Understanding Dog Food:
Exploring The Pros and Cons of Common Diet Options

Selecting the appropriate food for your dog can feel overwhelming, given the many choices available today and the conflicting advice surrounding them. From raw to kibble and everything in between, each type of dog food presents its own set of advantages and considerations. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the diverse range of options, including raw, gently cooked, kibble, dehydrated, freeze-dried, and air-dried, to assist you in making this crucial decision for your dog’s well-being.

Canines require a varied diet to fulfill all their nutritional needs for optimal health. This encompasses high-quality muscle meats (preferably organic or grass-fed), raw bones, organ meats, essential fatty acids, and whole foods rich in vitamins and minerals.

Raw Dog Food

Raw diets can either be home-prepared following trusted recipes or purchased as a complete diet from a commercial retailer.

Pros:

    • Raw dog food diets mimic the natural diet of dogs in the wild, consisting primarily of raw meat, bones, and organs, providing a balanced diet.
    • Feeding raw promotes dental health and provides essential nutrients and enzymes.
    • Opting against synthetic vitamins and minerals ensures dogs receive essential nutrients from natural sources.

Cons:

    • Handling raw meat may be unsavory for some, but frozen complete meal raw patties require less handling.
    • Some dogs may not tolerate raw food well, and individual preferences may vary, with some dogs doing better on a gently cooked diet.
    • Additional space is needed for storing raw meats or frozen raw food, requiring a second freezer.

Concerns over bacteria like salmonella in raw diets tend to be over-exaggerated. It seems to be used too often as an excuse to recommend against this type of feeding by veterinarians who do not know nutrition beyond prescription diets.

Proper hygiene during food preparation and sourcing from reliable suppliers mitigate potential risks. Having raised most of my dogs on raw diets, I’ve observed marked improvements in their skin, coats, body conditions, and energy levels. As a veterinarian, I can tell the difference between a raw-fed dog and a kibble-fed dog as soon as they walk through my doors.

In this study dog guardians reports of health benefits of raw meat-based diets include cleaner teeth, decrease in fecal output, improvement of skin and coat, improved immunity, and decrease in inflammatory-related diseases.

I feed my dog, Zane, VivaRaw. You can check out my other recommended raw food brands on my Facebook page.

Gently Cooked Dog Food

This type of food is lightly cooked at low temperatures to preserve nutrients. This can be home-made diets or commercial complete diets. Gently cooked dog food typically contains high-quality ingredients, including meat and vegetables, providing a balanced and nutritious meal for your dog.

Pros:

    • Enhanced digestibility: Gently cooked food is easier for dogs to digest, making it ideal for sensitive stomachs or dogs with digestive issues.
    • Retains nutrients: Cooking at lower temperatures helps preserve the natural nutrients in ingredients, ensuring dogs receive optimal nutrition.
    • Reduced risk of foodborne illness: Cooking at moderate temperatures helps eliminate harmful bacteria, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses. However, recent studies have proven this is not as high a risk as previously perceived.
    • Opting against synthetic vitamins and minerals ensures dogs receive essential nutrients from natural sources.

Cons:

    • Time:Consuming preparation: Gently cooking food for dogs can be time-consuming, requiring careful monitoring and preparation.
    • Cost: Gently cooked dog food may be more expensive than other types of diets, as it often involves high-quality ingredients.
    • Commercial cooked diets are more convenient but tend to be expensive.

My favorite commercial diets that are gently cooked include AllProvide and Evermore. I feed my Golden Parker, these two diets along with a rotation of home-cooked meals. 

Dehydrated Dog Food

Dehydrated dog food is made by removing moisture from fresh ingredients, such as meat, fruits, and vegetables, through a gentle drying process. 

Pros:

    • This method helps preserve most nutrients (not all) while extending the food’s shelf life without the need for artificial preservatives.
    • This provides a more convenient way to feed with less prep work.
    • It is a nutritionally dense option for pet owners.
    • Many dehydrated canine diets are made with human-grade ingredients.

