Kibble Isn’t Raw Dog Food
The new kibble/freeze-dried recipes are seemingly being created to appeal to dog parents who want to improve their dog’s diet and they’re interested in raw feeding. However, the marketing and packaging are leaning a bit too heavily on the raw feeding message, leading dog parents to believe that this is raw when it’s not.
Raw dog food is a blend of fresh ingredients that provide a dog with optimal nutrition:
- 80% muscle meat
- 5% liver
- 10% bone
And adding freeze-dried protein pieces to a bag of kibble doesn’t turn the food into raw dog food it’s kibble with a food topper. That doens’t make it bad food, it just doesn’t make it a raw food diet.
Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Toppers
Instinct Raw Boost Toppers is a top choice for freeze-dried food to add to your dogs existing kibble diet. In addition to pieces of beef or free range chicken, the blend includes freeze-dried apples, sweet potatoes, peas, and blueberries. Similar to other options, this is fully grain-free and completely all-natural.
Key Features:
- Intended to be a kibble topper for enhanced taste, or as a treat
- Made without grains, filler, or any artificial flavors or preservatives
- Available in beef and chicken
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Made with beef or chicken, as well as freeze dried apples, sweet potatoes, peas, and blueberries
- Affordable option for those looking to test a raw food diet
Cons:
- Grain free may not work for some pet parents
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What About Dehydrated Dog Food
With all this talk about moisture and re-hydrating, you might be wondering about “dehydrated” dog food. Perhaps you’ve seen something called dehydrated on the shelf at the pet shop. The Honest Kitchen is a common brand of dehydrated food.
But dehydrated dog food is not raw. Instead of using a cold process, the manufacturer of a dehydrated food heats it. That’s cooking, which changes the nature of the nutrients.
Now, a dehydrated dog food might be okay if you’re interested in cooked food, but not if you’re interested in the benefits of raw.
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Freeze Drying Food With Dry Ice
How To Prepare Freeze
Well, preparing a freeze-dried batch of food is pretty simple. Just add in some warm water to it and there you have it, a balanced food that is ready in under 3 minutes.
Before you do any of the actual freeze-dried meals, you should definitely read the instructions written in the back of the baggies that the food comes in.
You can also add in some food additives for more protein or calcium supplements on top of the food. Otherwise, there isnt much left you can do for preparing the meal.
If you have a freeze dryer or a vacuum chamber at home you can easily make your own batch of fresh freeze-dried food. After all, homemade food is always a much better idea than any store-bought canned food or other type of food.
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How To Feed Your Dog Freeze
Youll find freeze-dried dog food in any number of forms, from dinner patties to food toppers to bite-sized nibbles. It can become your dogs sole diet, be mixed in or sprinkled on top of her regular food, or even be doled out as quick treats.
Always be sure to check the specific instructions listed on the food you choose. Many formulas are intended to be served as-iswhich is especially convenient if youre using them for treatsbut some must be rehydrated by crumbling into warm water. Adding water makes freeze-dried food bulkier and more filling, and is especially important for dogs who dont drink much water on their own.
How To Feed Freeze Dried Dog Food Feeding After Soaking In Water
After the freeze-drying process, the food is dehydrated, retaining the original color and flavor of the food itself. Some owners feel that freeze-drying dog treats are too hard to eat especially when their fur baby is aged. In this way, the owner can soak the freeze-dried treats in water before feeding it to the dog.
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Freeze Dry Dog Treats Freeze
1. Close the freeze-drying chamber door and start it with one button 2. Wait for the end of the lyophilization process, and then take the chicken material out 3. The freeze-dried chicken should be sealed and preserved. You can consider a well-sealed jar or bag.
How to make freeze dried dog treats? Actually, its really easy after reading the process above. Freeze-dried dog food are healthier and tastier than commercial food. But there are also some precautions when feeding.
How Can I Incorporate Freeze Dried Food Into My Dogs Diet
Dog food diets that are made of completely freeze-dried ingredients can be quite costly, may be hard to find, and may not be suitable for all dogs. Our recommendation is to incorporate some freeze-dried nutrition into your dogs diet, while still maintaining the convenience of feeding your dog on their regular schedule.
