What Is A Fresh Food Diet For Dogs
These days, it seems like ads for fresh pet food are all over our TVs and social media feeds. Various pet food companies offer fresh meal plans, often by subscription, usually portioned in individually-packaged, frozen meals. Its important to note that fresh is not the same as raw and generally infers a lack of preservatives.
How We Tested Spot & Tango Jinx Just Food For Dogs Hungry Bark And Portland Pet Food Company
Since originally publishing this article in August of 2018, a handful of new fresh dog food delivery and dog food subscription services came to market. These companiesSpot & Tango, Jinx, Just Food for Dogs, and Hungry Barkwere tested by various Rover dogs in August 2020, as indicated in the individual reviews. Portland Pet Food Company was the most recent brand we tested, in April 2021.
Proper Nutrition For Dogs
Like humans, dogs have nutritional needs that must be met in order for them to thrive. Dogs’ nutritional needs differ from our own, so you can’t exactly start sharing your own dinner with your dog. Feeding an incomplete or imbalanced diet can lead to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies in dogs.
Dogs need enough calories to meet their energy requirements. A dog’s daily caloric need depends on the dog’s life stage and activity level. Your veterinarian can help you determine how many calories your dog needs each day.
A homemade dog diet should contain an appropriate balance of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. Vitamins and minerals must be added to the food to ensure it is complete and balanced.
- At least 10% protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef
- Up to 50% carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta, and potatoes
- About 2.5-4.5% fiber, which can come from vegetables like peas, green beans, and carrots
- At least 5.5% fat, usually in the form of vegetable oil
- Vitamin and mineral supplements
If you are ready to get started cooking for your dog, the first step is to talk to your veterinarian. Your vet may have recipes for you to try. Or you may need a referral to a veterinary nutritionist or a vet that focuses on canine nutrition.
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Does Freshpet Dog Food Need To Be Refrigerated
Freshpet recommends serving their food fresh from the fridge for the best results, but you can choose to freeze any unused portions for later use. Be aware that you may see a slight change in color and texture when thawed, but this wont change the nutritional value or taste of our meals. No Freshpet food is frozen before being purchased at your local store.
What To Watch For When Feeding Homemade Dog Food
It’s important to monitor your dog closely when changing to homemade dog food. Stay in contact with your veterinarian regarding any changes you notice, whether good or bad. For best results, keep a record of your dog’s weight and body condition over time. Weigh your dog at least once per week and contact your vet if you notice unintended weight loss or gain. Watch for vomiting or diarrhea that may occur if your dog is sensitive to one or more ingredients. Note and report these or any other signs of illness to your veterinarian.
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Beef Chicken Beef Liver Eggs
OK, so I loved seeing Beef, Chicken, Beef Liver, & Eggs. Awesome, because that means that were actually talking about animal protein as opposed to plant based protein!
And as far as eggs are concerned they are a great, inexpensive, and complete source of protein. Thats because they contain all 8 essential amino acids, which are known as the building blocks of protein. They also contain lots of minerals & vitamins like iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, phosphorus, calcium, thiamine, folate, and riboflavin.
Ive dedicated two blog post to eggs, so if youre interested in reading more about the nutritional goodness of chicken eggs and duck eggs, please read them.
Unfortunately, there were also several ingredients I didnt love seeing:
Should You Cook Your Dogs Food
Is cooking dog food at home really better for your pup? While there may be claims made to that effect, theres no hard scientific evidence to support it.
Owners are told by many sources that homemade food is superior to commercial products. However, there is no proof to support this claim, says Dr. Larsen.
Larsen cautions dog owners to be aware of fearmongering within the pet food industry. This is often driven by myths about ingredient quality. While there are no scientifically-supported benefits to homemade diets, whole ingredient-based diets are better in the long term. Commercial foods are made to be complete and balanced, adds Dr. Bartges, albeit not the most exciting of meals.
Think of it as eating the same highly processed food for every meal, day after day, for years, he affirms.
Put that way, feeding your dogs a variety of whole foods makes a lot of sense. In fact, there are a multitude of reasons why you might want to prepare homemade foods for your dog, according to Dr. Larsen and Dr. Bartges.
These include gaining control over your dogs diet, appeasing picky eaters, combatting food intolerance issues, concern over food recalls, or simply for the bond-building joy of preparing a home-cooked meal for your dog.
