Compared to commercial kibble and canned dog food, fresh food is frequently promoted as healthier and more delicious. Read on to learn everything you need to know before switching to fresh dog food for your pet.
What is Fresh Dog Food?
While you may be familiar with regular dog food, have you heard of fresh dog food before? Fresh dog food is kept in the refrigerator to preserve its freshness. Unlike dried or canned dog food, depending on the type you get, it can last a few weeks in the fridge and be frozen.
Fresh meat, veggies, and grains are often used to make fresh dog food. To keep these at their best freshness, they are gently cooked and then frozen. At the same time, some pet shops sell freshly prepared dog food. Several manufacturers also provide subscription and delivery services, allowing you to have freshly prepared dog food delivered to your house.
The pre-portioned food packet can be served by simply thawing it before feeding it to the dog. A thawed package’s refrigerator shelf life, typically three to five days, can be found on its label. Most fresh dog foods are created with natural, premium ingredients that have undergone little processing and don’t include any byproducts or preservatives.
Because fresh dog food maintains more nutrients and the health-improving qualities of its components, it is generally better for your dog. Fresh dog food is an excellent option for picky eaters because it tastes better than most commercial kibble and canned foods.
Additionally, fresh dog food is typically more expensive than other varieties. Depending on the size of your dog, you could want a sizable freezer to hold enough fresh dog food for a few weeks.
What Advantages Does Fresh Dog Food Offer?
Fresh dog food offers several advantages, including:
1. Fewer Preservatives
Supporters of fresh dog food claim this is one of the diets’ main selling features. The fundamental concept is that preservatives are chemicals meant to lengthen the shelf life of food. A dog’s body must work more to detoxify or remove toxins when its diet contains more. So ultimately, fresh dog food is healthier since it has fewer toxins.
2. Supports the Skin’s and Coat’s Health
Some new dog diets are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are believed to minimize swelling and encourage fur development.
3. Enhanced Digestibility
How much of a food’s nutritional worth is absorbed during digestion is measured by its level of digestibility, and the higher the level, the better. According to studies, fresh dog food is more highly digested than dry kibble and other more processed diets.
4. Quality Ingredients
To be sure, check the label of your dog food, but many freshly prepared dog foods are created with carefully chosen ingredients. For instance, the fruit and vegetables in most fresh dog food are confirmed non-GMO, indicating they haven’t undergone genetic engineering.
5. Created to satisfy the demands of dogs
The best fresh meals for dogs follow the Association of American Feed Control Official (AAFCO) dog food criteria, guaranteeing they include all the nutrients your dog needs to flourish. Look for a nutritional adequacy statement stating the food fulfills AAFCO guidelines on your pet’s food label.
What To Look for In Fresh Dog Food
Most fresh dog foods share a lot in common regarding quality and ingredients. But there are minor variations in each company’s recipes, packaging, and delivery methods. So be sure to compare fresh food diets to pick the one that is ideal for your dog and practical for you.
To start, look over the recipes provided on the business website to see if you can identify any substances that could be harmful to your pet. In most circumstances, you can’t take it out of the dish if your dog is allergic to an ingredient or doesn’t like it.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) established guidelines for dog food formulation. All commercial and fresh dog foods should adhere to these requirements to guarantee the food is balanced and nutritionally complete.
Adult dogs can eat foods that adhere to AAFCO “maintenance” criteria. If you have a puppy, search for fresh dog food that adheres to the AAFCO guidelines for “development” since they would both offer your pup a balanced diet.
What Makes Fresh Food Unique Compared To Other Dog Foods?
Pet Choices
Don’t forget to take your dog’s taste receptors into account! Fresh food has a better flavor for some dogs than kibble or canned food. Fresh food may encourage a picky eater or an underweight dog to increase calorie intake. However, suppose your dog already has a voracious appetite.
In that case, you must be careful to offer them the right food to prevent obesity and the associated health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Health Advantages
Fresh dog food may offer health advantages over conventional diets depending on your unique dog’s demands. Because fresh dog food contains fewer preservatives and higher-quality ingredients, many pet parents prefer it.
However, alternative foods like prescription diets may benefit some dogs differently. Speak with your veterinarian to determine which food is healthy for your dog.
For A Healthy Fur Baby!
So if you’re considering switching to fresh dog food for your fur friend, you need to know the benefits. Hopefully, you can make a more informed decision. The advantages are alluring, but ultimately it comes down to you, your dog, and your way of life.
Speak with your veterinarian if you believe feeding your dog fresh foods would help them live their best possible lives. You might join the growing number of pet parents who feed their dogs fresh food.
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