Is freeze dried dog food considered raw? Tips and Tricks

6 Freeze-Dried Dog Foods, Toppers and Treats to Consider

Flavor	Wild Alaskan Salmon	Rabbit	Beef Tripe
Form	Freeze dried treat	Freeze dried treat	Freeze dried treat
Protein (Ingredients)	Salmon	Rabbit	Green beef tripe
Meets AAFCO Standards?	Not intended to be fed as a complete and balanced diet	Not intended to be fed as a complete and balanced diet	Not intended to be fed as a complete and balanced diet

If you’re unsure whether you want to make the switch to feeding freeze-dried dog food, treats can be a good way to test the waters. Some freeze-dried raw dog treats are made with limited ingredients or a single source of protein, which is ideal for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. For example, Front of the Pack’s freeze-dried dog treats feature wild Alaskan salmon, free-range beef tripe, or farm-raised rabbit—no added fillers, flavoring, or rendered by-products. Front of the Pack uses a slow 48-hour freeze-drying process to lock in nutrients without cooking the meat.

Highlights

Free shipping

Vet recommended

No added fillers, flavoring or rendered by-products

No artificial flavors or colors

Made in the USA

Things to Consider

Intended as a treat or reward, not a substitute for a balanced diet

Only comes in a 2.5-oz bag

Sample buyer review: “My dogs enjoy these treats! They have food allergies so having these treats gives me a peace of mind that I know ingredients and they will not result in an allergic reaction.”

Flavor	Surf & Turf	Grass-Fed Beef	Homestead Turkey	Harvest Chicken	Pasture-Raised Lamb	Farmer’s Table Pork
Life Stage	All	All	All	All	All	All
Form	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried
Protein (Ingredients)	Humanely raised beef, beef hearts, wild Pacific salmon, beef kidneys, beef livers, ground beef bone	Humanely raised beef, beef heart, beef kidneys, beef livers, ground beef bone	Turkey with ground bone, turkey livers, turkey necks, turkey gizzards	Chicken with ground bone, chicken livers, chicken necks, chicken hearts	Humanely raised lamb, lamb heart, lamb liver, ground lamb bone	Humanely raised pork, pork heart, pork liver, ground pork bone
Protein Analysis	41% min	41% min	37% min	41% min	38% min	38% min
Calories	233 kcal me/cup	226 kcal me/cup	208 kcal me/cup	208 kcal me/cup	226 kcal me/cup	226 kcal/cup
Meets AAFCO Standards?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Whether you feed it as a meal or a mixer, Open Farm’s freeze-dried dog food is sure to please you and your pup. Pet parents love the ease of serving these scoopable morsels and have peace of mind knowing the ingredients are 100 percent traceable. Available in six flavors, these hearty recipes get 85 percent of their protein from raw animal ingredients, mixed with organic fruits and veggies.

Highlights

Available in Surf & Turf, Grass-Fed Beef, Homestead Turkey, Harvest Chicken, Pasture-Raised Lamb, and Farmer’s Table Pork recipes

Meats come from audited higher welfare farms

No rendered poultry or meat meals

100 percent traceable ingredients

Available in 3.5-, 13.5- or 22-oz bags

Things to Consider

Review the feeding guideline to find the appropriate feeding amount based on your dog’s weight and activity level

Store product in a sealed bag in a cool, dry place.

Wash your hands, bowls, and serving utensils with soap and hot water after serving.

If you have added water to the food, discard it after two hours.

Sample buyer review: “Open Farms Freeze Dried Raw Dog food is our new food. I did research on raw diet and was so happy to find this company. After talking with my vet, I made the switch. All 4 of my dogs love the food. They are all doing great on it and digesting it well with perfect poops. Even my most picky eater is loving this food. I love this company for being sustainable, humane and ethical. I also appreciate that the ingredients are pure and healthy with no added fillers. It is well balanced and my dogs are really enjoying all the different varieties and options. Highly recommend this company and food.”

Flavor	Beef	Chicken	Duck and Goose	Lamb	Pork	Salmon and Cod	Turkey
Life Stage	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Form	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried
Protein (Ingredients)	Beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef heart, beef tripe, beef bone	Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzard	Duck with ground bone, turkey, turkey liver, goose, turkey gizzard	Lamb, lamb spleen, lamb liver, lamb heart, lamb kidney, lamb bone	Pork, pork liver, pork bone, pork kidney	Ground salmon with bones, ground cod with bones	Turkey with ground bone, turkey liver, turkey gizzard
Protein Analysis	44% min	48% min	38% min	38% min	40% min	50% min	40% min
Calories	56 kcal/1/4 cup	50 kcal/1/4 cup	60 kcal/1/4 cup	59 kcal/1/4 cup	58 kcal/1/4 cup	45 kcal/1/4 cup	58 kcal/1/4 cup
Meets AAFCO Standards?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

If you’re looking for a way to kickstart your dog’s kibble, Stella & Chewy’s freeze-dried raw mixers are a tasty option to consider. Made with 95 percent meat, organ, and bones, plus organic fruits and veggies, these mixers are grain free and do not contain any added hormones or antibiotics. They are fortified with vitamins and minerals and enhanced with added probiotics and antioxidants.