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The Best Dog Food According To Experts And Veterinarians
Select is editorially independent. Our editors selected these deals and items because we think you will enjoy them at these prices. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
Dogs provide humans with unconditional love and emotional support, which pet owners might be especially thankful for during the stressful times we are living through. Feeding your dog a nutritious diet is just one way to show them how much you care, in addition to providing them with the right dog bed, toys to play with and the occasional dog treat. Simply put, dogs deserve to eat well in fact, appropriate food is fourth in the American Veterinary Medical Associations Guidelines for Responsible Pet Ownership. And with currently underway, you can find savings on many top-rated pet products.
SKIP AHEAD How to shop for dog food
Aiming for the best food for dogs gives them distinct health advantages, too, said Jennifer Freeman, DVM, resident veterinarian and pet care expert at PetSmart. Premium dog food will include meat for protein, vitamin-packed vegetables and fruit, and omega fatty acids for a shiny coat, Freeman said, adding its also likely to have fewer fillers such as corn, wheat, and soy.
Fresh Dog Food Is Homemade
Fresh dog food is homemade meals that humans can consume that consists of high-quality protein sources, veggies, grains, and supplements to meet nutritional needs.
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To prepare fresh dog food is very similar to how we humans meal prep for the week.
Note that when preparing fresh dog food, it is important to talk with a veterinary nutritionist about the nutritional guidelines for dogs to ensure your pup is being fed everything they need to stay strong and healthy.
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How Much And When Should You Feed Your Dog
This will vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is for every 10 lbs your dog weighs they should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food.
For our 80 lb Hooch, that means 2 meals a day each containing 4 cups of food. It is important to note that, dogs with kidney problems often feel better when fed several small meals throughout the dayrather than just one or two large meals, so you may find that you need to adjust your feeding schedule as time goes on accordingly to keep your pup comfy!
How We Tested Nom Nom Petplate A Pup Above And Evermore
Former The Dog People blog editor Irene Keliher tested these foods on her two dogs, and shares the details below.
I have two dogsone is 55 pounds and the other is 75 pounds. Both are mixed-breed rescues who have spent their whole lives eating natural brands of dry food. Theyve been on the same brand for the last three years or so, mostly because Ive been too lazy to update our online subscription.
I recently had my pups try six different brands of fresh dog food and all the recipes they had to offer. Yes, my dogs were in heaven. Every brand had pros and cons, though my dogs had zero complaints about any of them, leaving me to do the hard work of choosing the top contenders.
In order to assess them, I kept notes on the brands packaging , recipe choices, and the ease of the whole process. Because the brands were generousand Id signed up for them all at onceI was surprised at just how quickly my refrigerator and freezer filled up with dog food. I ended up pawning off some of the extras to my neighbors and Rover headquarters so that I could squeeze a couple of meals worth of my own human food in the fridge, too.
I also intended to keep track of which fresh dog food my dogs preferred, but they all seemed pretty equal in the eyes of my little piggies. Instead, youll see I made note of when the food seemed especially fresh or had interesting ingredients. PetPlate, for example, had a ton of quinoa in one of their recipes.
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Did You Make This Recipe
Tag on Instagram and hashtag it #thismessisours
Home Made Dog Food recipe for the Holidays
This 100% human grade home made dog food recipe utilizes some of the best fall produce for your dog like sweet potatoes, cranberries, rosemary, and sage. Its perfect for every day feedings and does double duty as a really delicious holiday meal for your dog!
Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs Recipe
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all of us, even our dogs! Get your dogs day off to a great start with a healthy dose of protein, vitamins, and minerals by feeding him/her a delicious Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs. These yogurt bowls are filled with good for your dog ingredients like fat free Greek yogurt, 100% pure pumpkin puree, plant based vitamin and mineral powder, and my Homemade Dog Food Seasoning which is a blend of 5 herbs that have extraordinary health benefits for your dog!
Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend recipe
Is Freshpet Select Good For Dogs
Is Freshpet Select good for dogs? Youre probably wondering just that, and as an experienced, proud raw feeder Id say nope.
However, I cant even begin to tell you how surprised I was to see a freezer in the pet food aisle of our local country grocery store the other day!
My first thought was shut the front door, theyre selling raw dog food here now?!
Well, almost, but not quite. Said freezer was filled with dog & cat food made by Freshpet who sell fresh pet meals.
I had heard the name of the brand somewhere before, but hadnt looked into it yet. Since the food was right there in front of me, I figured now would be a good time, so I blindly reached in for one of their rolls.
I grabbed the Freshpet Select Chunky Beef with Vegetables & Brown Rice Dog Food Recipe. Once I was home, I took a closer look at my personal pièce de résistance, the ingredient list. After all, I had to find out if Freshpet Select is good for dogs.
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
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Peanut Butter: Can Eat
Peanut butter is a healthy and safe treat for dogs to eat in moderate amounts.
