As if pet parents didn’t already have enough food options, a new type of dog food has hit the shelves: freeze-dried dog food.
For people, freeze-dried fruits, vegetables and meats have been around for decades. Because freeze-dried dog food has only recently come onto the scene, pet parents may not know much about it. If this new option has piqued your curiosity, keep reading to learn more.
Making Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Freeze-dried dog food is made of meat, with fruits and vegetables occasionally mixed in. These ingredients are raw and minimally processed. Making freeze-dried dog food is a multi-step process that uses a freeze-drying machine: 1. The food is quickly frozen at very low temperatures, turning the food’s moisture into ice and preserving the food's nutritional status. 2. A vacuum pump is used to remove air pressure from inside the machine, turning the ice into water vapor. This step, called sublimation, removes nearly all of the food’s moisture and takes several days. 3. The food is packaged in an airtight container to prevent spoilage.
Many freeze-dried dog foods look like traditional kibble.
Freeze-Dried Dog Food vs. Dehydrated Dog Food
Freeze-dried dog food sounds similar to dehydrated dog food. However, there are differences.
One big difference is the amount of moisture removed. Freeze-dried dog food has 99% of moisture removed, while dehydrated food has 95% of moisture removed. Also, making dehydrated food does not require that the food be frozen, unlike freeze-dried dog food.
Benefits & Drawbacks of Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Freeze-dried dog food has several benefits. First, it is nutrient-dense because the freeze-drying process “locks” the nutrients into place. Also, because freeze-dried dog food is 99% moisture free, it has a long shelf life (provided that the package remains sealed), making this food convenient for traveling with your dog.
Freeze-dried dog food does not have to be rehydrated before it’s eaten. That being said, rehydrating the food can make it more palatable and easier to digest.
Some websites claim that freeze-dried dog food provides health benefits, such as improved skin coat, better digestion, and higher energy levels. These claims are also made for raw dog food. However, these claims are anecdotal and have no scientific evidence to back them up.
Now for the drawbacks. The biggest drawback is that freeze-dried dog food is still raw. Certain raw-food diets, such as those that do not go through a high-pressure processing step to kill potentially harmful bacteria, are not recommended for dogs. These diets put dogs—and people—at risk of developing foodborne illnesses from disease-causing bacteria, primarily Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The freeze-drying process does not eliminate bacteria from the food, so your dog could get sick after eating freeze-dried dog food.
Another drawback is that freeze-dried dog food is expensive. Buying this food regularly for your dog is probably not financially practical.
Also, freeze-dried dog food can be high in fat. For some dogs, this high fat content can lead to digestive issues. Even if your dog’s tummy has no problem with freeze-dried dog food, the high fat content can lead to weight gain, which leads to its own set of health issues, such as arthritis.
For finicky eaters, freeze-dried dog food can be simply unappealing. Rehydrating the food can make it mushy; don’t be surprised if your dog isn’t thrilled about eating mushy food.
Final Thoughts
Freeze-dried dog food is still relatively new to the pet food scene. Although it has benefits, freeze-dried food may not be the best option for your dog. Talk with your veterinarian about the pros and cons of freeze-dried dog food to decide the best diet for your pet.