Overview Of The Freshpet Brand
The tagline FreshPet uses is real food fresh from the fridge. Their recipes features 100% natural farm-raised poultry, beef, and fish as well as fiber-packed garden veggies and antioxidant-rich fruits.
They offer dozens of different products in multiple forms including bagged meals, rolls, and stews. They also offer a selection of meal mixers and dog treats.
FreshPet makes a big deal about not using rendered meats or by-product meals in their products.
To the average consumer, that sounds great, but what does it really mean?
Fresh meats like real chicken or beef contain about 70% moisture which cooks out during extrusion the process used to make commercial dry food.
Rendered meat meals are already cooked to remove moisture before adding them to the mix, making them a more concentrated source of protein.
They are not inherently bad, but it is important to evaluate the quality named meat meals like chicken meal are better than generic meat meals like poultry meal or poultry by-product meal.
Another claim FreshPet makes, in addition to starting every recipe with real meat, is that they use fresh fruits and vegetables in their recipes.
These ingredients provide natural sources for key nutrients, but every recipe also contains vitamin and mineral supplements as needed for nutritional balance. All of that is fine, but there are some additional ingredients that may be of concern.
Its also important to note that FreshPet makes use of plant proteins .
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Get Creative With Yourindoor Space
Dont let the size of your home limit your pups exercise routine. On days with inclement weather, extreme heat, or even lack of time for a proper outdoor workout, try getting creative with your indoor space. If you have access to stairs in your house or building, running up and down a few flights of stairs is a great option for a short, but killer, workout. Similarly, if you have a treadmill that could use another set of feet or paws on it during the week, start training your dog to safely use it. Start with walks at low speeds and slowly build it to a light jog, but always closely monitor your pup while using it. If all else fails, a good old-fashioned game of fetch can also help your pup work up a sweat.
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What Is Fresh Pet Food Exactly
Fresh pet food brands like Freshpetfound in the fridge in your local pet storehelped commercialize fresh options for pet owners. Today, there are dozens of brands out there, and many are available as subscription services that function the same way: You create a dog profile, complete a questionnaire, customize your delivery frequency, and voilà! Next thing you know, freshly made pet food arrives at your door packed in dry ice.
In my research, I found more than a dozen companies that market fresh pet food diets for cats and dogs, and their cooking methodologies, ingredients, and storage recommendations vary widely. According to Bullen, the term fresh pet food doesnt really have a specific definitionit just refers to pet food thats made with fewer or no preservatives. It could be made at home with boiled chicken and cooked plain rice, or it could be produced with recognizable ingredients in a facility, packaged without preservatives, and then frozen. For the brands we list here, we researched those that offer food thats commercially produced and thoroughly cooked at a low temperature, and that contain some combination of meats, grains, fruits, and vegetablesit tends to look like you took a humans Thanksgiving dinner plate and mixed it all together.
What Did Our Test Dog Think
Our test dog Archie has been testing fresh foods for some time and he generally loves it. That being said, he wasnt a fan of some of FreshPets products.
We used the Grain-Free Beef and Pumpkin Recipe stew as a meal topper and he seemed to like it well enough, though it wasnt particularly appetizing by human standards.
The FreshPet Select Roasted Meals chicken recipe was much more well-received. It had a strong chicken aroma with visible pieces of chicken as well as preformed nuggets. Archie gobbled the food up with no problems.
Though FreshPets roasted meals and stews went over well, we cant say the same for the Vital Grain-Free Multi-Protein Recipe roll.
According to the feeding recommendations, you should cut the roll into slices then chop the slice into smaller pieces.
The roll looked like a sausage with pieces of carrot and unidentifiable white substance scattered throughout, but it didnt look very appetizing. Archie didnt think so either.
He sniffed the food and sampled it but then looked at me as if he was asking whether he really had to eat it.
Overall, I didnt have a problem with the FreshPet stews and roasted meals, but I cant say I recommend the rolls.
The recommended feeding amount was also concerning. FreshPet recommends about 1 pound of food per day for a dog of Archies size thats half of the 2-pound roll. C
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Can A Dog Live On Chicken And Rice
It is not a good idea to keep your dog on a daily diet of chicken and rice for long. While this dish is extremely healthy for dogs, it does not contain all of the nutrients they need, which they get from other sources such as red meats and vegetables. Also, dogs tend to develop allergies to the foods they eat the most.
What Is The Cost Of Freshpet
Freshpet dog food prices will vary depending on what type of food is purchased. Dog food in rolls is the most economical option.