Cons:

    • Rehydration required: Dehydrated dog foods often need to be rehydrated with water before serving, which can be time-consuming and less convenient for some pet owners.
    • Reduced moisture content: Dehydrated dog foods typically have lower moisture content compared to raw or gently cooked diets, which may not be suitable for dogs who require higher moisture intake for optimal hydration.
    • Processing concerns: The dehydration process involves applying heat to remove moisture from the food, which may lead to some loss of nutrients and enzymes, potentially affecting the overall nutritional value of the diet.
    • Some of these diets can be carbohydrate heavy so be sure to choose a grain-free, low carb option.
    • These types of diets will often have synthetic vitamins and minerals.

Dehydrated foods are still much better than kibble. They’re less processed and cooked at lower temperatures so they suffer less nutrient loss. A dehydrated diet brand that I recommend is Dr. Harvey’s.

A convenient and cost-effective option is to provide the protein, whether it’s raw or cooked, and add Dr. Harvey’s and a high quality oil to complete the meal.

Freeze-Dried Dog Food

 Freeze-dried food is a type of pet food that undergoes a preservation process where fresh ingredients are frozen and then placed in a vacuum chamber, where the moisture is removed through sublimation.

Pros:

    • The resulting freeze-dried dog food is lightweight and easy to store.
    • Long Shelf Life: Freeze-dried food typically remains fresh for up to a year or even longer, but once opened, it should be consumed within a month, with some brands recommending refrigeration.
    • Convenience: With a longer shelf life than frozen options and no need for an additional freezer, making it ideal for travel and outdoor activities.
    • Better Nutrition: Freeze-dried raw food retains essential nutrients and enzymes, including proteins, amino acids, fats, and probiotics, without the need for added starches commonly found in other dog foods.
    • Live Food: Unlike cooked or processed foods, freeze-dried food maintains its nutritional integrity, resembling the benefits of frozen raw diets, and doesn’t undergo a “kill step” like cooking, preserving its live enzymes and bacteria.

Cons:

    • Cost: Freeze-dried dog food can be very expensive and not logical as the only source of nutrition for large breeds of dogs.
    • Fresh, unaltered food is still the best option.

Freeze dried diets that I like include Vital Essentials and Small Batch.

Air-Dried Dog Food

Air-dried dog food is a type of pet food that undergoes a unique dehydration process where moisture is removed from the ingredients using circulating air at a low temperature. This method preserves most of the natural nutrients in the ingredients while ensuring a longer shelf life.

Pros:

    • Nutrient Retention: Air-dried dog food typically retains more nutrients compared to traditional kibble due to the gentle dehydration process. This ensures that essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes remain intact, providing a more natural and nutritious diet for your dog.
    • Convenience: Air-dried dog food offers convenience similar to kibble, as it does not require refrigeration or freezing. It can be stored at room temperature for an extended period, making it ideal for travel or situations where refrigeration is not available.
    • Digestibility: The air-drying process breaks down proteins and carbohydrates, making them easier for dogs to digest. This can be beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues, as it reduces the likelihood of gastrointestinal upset.
    • Palatability: Many dogs find air-dried dog food highly palatable due to its concentrated flavor and aroma. This can be particularly beneficial for picky eaters or dogs transitioning from a different type of diet.

Cons:

    • Cost: Air-dried dog food is generally more expensive than traditional kibble or canned food, primarily due to the specialized dehydration process and high-quality ingredients used. This cost may be prohibitive for some pet owners, especially those with multiple dogs or larger breeds.
    • Limited Availability: Compared to other types of dog food, air-dried options may have limited availability, especially in smaller or rural areas. Pet owners may need to purchase air-dried dog food online or from specialty pet stores, which can be less convenient and more costly.
    • Moisture Content: While air-dried dog food retains more moisture than traditional kibble, it still contains significantly less moisture than raw or wet food. This may not be ideal for dogs with specific hydration needs or those accustomed to a high-moisture diet.
    • Storage Requirements: Although air-dried dog food does not require refrigeration, it should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage. Improper storage can lead to the degradation of nutrients and potential health risks for your dog.

