Is Fresh Food Better for Dogs? Full 2024 Guide 

There's a wide range of food types out there for dogs, including dry (kibble), wet, raw, and freeze-dried. So is fresh food really better for your dog's needs – and if so, what's the easiest way to feed it to your pup?

Fresh pet food is a popular choice because it typically contains fewer processed ingredients than dry food. But whether that's true in reality depends largely on the provider you choose. The key is to choose the one that sticks to best practices in food processing. Finding a good pet food delivery service can also make serving up fresh food less hassle with easy delivery, storage, and portioning. 

I highly recommend The Farmer’s Dog for fresh dog food. It uses high-quality, human-grade ingredients. I was impressed with its detailed questionnaire about your dog that recommends certain recipes, so your dog gets the best fresh food for their specific needs.

What Is Fresh Dog Food?

Fresh dog food is a diet that typically consists of natural, minimally processed ingredients. These recipes usually contain a mandatory protein, like beef, chicken, and fish, and fruits and veggies such as peas, spinach, carrots, apples, and blueberries. Fresh pet food is often more digestible than highly processed dry food, meaning your dog can absorb more of the food's nutritional value.

When examining pet food labels, be aware of certain labeling practices. For example, a label might claim "made with beef" even if the product contains as little as 1% or 2% of the protein. With The Farmer's Dog, such labeling tactics are not an issue, as the service focuses on transparency and quality in its ingredient lists.

Responsible pet food manufacturers pay attention to the processing methods, not just the quality of ingredients. For optimal nutritional value, fresh meals should be cooked slowly at low temperatures, not quickly at high temperatures. 

These prepared meals should adhere to USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) standards to ensure quality and safety. Open Farm cooks its meals using the sous vide method, which eliminates harmful bacteria without compromising the flavors or nutritional value.

So, Are Fresh Meals Better than Dry?

Fresh food is generally more appealing to dogs than dry or dehydrated meals, especially for picky eaters. This preference can save pet owners from having to buy toppers or flavor enhancers to encourage their dogs to eat. This typically makes fresh recipes a simpler and more satisfying choice for both dogs and their owners.

Another one of our favorite fresh food delivery services is Ollie. It provides 5 fresh meals as well as dry food. You can mix and match dry meals with fresh if your pup likes both. Ollie's meals use human-grade ingredients and are packed with healthy veggies and fruit such as spinach, carrots, and blueberries.

Dogs that eat fresh, human-grade food are often observed to live longer than those living on dry food. By choosing a meal delivery service that provides fresh meals, you can expect benefits for your dog such as fresher breath, more energy, and better digestion. 

This improvement is largely due to the antioxidants and nutrients in fresh recipes. They help prevent inflammation, a key factor in many metabolic diseases. 

Can I Mix and Match Fresh and Dry Food?

Sometimes, mixing baked and fresh meals can make a positive difference. If your dog is picky, mixing and matching these meals may stimulate their appetite. Also, such a combo is a budget-friendly option. For some people, this may be the only affordable way to feed fresh food.  

If you decide to feed your dog a mix of fresh and dry food, I suggest Ollie. It offers high-quality fresh and dry dishes and a meal personalization tool to help you tailor your pet’s diet. Or you can go with The Pets Table, which also has fresh and dry meals (although it offers fewer fresh option than Ollie). 

The difference between Ollie’s and The Pets Table’s dry recipes is processing. While Ollie bakes its recipes, The Pets Table air-dries them.

Is Fresh Food Better than Raw?

Raw food and fresh food are both considered among the healthiest options for dogs. But there are important differences to keep in mind. Fresh food is gently cooked whereas raw food isn't cooked at all, so none of the nutrients are lost. 

It's estimated that pups can absorb about 95% of the nutrients from raw food. This is much higher than the 70% or so the most quality dry food can provide. Raw food also contains animal muscles, organs, and bones, with the addition of vitamins, minerals, eggs, fruits, and veggies. If you think your dog might benefit from a raw diet, check out We Feed Raw. 

However, some vets warn that feeding raw food to dogs living with young children or those with compromised health can be risky. Moreover, raw food can contain pathogens if the elimination process isn't done properly.

Furthermore, institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) have pointed out potential downsides to feeding raw food to dogs. So, you should weigh different factors carefully before opting for raw meals.

To sum up, fresh is better than raw if you prefer to play safe. Responsible providers, such as Nom Nom, gently cook its food and process it in a way that preserves valuable nutrients and taste.

Which Food Should I Feed My Dog?

This will depend on your pup's individual needs and tastes – and your budget. If unsure, I always recommend consulting with your vet first. While there are some dry options that employ gentler methods like air drying, fresh food generally contains more nutrients than more processed dry options. Many dogs also prefer the taste and texture of fresh meals.

However, fresh food can be time-consuming to make yourself and expensive to buy from a meal delivery service. If budget isn't a concern, I recommend trying out The Farmer's Dog. If you want to add fresh food to your dog's regular meals to save money or slowly transition them over, I'd recommend trying a topper or partial plan first. 

The Pets Table is another flexible choice. Not only does it offer half plans, but it also offers fresh and air-dried meals. 

FAQ

Do vets recommend homemade dog food?

Veterinarians generally approve of homemade dog food, but they do advise caution. They recommend pet owners avoid recipes found on the web. Instead, dog owners should consult with board-certified veterinary nutritionists. The Farmer's Dog has such experts on its team if you decide to give its fresh meals a shot. 

Is it better to feed dog food fresh?

Feeding your dog fresh food is often considered better than feeding them dry or raw food. Fresh recipes typically contain more moisture and essential nutrients compared to dry food. And, fresh food is generally safer than raw food, as raw diets may contain harmful pathogens if not processed correctly.

What is the benefit of fresh dog food?

Fresh food has various benefits for your dog. Dogs on a fresh diet typically have shiny coats, good digestion, a lot of energy, and healthy weight. What's more, picky eaters tend to like fresh meals better than dry kibble.