Highlights

Comes in a variety of flavors, including beef, chicken, lamb, and duck and goose

Can be served as a complete and balanced meal or a mixer/topper

Fortified with vitamins and minerals

Enhanced with added probiotics and antioxidants

All products tested before packaging with outside lab results posted on their website

Easy open, resealable bag

Available in 3.5 oz, 8 oz, 1.12 pound or 2.18 pound bags

Things to Consider

Can be fed dry or rehydrated with some cool or warm water

If served as a mixer, you will need to reduce other food portions accordingly

Store in a cool, dry place

Wash your hands and bowls with soap and hot water

If you add water to the product, throw away any leftovers after two hours

Sample buyer review: “This is our fav brand of freeze dried raw. It also rehydrates nicely. I can add some warm water to it and it absorbs it quickly. I prefer giving it to her rehydrated so I don’t like some of the freeze dried raw meals out there that are hard little rocks that won’t absorb water. This one is great.”

Flavor	Gut Health	Mobility Support	Skin & Coat	Chicken	Beef
Life Stage	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult
Form	Freeze dried topper	Freeze dried topper	Freeze dried topper	Freeze dried topper	Freeze dried topper
Protein (Ingredients)	Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken heart	Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken heart	Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken heart, cod	Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken heart, turkey liver, turkey heart	Beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef spleen
Protein Analysis	36% min	36%	36%	36%	38%
Calories	291 kcal/cup	310 kcal/cup	312 kcal/cup	244 kcal/cup	247 kcal/cup
Meets AAFCO Standards?	Intermittent or supplemental feeding only	Intermittent or supplemental feeding only	Intermittent or supplemental feeding only	Intermittent or supplemental feeding only	Intermittent or supplemental feeding only

These grain-free Raw Boost Mixers from Instinct pull double-duty as a tasty freeze-dried meal topper and a functional food. They have a Gut Health recipe that is rich in fiber and live natural probiotics to help support a dog’s digestion, a Skin & Coat Health recipe packed with omega fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat, and a Mobility Support recipe with natural glucosamine and chondroitin to help support healthy joints. These meal enhancements can help entice picky dogs to eat and can also be used as a yummy treat.

Highlights

Soft and easy to chew

Real meat is the first ingredient

Made without grain, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, potato, artificial flavors or preservatives

Available in 0.75-, 5.5- and 12.5-oz bags

Things to Consider

Made in the USA but ingredients are globally sourced

This topper is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only

Reduce the calorie amount of your dog’s current food to avoid overfeeding

Serving size will depend on your dog’s weight and may range from 1/4 to ¾ cups or more per day

Sample buyer review: “My dog won’t eat plain kibble, doesn’t matter which kind. If I mix some of this in with it, and some of the other flavors, he devours it. He also has a sensitive stomach and this mixer has helped a lot with his tummy issues. He seems happier too.”

Flavor	Beef	Turkey	Turkey & Chicken	Whitefish & Salmon
Life Stage	Adult	Adult	Adult	Adult
Form	Freeze dried topper	Freeze dried topper	Freeze dried meal or topper	Freeze dried meal or topper
Protein (Ingredients)	Beef	Turkey	Turkey, chicken	Whitefish, salmon
Protein Analysis	60% min	70% min	31% min	30% min
Calories	219 kcal/cup ME	170 kcal/cup ME	411 kcal/cup ME	360 kcal/cup ME
Meets AAFCO Standards?	Intermittent or supplemental feeding only	Intermittent or supplemental feeding only	Yes	Yes

Wellness Core Bowl Boosters are either freeze-dried bites or air-dried nuggets (depending on the flavor) that pack a whole lot of protein. The Beef and Turkey recipes are designed as single-protein mixers or toppers that are ideal for pups with sensitive stomachs. They are made with 100 percent freeze-dried raw pieces of meat. The Turkey & Chicken and Whitefish & Salmon recipes feature 70 percent air-dried meat or fish pieces and can be served as a complete meal or a topper. They are packed with omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat.

Highlights

Four recipes to choose from

No wheat gluten, corn, soy, meat by-products, or artificial flavors, color, or preservatives

Made in the USA

Available in 4- or 8-oz or 2-lb bag

Things to Consider

Serving size depends on your dog’s weight and whether you are serving as a complete meal or a topper

If using as a mixer/topper, remember to reduce the serving size of your dog’s current food to avoid overfeeding

Wash your hands after touching the food

Sample buyer review: “My dogs love this. Even the pickiest dog I have ever had loves this. It’s easy to break up so I break soft nuggets up & sprinkle over their food.”