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What Is Freeze Drying
Freeze drying is a food preservation method that removes all liquid from a particular food without impacting the taste.
Its a 2-step process that starts by freezing your food. Once the food is frozen, it goes through a vacuum cycle.
This cycle will take all the ice crystals formed during freezing and turn them into vapor. The vapor is removed from the food, and from this point forward, the food is safe for storage without losing any of its color or taste.
We Answer Your Questions Around Ancient Grains Dry Food
- Why did you create a grain-inclusive food?
Grains are good but not all are created equal. And weve gone with the best. Our blend of wholesome ancient grains includes non-GMO steel-cut oats, quinoa, and chia seeds. All of our Ancient Grains Dog Food recipes are gluten free and made with a combination of humanely raised animal protein, wholesome ancient grains and nutritious superfoods.
- How much animal protein is in the Ancient Grains Recipe?
A lot. 90% to be exact. And its not just any protein, every recipe is made from ethically sourced and humanely raised animal ingredients from family farms. Ethical sourcing means high-quality food, and that makes all the difference in your pets health and vitality.
- Can you rotate between different proteins?
Yes! Varietys the spice of life . Our recipes are made specifically to eliminate transitioning when switching between proteins in the same category. After all, we wouldnt want to eat the same meal every day, so why should your pup? Plus, switching it up reduces your dogs chances of developing food allergies and sensitivities.
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Best Freeze Dried Dog Food Balancing Quality And Cost
Raw feeding, BARF, No grain, ancestral diet, high prey model diet….
Many dog owners are looking for ways to feed their beloved dogs better.
And can you blame us?
With all the revelations about the commercial pet food industry and their practices – many concerned dog owners are now choosing to feed their dogs homemade food instead.
Freeze dried dog food is one option that provides many of the benefits of feeding raw minus the hard work of preparing raw dog food.
But all for quite a significant extra cost.
The Cons Of Dehydrated Dog Food
- It’s pricey. Dehydrated food is usually less expensive thanfreeze-dried. Both tend to be more expensive than kibble.
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Freeze Drying With A Machine
Freeze drying food with a machine is as simple as it comes. You wash the foods youre planning on preserving and cut them into manageable size pieces.
When the food has been prepped, place it on the tray of themachine, turn it on, and use the machine per the manufacturers instructions.
Once the food finishes drying, place it in a sealed plastic bag and store. Though drying foods with a machine is fast and easy, the device itself is quite expensive.
You can expect to spend quite a lot of money. Be prepared to invest if youd like to take the easier path using this method to preserve your food.
Pros And Cons Of A Freeze Dried Diet
Pros
Because theyre not treated with heat, freeze-dried foods are considered to be a form of raw diet. Raw diets for dogs are ideally comprised of muscle meat, organs, and bones, and may include fruits and vegetables as well. They have moderate levels of fat, high levels of protein, and very low levels of carbohydrates.
Proponents of a raw diet for dogs say that by cooking the food that we feed our pets, we change its nutritional value. By avoiding heat, these foods are believed to taste better and have more nutrients than heat-treated options, because they more closely resemble a dogs natural diet.
Several benefits to feeding your dog a more natural diet include:
- Healthier skin and coat
- Improved digestion
- Smaller stools with less odor
As an added benefit, freeze-dried raw foods are easy to store, dont require refrigeration, wont get moldy, and are lightweight. This makes them ideal for situations like vacations and camping trips, where carrying regular dog food might be difficult.
Cons
However, there are some cons to consider. Raw, uncooked animal proteins, such as those found in freeze-dried dog food, can harbor bacteria that a pasteurized or cooked product wont have.
Salmonella, in particular, has led to several recalls of freeze-dried dog food. Thankfully, dogs are fairly resistant to Salmonella and unless your canine companion is very young/old, or immunocompromised, they are unlikely to show symptoms.
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Which Is Better Freeze Dried Or Dehydrated Dog Food
Freeze drying preserves more of the nutritional content of the food than dehydrating, as proteins, vitamins, and minerals stay intact due to freezing before drying. The process of air-drying food, while similar to dehydration, produces an extremely nutrient-dense food with scoop-and-serve convenience.
