Is fresh food or dry food better for dogs? Simple and Effective Tips

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.

Preparing 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.

Cons Of Homemade Dog Food

Here are some disadvantages of feeding dogs fresh food:

When making fresh dog food from home, it can be easy to forget certain ingredients they need – higher risk of nutritional deficiency if you are not careful.

You will need to add supplements as the food usually prepared is lacking nutrients.

Feeding canines homemade dog food can be more costly than buying commercial food.

Making kibble from scratch can be very time-consuming.

Is Fresh Food Better Than Kibble?

In theory, yes. Fresh food is more wholesome, and you have complete control over what ingredients you add to the recipe. If you consult a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist, you will be able to provide your dog with the best possible diet as per their own needs.

But fresh food also has its disadvantages, and they are mostly related to how easily it can become contaminated with germs or develop bacterial cultures when left at room temperature, even for a short amount of time.

Fresh food also calls for a bit more effort compared to kibble, in that you will have to take it out of the freezer and thaw it in the microwave before you give it to your pup. As such, most pet owners feed their dogs only once in the morning and once in the evening or give them a relatively large meal once a day.

The problem with this feeding method is that some dogs, mainly larger breeds, are predisposed to developing gastric dilatation (volvulus) if they eat too much food at the same time. And many dogs are heavily food-oriented, which is why they can gobble up their entire portion for the day in a matter of a few seconds.

By contrast, feeding your dog two or three main, albeit smaller, meals per day can prevent volvulus and also ensure that they are properly nourished all the time. But since you can’t guarantee that your dog gets lunch when you’re away from home, you can leave them some kibble for when they become hungry again.

Raw Dog Food vs Dry Kibbles – A world renowned veterinarian tells us what he discovered.