Your dogs are members of your family, so it's natural to pay attention to their diets, choosing food that keeps them happy and healthy. Freeze-dried dog food is usually made from raw or minimally processed ingredients, making it a nutritious alternative to conventional dog food.
However, not all of it is equally high-quality, so it's important to learn which freeze-dried dog food is best for your pet. You might also want to check out some comparably nutritious alternatives.
Shop this article: Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food Nuggets, Northwest Naturals Freeze-Dried Raw Diet and Stella and Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
Freeze-dried dog food is made by removing the moisture from raw ingredients, such as meat, vegetables and fruits. This is achieved through a process of sublimation, which involves freezing the food and then turning the ice directly from a solid to a gas. The result is a lightweight, shelf-stable food you can reconstitute with water or feed dry.
Freeze-dried dog food is gaining popularity among pet owners looking for a convenient, easy-to-store alternative to raw diets. It’s also often seen as superior to dried or canned food, due to its high-quality ingredients.
These are some of the factors you should consider when finding the right freeze-dried dog food:
If you're not sold on freeze-dried food, you might want to consider some quality alternatives:
Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food Nuggets
Providing a complete and balanced diet, these raw food nuggets are made using chicken and a variety of USDA organic fruits and vegetables. It's easy to use — you just crumble the nuggets and rehydrate them with water or a dog-friendly broth (one that's low in salt and doesn't contain onions).
Northwest Naturals Freeze-Dried Raw Diet
Containing 80% meat, including organs and bone, this is a good choice for anyone looking to feed their dog a biologically appropriate raw food diet without the mess. It comes in a range of varieties, including chicken and whitefish and salmon.
Stella and Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
This complete, balanced dog food comes in the form of freeze-dried patties that you can either feed as is or rehydrate with water. You can choose from a variety of formulas, including venison blend and surf and turf. There are even some designed for puppies.
Stella and Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Mixers
If you're looking for a mixer, rather than a complete and balanced dog food, this is an excellent choice. There are seven flavors to suit most pets, including salmon and cod, beef and chicken.
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Grain-Free Mini Nibs Dog Food
Made from nothing but meat, along with added vitamins and minerals to meet nutritional requirements, this food is ideal if you want a protein-heavy diet for your dog. You have a range of choices, including beef, chicken and rabbit. All ingredients are sourced in the U.S.
Stewart Raw Naturals Freeze-Dried Dog Food
In this complete dog food, you'll find 80% single-source meat protein, 18% fruits and vegetables and 2% vitamins and minerals. There are five protein choices, including lamb and chicken.
Real Meat Air-Dried Beef Dog Food
This air-dried dog food uses raw beef, including organs and bone, and gently dehydrates it to form a packaged food. It contains 90% beef and has added vitamins and minerals to give it balance.
The Honest Kitchen Human-Grade Dehydrated Whole Grain Dog Food
With a wholesome home-style recipe, this food uses meats, vegetables and healthy whole grains to create a balanced food that's dehydrated to preserve it. You can choose from seven recipes, including turkey, chicken and fish.
The 96% meat content makes this an excellent protein-rich food for adult dogs. It comes in six formulas, including lamb and chicken. It's free from filler ingredients and gently dried to preserve nutrients.
Wellness Core Natural Wet Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
This high-quality wet food is a great choice for pet parents who want to mix something with freeze-dried food or aren't sure about feeding raw ingredients. There are nine options, including a weight management formula.
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.