However, it is best to limit your dogs peanut butter intake. Since peanut butter is high in fat and calories, it may lead to weight gain if he eats too much .
Also, make sure to feed your dog plain, unsalted peanut butter. Peanut butter commonly has extra ingredients added to it, such as salt, which could be harmful to your dog (
Can Dogs Eat Onions
There are several vegetables that can make dogs very unwell. Dogs cannot eat onions and any other vegetables in the onion family, such as garlic, chives, shallots and leeks. Even in small doses, all of these vegetables are toxic and should be avoided. Onion toxicity is not uncommon and is often found in many meals including ready meals.
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Freshpet Dog Food Review
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If you are searching for fresh home cooked style dog food but dont want to commit to a subscription service, Freshpet dog food maybe right for you.
Freshpet offers a selection of refrigerated dog foods along side the kibble you might normally buy locally. It combines meats with fruits and vegetables to make foods and treats for pets.
Quick Navigation
- We purchased 3 types of Freshpet dog food recipes
- We spent a few days testing them on several dogs
- We did not receive these products in exchange for a favorable review, they were purchased with our own money
Best Foods For A Dog With Kidney Disease
The good news, especially for the overwhelmed pet parent, is that you probably won’t have to get too deep into the weeds to figure out the feeding process. There are dog food brands on store shelves that are formulated for dogs with kidney disease and dog brands that are available by prescription, so you don’t have to set up a corner of your kitchen for food prep, where you’ll be making special doggie meals. You can do that, of course, but you and your veterinarian may decide that you don’t need to.
Still, whatever approach you and your vet decide on, one thing is clear:
“The goal is always going to be high quality foods with low protein. High quality protein but low protein,” says Dr. Julie Bailey, a veterinarian and a professor and dean of Becker College’s School of Animal Studies in Leicester, Massachusetts.
Why is that important?
The kidneys job is to rid the body of toxins, Bailey says, so when the proteins break down, you don’t want there to be an excess of it.
Low phosphorus levels are also important, Dr. Bailey adds.
Phosphorus is an essential mineral, but too much of it can lead to hyperphosphatemia, an electrolyte disturbance in which abnormally elevated levels of phosphate appear in the dog’s blood.
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Points To Consider When Choosing Food For Your Dog
Every dog parent wants the best for their dog. When it comes to feeding, a raw diet when fed correctly offers optimum health benefits. However, its not that simple of a decision: variables such as cost, convenience and food safety need to be taken into account. Fresh food and kibble diets address some of these concerns read on for a closer look at these considerations and more.
Fresh Ingredients No Fillers Healthier Dog
One of the biggest benefits to feeding your pet fresh dog food is that you know exactly what is in the meal that you’re serving. When you choose a fresh dog food from a delivery service or the refrigerator section of your local pet store, you will be able to easily read all of the ingredients that are in the package none of them will sound unfamiliar.
This allows you to ensure that the food only contains the ingredients that you want your dog to consume, and none of the ones you dont, like fillers, preservatives or any artificial stuff. You will see the expiration date or the use by date because fresh dog foods are not shelf stable.
Fresh dog food is easier on a dogs digestive system because they are not having to digest the processed ingredients found in traditional kibble. Reducing the processed ingredients that your dog has to digest will help them to have more energy because their bodies are not slowed down by a long, heavy digestion.
Other health benefits reported by pet owners include a softer and shinier coat, better eye health and stronger immune system. Healthy fatty oils found in most fresh dog foods help your dogs coat look and feel its best. Fresh ingredients also support your dogs eye health. Helping your dogs digestion, skin, coat, and eyes, you could even notice a reduction in the number of vet visits that your dog may need because their overall health has improved.
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What Kind Of Snacks Can I Feed My Dog With Kidney Disease
Our dogs walk a bit on the wild side when it comes to snacks as they love thin apple slices, banana chunks, carrots, whole unsalted peanuts in the husks, and dehydrated sweet potatoes! Dogs with kidney disease should avoid meat based chews/treats that are high in phosphorus, so you may find that you need to explore doing friendly fruit and veggies for treats like we have. We still on occasion will offer Hooch bully sticks or a jerky treat, but it is better for him if we limit his intake due to the levels of phosphorous that those treats contain.
Helps Your Dog Have Better Poop
One thing that pet parents who feed Ollie consistently report is that their pups are pooping better! By feeding whole foods like you find in our delicious fresh dog food, dogs have better and smaller poops. The same fiber that helps keep your dog’s digestive system moving along a is also responsible for this phenomenon.
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