It costs between $12-13 for a 6-pound Freshpet Roll. A 50-pound dog will need to be fed approximately 1 pound per day of dog food. This is approximately $2.17 per day.
Freshpet Selects bags are more expensive. It costs around $20 for a bag weighing 4.5 pounds. This bag contains only 6 cups total. A 50-pound dog will require approximately 4 cups of dog food each day. This amounts to about $13 per daily. This route is best avoided if you have a small dog.
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Pet Owners Are Warming Up To Refrigerated Frozen Food And Treats
Even though Freshpet rolls in chub packaging require slicing to prepare, that has not deterred consumers from making it one of the brands top selling formats.Source: Freshpet, Inc.
Pet Food Processing. Read it and other articles from this issue in our .
According to Nielsen Pet Retail data from the fiscal year ending June 2019, traditional shelf-stable wet pet food has lost ground to the fast-growing fresh and raw pet food segment. Frozen wet product gained 8.8% in sales since 2018 and refrigerated sales grew a substantial 21.5%, the report stated. This means the market for refrigerated and frozen pet food and treats is growing to meet consumer demand and there is room for more profit to be made.
Consumers are looking for better ways to feed their pets healthier, higher-quality food, says Jake Trainor, director of marketing and head of e-commerce at Freshpet, Secaucus, New Jersey. This is driving strong growth in the refrigerated pet food category and certainly for Freshpet, as the pioneer of the fresh/refrigerated segment, he says. We see a continued shift away from people feeding overly processed pet food. Trainor says Freshpet makes its natural recipes in its Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, kitchens with fresh whole ingredients that are steamed in small batches at lower temperatures to retain essential vitamins and nutrients that pets need.
We see a continued shift away from people feeding overly processed pet food, says Jake Trainor, Freshpet.
What’re The Benefits Of Fresh Dog Food
6 Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Fresh, Real Food No more guessing games. Fresh food means real ingredients you can actually see in your dog’s bowl. … Better, faster, stronger. Popeye was right: eating spinach helps build strong muscles and promotes better health. … Healthier digestion. … Better skin and coats Many dogs suffer from skin issues like itching, rashes, and dry coats. … More items…
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Storing Our Freshpet Rolls:
Fresh Cuts Chicken Recipe
The Vital line also contains a fresh cuts recipe, which is basically shredded chicken with a few added ingredients, including sweet potato, carrots, peas, green beans, cranberries, fish oil, and spinach. On top of this, it is enriched with Freshpets Vitamin Pack but also contains carrageenan as a thickening agent.
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Using The Microwave To Warm Fresh Foods
Question:I like to make my dogs’ food in advance for the entire day. I store this in the refrigerator for the day. I know it’s not good to feed the food cold, straight out of the refrigerator. My question, is if it’s OK to microwave my dogs’ food to warm it up before I feed it to them?
Answer:
This is a great question and one I hear quite often. Though it is understandably convenient, this is not generally my first choice if other options are available to you. Some vets will explain that microwaving your dogâs food will turn fat molecules into something their bodies can no longer recognize. Jan Rasmusen suggests warming up cold food in a double-boiler or in a plastic bag immersed in hot water. You can also add in a bit of hot or warm water to a refrigerated portion of the honest kitchen food and mix it thoroughly to bring to room temperature.
Deva Khalsa, VMD, agrees that microwaving your dogâs food is not recommended. âMicrowave cooking destroys many important nutrients. Just 2 seconds of microwaving can destroy all of the enzymes in grains and vegetables.â She adds, âUsing Plastic dishes in a microwave can also cause plastic molecules to end up in the food.â
Some of the possible âdangersâ include:
A study conducted by Hans Hertel in Switzerland offers some fascinating insight into the negative effects of microwave foods in the human body.
Resources:
Freshpet Packaging And Quality
Freshpet packed their food brilliantly Their dog food is easy to store and pack in such a way that their food stays fresh for longer. Upon arrival, dog food is well packed, paying close attention to ensure no products are damaged at the time of delivery.
The quality in Freshpet offers high standard dog food. They meet the minimum AAFCO requirements, and all their animal food is regulated and of high quality.
