The Benefits of Freeze-Dried Dog Food – A Healthier Option for Your Pup
More and more pet owners are making the switch to freeze-dried dog food due to the many health and convenience benefits it offers. Freeze-dried dog food provides optimal nutrition in its purest form, retaining more nutrients than traditional kibble after the freeze-drying process. This innovative type of food also has a long shelf life compared to raw food, giving pet owners the flexibility they need. Read on to learn why freeze dried dog food should be your next step to better health for your canine companion.
What is Freeze-Dried Dog Food?
Freeze-dried dog food is made by freezing fresh, raw ingredients, then removing the frozen water content through a process called sublimation. This allows the food to retain most of its nutritional value since barely any heat or pressure is used. The result is a lightweight, dry nugget that looks a bit like a piece of jerky. But all an owner needs to do is add water, and it rehydrates into a food with a texture similar to raw. freeze dried dog food provides the convenience of dry food with the benefits of raw.
Key Health Benefits
There are many reasons why the natural goodness found in premium freeze-dried dog food makes it a healthier choice:
- Excellent Source of Protein: Freeze-drying locks in more nutrients than high heat processing does, meaning your pup gets more muscle-maintaining protein per bite. This helps keep energy levels steady while supporting lean muscle mass.
- Better Digestibility: Since freeze drying doesn’t damage delicate proteins or alter fiber, freeze dried dog food is gentler on your dog’s stomach. Many pups with sensitivities do better on this type of diet.
- Nutrient Retention: Vitamins like A, B complex, C, and E withstand the freeze drying process much better than extrusion or baking. These vitamins, along with antioxidants and healthy fats, get absorbed efficiently into your dog’s body.
- Natural Ingredients: Quality freeze-dried foods use unprocessed, whole food ingredients you recognize. This increases palatability and reduces chances of intolerance or allergic reactions.
- Dental Health: The texture of rehydrated freeze-dried nuggets helps clean teeth better than dry kibble. The chunks also give dogs something to chew, exercising gums.
- Variety: Freeze dried dog food often comes in proteins like chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, duck, venison, and fish so you can provide taste variety.
Convenience Factors
In addition to outstanding nutrition, freeze-dried dog food offers convenience that fits every lifestyle:
- No refrigeration required until reconstituted
- Lightweight for travel or hiking
- Easy to portion out exact serving sizes
- Great for multi-pet homes to feed different diets
- Rehydrates quickly with water
- Less storage space needed than canned or raw food
- Can be served dry or rehydrated as a topper
Things to Look For
With improved manufacturing processes, more brands offer high quality freeze-dried foods at reasonable prices. But look for these things to identify the best options:
✔ Single source animal proteins
✔ Whole food ingredients like meats, fruits, veggies
✔ No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
✔ Variety of proteins to rotate
✔ Nutrient profiles tailored to dog’s life stage
✔ Results backed by feeding trials
✔ User-friendly packaging and labeling
Making the Switch
Transitioning your dog onto any new food should be gradual. Start by mixing a small amount of freeze-dried food with your dog’s current food. Track servings to replace a little more of the old food with new every few days until you’re feeding freeze dried dog food exclusively. This gives your pup’s digestion time to adjust.
Be sure to follow rehydration guidelines and pay attention to your dog’s reaction. Every freeze-dried formula has different water needs. And amounts should be tailored to your individual dog based on weight, activity level, age, and other factors.
Ready to upgrade your dog to this premium style of food? Consult your vet on the best brand and formulas first. But once you do, both you and your four-legged friend will appreciate the benefits!
Key Takeaways:
- Freeze-dried dog food retains more nutrients than traditional kibble because barely any heat or pressure is used in processing.
- It provides the convenience of dry food with the benefits of raw food for dogs.
- Freeze-dried food is highly digestible and gentle on dog’s stomachs.
- It’s an excellent source of protein to help maintain lean muscle mass.
- Freeze-dried chunks clean teeth better than hard kibble.
- The variety of proteins and ingredients reduces chances of intolerance or allergies.
- When switching foods, transition gradually over the course of about 7-10 days.
Is freeze dried dog food better than kibble?
Yes, freeze dried dog food retains more nutrients and natural goodness compared to highly processed kibble. The freeze drying process preserves nutrients better so dogs benefit from excellent protein quality and digestibility. Freeze dried foods are also closer to a dog’s natural diet. The rehydrated texture is easier on teeth and gums too. Kibble can lead to plaque buildup. So quality freeze dried food is superior nutritionally, promoting better immune, coat, energy, muscle, and overall health.
How long does freeze dried dog food last after opening?
In the sealed manufacturer’s bag, freeze dried food can last 12-18 months from the production date. Once opened, it stays fresh for about 9 months if stored properly in the original bag with excess air pressed out. Keep unused portions sealed in an airtight container inside a cool, dry place. Just use plastic or glass containers, not metal, to store reconstituted food to retain nutrients. Opened freeze dried raw food should get used up within a week.
What are the ingredients in premium freeze dried dog foods?
The best freeze dried dog foods feature single or limited source animal proteins like chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, or fish. Whole food ingredients also include digestible vegetables, fruits, eggs, and yogurts. You won’t find corn, soy, wheat, additives, or by-products in quality brands. Every ingredient serves a nutritional purpose for optimal health. Look for foods backed by AAFCO feeding trials too.
Can all dogs eat freeze dried food?
Both puppies and adult dogs do extremely well on a freeze dried food diet. The nutrients match all life stages. It just takes hydrating the right amount to meet your dog’s unique needs. Freeze dried foods won’t exacerbate stomach issues either. Owners do need to introduce it slowly when transitioning from another dog food. Check label guidelines on amounts to feed based on weight and activity level. And as always, consult your vet if you have breed-specific diet concerns.
How do you transition a dog to freeze dried food?
Make any dog food change gradual over 7-10 days. First, mix a small bit of rehydrated freeze dried food into your dog’s current kibble. Track when replacing tiny amounts more each day until only feeding freeze dried. This gives your dog’s GI tract time to adapt to the new food. Keep an eye on energy, appetite, digestion, and other aspects too. Don’t forget to factor serving sizes appropriately to age and weight. The key is slowly acclimating to avoid GI upset.