dog’s food, talk to your veterinarian. They can let you know if a fresh food diet is right for your dog.
Key Takeaways
- Fresh dog food is minimally processed and highly digestible; it may benefit dogs who have sensitive stomachs, picky appetites, or food allergies.
- Fresh food may not be suitable for dogs with certain medical conditions or decreased immune function. Some brands may lack the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy and may require supplementation with key vitamins and minerals.
- The best fresh dog food comes from reputable companies who staff board-certified veterinary nutritionists and adhere to AAFCO nutrition guidelines. Ask your veterinarian if fresh food is best for your dog.
What Is Fresh Dog Food?
Fresh dog food is minimally processed and made without preservatives. It’s made with human-grade ingredients such as lean meats, vegetables, and whole grains.
While some companies add a blend of vitamins and minerals to their diets to ensure they are well-balanced, not all of them do—so certain brands of fresh dog food may need supplementation to ensure your dog is eating a complete and balanced diet.
Fresh foods can be gently cooked, high-pressure processed, air-dried, dehydrated, or freeze-dried.
The Pros of Fresh Dog Food
What are the benefits of fresh dog food? Fresh dog food may be better than commercial dry or canned dog food for the following reasons:
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It may offer long-term health benefits. In humans, studies have linked ultra-processed foods to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. While more research is needed in pets, some experts believe less-processed diets may also support better long-term health in dogs.
The Cons of Fresh Dog Food
On the other hand, fresh food may not be the best option for every dog for the following reasons:
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It could be missing key nutrients. If the fresh dog food is not supplemented with the right balance of vitamins and minerals, dogs could be missing key nutrients, which could be detrimental—especially for those with chronic conditions like kidney disease.
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It may carry a risk of foodborne illness. The high cooking temperatures of dry and canned dog foods do the best job of killing disease-causing bacteria before packaging. Fresh dog food, which is cooked at lower temperatures and is not usually shelf-stable at room temperature, may carry some risk of foodborne illness due to this more minimal processing—and thus spoil faster even if stored properly. As such, fresh dog food may not be the best option for very young, very old, pregnant, or immunocompromised dogs.
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It has a shorter shelf life. Because of this, storage can be more complicated because fresh food must be consumed within a shorter timeframe than canned or dry dog food, which may be impractical for some pet parents.
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It can be difficult to transition dogs off fresh food. Fresh food may also be so appetizing to dogs that it could be difficult to switch when necessary, such as to feed them a prescription veterinary diet for weight management.
What Is the Best Fresh Dog Food?
When choosing a fresh dog food, it’s best to look for a reputable company, ideally one with veterinary nutritionists on staff ensuring the diets are complete and balanced for your dog.
Look for an Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement on the packaging, indicating that the manufacturer has met particular nutrition standards in formulating the diet.
The diet should also ideally have a good source of highly digestible lean protein, such as chicken, fish, or beef.
Finally, make sure you’re selecting a food appropriate for your dog’s life stage—puppy, adult, or senior.
A few examples that meet these requirements include:
Is Fresh Dog Food Right for Your Dog?
Ask your veterinarian if fresh dog food is right for your pet.
Fresh dog food may be right for your dog if they have a sensitive stomach and need an easily digestible diet.
Dogs with food allergies may also do well on fresh diets because of the simpler ingredients, and it can be easier to eliminate problematic ingredients, such as feeding only fish or only beef protein if your dog is allergic to chicken.
Fresh food can also improve skin and coat appearance in some dogs.
Picky eaters or dogs with decreased appetites may enjoy fresh food more than dry or canned dog foods.
The lean protein and simple ingredients in fresh diets may also support lean muscle mass in older dogs or those who are losing body condition from illnesses like cancer.
As stated above, feeding less-processed foods could also decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cognitive decline in dogs, though these studies have not been conducted yet.
Fresh Dog Food FAQs
Do vets recommend fresh dog food?
Vets may recommend fresh dog food for conditions like food allergies; low appetite or picky eating; skin conditions; or sensitive stomach.
The best fresh diets come from reputable companies whose diets are developed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, such as JustFoodforDogs, Freshpet, and Nom Nom.
How much is fresh dog food?
Fresh dog food typically costs about $1.40 per 100 calories of food. Comparatively, dry dog food costs about 25 cents per 100 calories, while canned dog food costs about $1.10 per 100 calories.
A pack of seven 12-ounce pouches of JustFoodForDogs JustFresh is about $50 on Chewy, which is roughly $7 per pouch.
Is fresh dog food better than kibble?
It depends on the manufacturer and the dog.
Fresh dog food can be nutritionally equivalent to kibble if it’s made by a reputable company that relies on a veterinary nutritionist to develop its diets.
It may be better for some dogs who need an easily digestible, minimally processed whole-food diet, while some dogs with conditions like kidney disease may do better on a commercial kibble diet.
Can you freeze fresh dog food?
Yes, fresh dog food can usually be frozen and thawed for later consumption. This can be a great way to preserve fresh dog food past its typical shelf life. It’s best to freeze at 0 F or lower, and thaw and use within three months.