 I use Sunday’s air dried diet as training treats.

 

Kibble

Pros:

    • Kibble, also known as dry dog food, is convenient, affordable, and has a long shelf life, making it a popular choice for many pet owners. 

Cons:

    • Your dog’s health will pay for the convenience and low price of kibble.
    • Kibble contains low-quality ingredients, artificial additives, and fillers that can contribute to obesity and other health issues in dogs.
    • The low-quality ingredients are commonly sourced from diseased or non-slaughtered animals, undergoing high-heat processing to kill harmful bacteria, and the extrusion process used eliminates vital digestive enzymes. 
    • High-starch carbohydrates prevalent in kibble, including grains and genetically engineered ingredients, contribute to metabolic stress and obesity, while the lack of moisture in dry food leads to chronic dehydration and potential organ stress. 
    • Additionally, dry kibble may contain mycotoxins, unhealthy food dyes, and synthetic additives, highlighting concerns about its nutritional value and potential health risks for pets.

Kibble is not a good choice if you want to promote health and longevity in your dog.

Testing

Before you decide to switch your dog’s diet consider doing some testing to rule out food sensitivities and to test their gut biome. Companies that I recommend for testing for food sensitivities are VDI, and Glacier peak. Gut biome testing companies that I recommend include: VDI and Animal biome. These results will help you choose the ideal diets for your dog and support the microbiome to set them up for success.

Recipes

If you decide to prepare your own home-cooked or raw diet you must be sure that it is balanced. You can do this by either following trusted recipes or by taking a course on canine home-prepared diets.

Finding trusted recipes:

    • Dr. Judy Morgan’s book or you can get free recipes on her website.
    • Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib’s book  The Forever Dog Life.
    • Dogs Naturally has free recipes.

Feed Real Courses: https://www.feedreal.com/courses

Money Saving Tips

  • Buying meat in bulk-Look for bulk packages of meat at your local grocery store or wholesale club, and don’t be afraid to ask your butcher if they offer bulk discounts on larger cuts of meat.
  • Look for seasonal sales and consider buying directly from local farms.
  • Consider discount grocery stores or wholesale clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club or restaurant supply stores, which often offer meat at lower prices than traditional grocery stores.
  • Visit your local butcher: Butchers can often offer budget-friendly cuts or see if they sell trim they’d otherwise throw away.
  • Join a local raw food co-op
  • Connect with other dog guardians who home-prepared feed raw or gently cooked diets to see if they’ll partner with you on a discounted bulk order.

Key Points

  • Fresh food, whether raw or gently cooked, is optimal for your dog’s health. Providing a diverse and nutritious diet enhances their gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in their overall well-being. With 70-80% of their immunity linked to gut health, prioritizing its maintenance is paramount for your dog’s vitality
  • Vary your dog’s diet by switching the proteins. I have a freezer filled with commercial gently cooked and raw diets that I switch out on a daily basis.  You may have to work up to this if your dog’s gut biome is poor due to being fed a highly processed diet.
  • Try different options to see what works for your lifestyle, budget and your individual dog.
  • Do some testing to find out what foods will work best for your particular dog and to check out their gut biome health.
  • Monitor your dog’s energy level, stools, drinking habits, hair coat and skin after switching to a new diet. Watch for unwanted weight gain, excessive hair loss, reddened skin, ear inflammation, and diarrhea.  All of these symptoms can indicate this might be the wrong diet for your dog.
 

Conclusion 

When it comes to choosing the right food for your dog, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each type of dog food offers unique benefits and considerations, and the best choice for your furry friend will depend on their individual needs.

Whether you opt for raw, gently cooked, kibble, dehydrated, freeze-dried, or air-dried dog food, the most important thing is to prioritize your dog’s health and well-being by providing them with a varied, balanced and nutritious diet tailored to their specific requirements.

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