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Okay But Is It Actually Better
Many of these fresh pet food brands are marketed as being human-grade or say they dont contain fillers, but that doesnt mean theyre better than traditional pet food. The fillers in pet food are grains or carbohydratessuch as corn, soy, or wheatthat offer your pet nutritional value. Preservatives extend the shelf life, flavor, and smell of pantry pet foods and typically go through quality-control testing by the FDA or another governing body, to ensure the food is still safe for your pet to consume.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials defines human-grade food as being suitable for human consumption, meaning all ingredients must be safe for humans to eat. Bullen explained that feed grade can be defined as being suitable for animal consumption. But the distinction may not be much more than marketing when youre talking about a dog who likes to eat leftovers out of the trash. There are so many things that would make food feed grade rather than human grade that wouldnt harm the animal in any form or fashion, Bullen said. A prime example of feed grade would be poultry by-product meal, which can consist of poultry liver, spleen, or kidneys, but would not include poultry feathers or feet.
What Is The Most Unhealthy Dog Food
7 Bad Dry Dog Foods To Avoid
- Kibbles N Bits. Again, corn is listed as the first ingredient.
- Iams Dog Food. While chicken is the main source of protein for Iams, it also contains chicken by-product meal.
- Muenster Natural Adult Dog Food. This dog food formula is natural, but that doesnt mean that its necessarily good.
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Top Best Answers To The Question Can Freshpet Dog Food Be Heated
Never let Freshpet food sit out in your pet’s bowl after mealtime is over.
Feel free to freeze any food you feel your pet cannot finish within 7 days.
Just keep in mind color and texture can vary after freezing, but it’ll be safe and healthy to feed!
Those who are looking for an answer to the question «Can freshpet dog food be heated?» often ask the followingquestions:
Fresh Pet Dog Food Refrigerated: Is Fresh Pet Good For Dogs
Freshpet is a pioneer in the fresh pet food market. They have been offering fresh food for pets since 2006. This article will provide more information about Fresh Pet Dog Food Refrigerated: Is Fresh pet good for dogs?
Freshpet can be found at any pet shop or grocery store. They have over 19,000 refrigerators in North America that sell refrigerated dog food.
Freshpet uses meats sourced from North America. All food is prepared in Pennsylvania and shipped across the US.
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Are There Any Recalls On Freshpet Dog Food
There has been no recall of this pet food. Social media and even stock market investors are concerned that Freshpet Pet Food is having mold problems with their pet foods. There has been no recall of this pet food. The moldy products we found were unexpired and unopened, with no discernible damage to the packaging.
How Much Does It Cost
FreshPet is not a delivery service or a subscription pet food company, so the cost can vary greatly. FreshPet Select Stews come in 10.25-ounce bowls for about $3 each while rolls of fresh food cost about $6. You can purchase much larger rolls for about $20 or bags of fresh food for about $9.
Depending on your dogs size and what type of food you choose, the cost could range from as little as $3 per day to $9 per day, making the average monthly cost about $25 to $65.
Check below to see how FreshPet stacks up against other dog food brands for cost:
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A Texture & Form For Every Pup
Whether your pup prefers chunks, shreds or a softer pate-like texture, Freshpet has varieties that are sure to excite and fulfill your furry friends cravings.
Rolls
Cut at the marks provided and slice, dice or mash the food for your pet. Refrigerate the remaining portion in a sealed container.
Fresh Cuts
Use a measuring cup to scoop out shredded chickensee the package for suggested serving sizes. Reseal bag and return to the fridge.
Complete Meals
Use a measuring cup and scoop out the right portion of tender bite-sized pieces according to the package. Reseal bag and return to fridge.
What Temperature Should Dog Food Be
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Keeping this in view, should dog food be warm or cold?
Dogs and cats can both taste their food through it’s scent. This can mean they start to pick up the flavor of their food before they start to eat. Warm food that is between 93 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit will increase this scent and make the experience even tastier and more pleasant for your pet.
Furthermore, will dog food go bad in the heat? Heat alone is not so bad for dry dog food. It would most likely just make the dry dog food drier. It can, though, cause the oils in the food to go rancid, so allowing the dry dog food to be stored in a hot environment is not recommended. It is moisture that is really bad for dog food.
Similarly, what temperature should dry dog food be kept at?
You will want to avoid storing your dry dog food in places where temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, like a garage or shed. Make sure the chosen location of your dry dog food storage is secure and can’t be accessed by your dog to prevent him from sneaking a snack on the down low.
What temperature is OK for dogs?
A general rule of thumb to use is, If the outdoor temperature is too hot or cold for a human to be comfortable, it’s too severe for your dog. Hot temperatures, combined with humidity, can cause dehydration and heatstroke. Temperatures lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit can cause hypothermia or frostbite.
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