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A Guide to Freeze Dried Dog Food

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Freeze dried dog food is a convenient and healthy option for the daily nutritional needs of your dog. Fresh ingredients are prepared and most of the moisture is removed. The food is then specially packaged for long-term storage. Properly stored, freeze dried foods retain their nutrient content and are not subject to spoilage. When you are ready to use the food, simply add water.

Freeze Dried or Cold Processed Food

Freeze drying is a different process than simply dehydrating. Freeze dried food is (obviously) frozen, then a process removes the moisture from the frozen material. Freezing the food before removing the moisture preserves more vitamins and minerals than a dehydrating process. Heat destroys many nutrients, so from a pet nutrition standpoint, reconstituted freeze dried food is as close to fresh as possible.

Freeze dried foods are available from specialty pet food stores.

Feeding a Freeze Dried Diet

Many freeze dried foods contain raw meat ingredients, making them a convenient choice for those considering a switch to the BARF or raw food diet. Other types contain cooked ingredients. Both are nutritionally sufficient for dogs and puppies of all sizes.

Freeze dried foods are available as patties or as a loose mix. These foods can be mixed with traditional dog food, supplement a raw diet, or be fed alone. The small patties can also be fed as a treat; they do not have to be reconstituted before serving.

Advantages

Advantages of a freeze dried diet include:

If you are considering transitioning your dog to a raw food diet, freeze dried foods are a good place to start. They are nutritionally complete and easy to add in incremental amounts. The foods come with feeding instructions, so there is no guesswork involved.

Busy schedules and limited space are often cause dog owners to opt for the convenience of bagged, commercial foods. Freeze dried foods require little preparation and require no space in your refrigerator or freezer.

A true BARF diet - raw meat and bones - is simply beyond the scope of daily dog feeding for many people. Freeze dried products that contain ground raw muscle meat, organ meats, and ground bones provide a similar nutritional profile without the mess. Freeze dried foods mimic the healthy diet of your dog's wild ancestors, and it fits neatly into your kitchen cabinet.

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