Flavor	Chicken	Beef	Turkey & Sardine	Lamb	Pork	Duck	Rabbit	Venison
Life Stage	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Form	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried	Freeze dried
Protein (Ingredients)	Chicken with ground bone, chicken livers	Beef hearts, beef livers, ground beef bones	Turkey with ground bone, turkey livers, whole sardines	Lamb hearts, ground lamb Bones, lamb liver	Pork hearts, ground pork bones, pork livers	Duck with ground bone, duck livers	Rabbit with ground bone, rabbit livers	Venison, venison hearts, ground venison bones, venison livers
Protein Analysis	47% min	34% min	51% min	34% min	52% min	33% min	57% min	54% min
Calories	127 kcal/oz	144 kcal/oz	120 kcal/oz	148 kcal/oz	123 kcal/oz	130 kcal/oz	115 kcal/oz	113 kcal/oz
Meets AAFCO Standards?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

These tasty freeze-dried nuggets from Primal are shelf-stable and fairly simple to prepare: just portion, shred and rehydrate with warm water, bone broth, or goat’s milk. Choose from an array of enticing flavors, such as beef, chicken, duck, or lamb, and serve as a complete and balanced meal or a high-value treat or snack.

Highlights

Choose from 8 ethically sourced proteins, raised without antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones

Made with up to 90% meat, organs and bone, depending on the recipe, plus certified organic produce

Whole food nutrition with no synthetic supplements

No corn, wheat, soy, lentils or legumes

Made in the USA

Available in 5.5- and 14-oz bags

Things to Consider

Shelf-stable and should be stored in a cool, dry place

Can be served dry but Primal recommends crumbling the nuggets and adding some warm water, broth or goat’s milk to hydrate before mixing and serving

Once rehydrated, keep refrigerated and feed within 5 days

Serving size will depend on your dog’s weight and can range anywhere from 5 to 40 nuggets for adult dogs. Puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs may need up to 1.5 times the amount of food recommended for adults

Wash your hands, working surfaces, utensils and any other items that touch or come in contact with the food with hot, soapy water

Refrigerate uneaten portions immediately or discard

Sample buyer review: “My seven month old Yorkie puppy loves when I add this to his food. He’s so little and I want to help him gain weight. Since he doesn’t always want to eat, this keeps his food interesting. I know some people complained about it being powder in the bag, but I haven’t had that problem. It wouldn’t matter to me because I crumble the blocks for my puppy anyway.”

How Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food Made?

There are several steps to the freeze-drying process—a technique so old it’s been traced all the way back to 1200 A.D, when Incas freeze-dried their potatoes.

In the modern version, fresh food is first frozen solid. Then it goes into a vacuum chamber that evaporates nearly all of the solid water (ice). A second drying phase zaps away any lingering water molecules. By the end, roughly 97 percent of the food’s moisture has been sucked out, but many of its nutrients remain.

Dehydrated Or Air Dried Dog Foods

The biggest difference is that when you buy freeze-dried food, it’s still raw. That’s not really true of dehydrated or air-dried foods. Freeze drying may sound the same as air drying, drum drying or dehydrating. But they’re different. (1)

The non freeze-drying technologies are similar ways of removing moisture from food … but they all use heat. The manufacturers claim the food isn’t technically cooked, because they use low temperatures. But it does get slightly cooked. So the structure of the food changes … and there is more nutrient loss.

Most companies are very careful not to tell you what temperatures they use. They want you to think their products are raw … or almost. But you can assume they use temperatures between 1400 and 180OF. So that means dehydrated or air dried food is not raw. In fact, you can slow roast a slab of pork ribs at 180o … and they will come out cooked.

One selling point of heat-dried foods is that they have fewer pathogens than raw or freeze-dried foods. One air-dried food company states that they use temperatures the FDA and USDA consider a “kill step.”

Well …. that’s a bit confusing. But you can’t have it both ways. If the food is heated enough to be a kill step, it’s not raw!

So what else is good about freeze-dried?

PROS AND CONS OF FREEZE DRIED DOG FOOD I RAW DOG FOOD I ROTATIONAL MONO FEEDING

There are so many dog foods available today that it’s hard to keep up with all the new trends. As pet parents, we want the best for our furry friends, especially when it comes to nutrition.

Finding the best dog food for your pet can be a daunting experience; however, with the help of your veterinarian, you can come to a decision on the best food option.

You might have heard about freeze-dried dog food or even dehydrated dog food, but what’s the difference between them? Are they better than wet or dry food?

Here’s what you need to know about freeze-dried dog food and dehydrated dog food so you can be better informed in making your decision.

Freeze-dried dog food is food product that undergoes a process where it is dehydrated under a low temperature in order to maintain quality and increase the shelf life of the product.1

In the process of freeze-drying, the product is frozen, the is pressure lowered, and the ice is removed by a process called sublimation (the process where a substance such as ice goes from the state of solid to a gas, essentially skipping the state of a liquid).1