Recommended Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food Options
When evaluating freeze dried dog food options, the most important qualitative considerations are food quality, safety, and palatblity.
In regards to cost, the recommended freeze dried dog food options all fall around a certain price point per ounce of food. And that cost is considerably higher than other dog food options.
If cost is a prohibiting factor in your dog food budget, you may consider occasionally supplementing freeze dried raw food either as a topper or a training treat.
Or, even better, look for sales at your local grocer and supplement your dog’s food with fresh meat and veggies.
Primal Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food Nuggets
Primal dog foods is one of our favorite freeze dried dog food brands. It is one of the few, if not only, dog food companies that offer USDA inspected human-grade dog food.
The company is based in the U.S. and is inspected by the California State Department of Agriculture in order to meet USDA quality standards.
This is a great PLUS in terms of knowing that a US company is committed to offering the best and safest nutrition possible.
For the Primal line of freeze dried nuggets, our two favorites are the beef and chicken:
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties Grain-Free Dog Food
Stella & Chewy’s is another great company to purchase freeze dried raw dog food from.
Mainly because their factories, based in the USA, are USDA inspected and their dog food consists of human grade proteins that are ethically raised
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Sojos Complete Freeze Dried Dog Food Turkey Recipe
Sojos Complete is a freeze-dried, raw dog food that acts as complete and balanced meal once rehydrated. All you have to do is add water, and the food will plump up to a stew with chunks of meat. Sojos is made in the USA , and includes only natural ingredients.
Key Features:
- Complete and balanced meal thats freeze-dried just add water
- Human grade ingredients, including meat, fruits, and vegetables
- 1.75 pound bag makes 10 pounds of food after hydration 7 pound bag makes 40 pounds of food
- Also available in turkey, beef, and lamb options
Pros:
- Made in the USA in small batches
- Meets all AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult dogs
- Grain free, non-GMO, and made without fillers
- Includes zinc, vitamin E, vitamin D3, folic acid, and other vitamins
- All natural with no preservatives or additives
Cons:
- Food has chunks of meat in it, so may be difficult to eat for smaller breed dogs
- Expensive compared to regular kibble
Which Companies Make Freeze Dried Foods
The same companies that make raw food diets sometimes make freeze dried foods if they have the equipment to do so, but it takes special equipment to freeze dry food. In general, the formulas for freeze dried foods are very similar or identical to the formulas for the raw food diets.
Some of the companies which make freeze dried diets include:
- Addiction
- Steves Real Food for Dogs
- Wysong
Again, when you are selecting a freeze dried product for your dog, make sure that you choose a food that is complete and balanced for your dogs life stage and not a product that is intended to be used as a supplement unless you wish to add other foods to your dogs diet and try to balance it yourself.
Freeze dried foods are often a good alternative for people who like to feed a raw diet. Your dog gets the same nutritional benefits of eating raw without the mess. The foods are nutritionally balanced, easy to handle and store, plus they keep a long time. Freeze dried foods can be a good gateway product if you are thinking of feeding a raw diet.
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Freeze Dry Your Own Pet Food
With all the pet food health scares, many pet owners are turning to homemade pet food and treats. Done right, these home-cooked meals are far healthier than commercial food. If youve got a freeze drier, you can make healthy recipes for your cat or dog and easily freeze dry it in individual or daily portions.
Dr. Ruth Roberts, a South Carolina holistic veterinarian, believes that home-cooked pet food can cure or alleviate the symptoms of most common pet problems such as obesity, skin allergies, cancer, diabetes and more. Dr. Roberts developed a one-pot meal for cats and dogs called The Original Crockpet Diet. These recipes have all the nutrition your pets need when you add in a multivitamin. Because freeze drying doesnt damage nutrients in food the way dehydrating does, its safe to freeze-dry individual portions of this recipe.
Dogs and cats need different nutrients, so be sure to use the appropriate version for your pet. If you want a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Roberts before you dive in, shes happy to do email consultations. You can get The Original Crockpet Diet eBook here.
If youre freeze drying your own pet food or treats, wed love to hear about it. Post your pets photo and share your tips.
Freeze Drying Food With A Vacuum Chamber
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