With special thanks to Caroline Griffith for the support, guidance and insight given to us for this blog
In the ever-evolving world of pet nutrition, freeze-dried food has gained immense popularity as a convenient and nutritious option for our furry friends. Some brands even suggest the food is the same as Raw, just without a freezer.
As pet owners, we want the best for our dogs, and freeze-dried diets seem to promise the benefits of raw feeding without the hassle. But what exactly is freeze-dried, and is it as great as it's made out to be? Let's dive into the truth behind this latest convenience food for dogs.
What Is Freeze-Dried Raw?
Freeze dried raw uses frozen raw ingredients that are then dried by creating a vacuum that removes the moisture.
This video explains more about the process:
The Benefits of Freeze-Dried Raw
1. Nutrition Retention
Freeze-drying preserves the majority of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals found in the used raw ingredients, making it a nutritious choice for your canine companion. It is crucial to note though that it does require several additives to be used in the synthetic form, and that a huge concern is the lack of absorbable calcium.
2. Convenience
Freeze-dried raw diets are easy to store, requiring no refrigeration, and are simple to portion out for feeding. This convenience makes it an attractive option for pet owners, especially those travelling with their dogs.
3. Improved Palatability
Many dogs find the taste and texture of freeze-dried food appealing, making it easier to transition them to a new diet or entice picky eaters.
4. Allergy and Sensitivity Friendly
Some pet owners turn to freeze-dried diets to address food allergies or sensitivities, as these diets often have limited ingredient lists.
The Truth About Freeze-Dried Raw
1. Price Tag
One of the biggest drawbacks of freeze-dried diets is their cost. These premium products can be significantly more expensive than traditional kibble or canned dog food. However, many pet owners believe the benefits justify the expense.
2. Hydration Concerns
Since freeze-dried raw diets contain minimal moisture content, it's crucial to ensure your dog stays adequately hydrated. You may need to add water to rehydrate the food or provide additional water throughout the day.
The concern here is that simply adding water to food, or providing additional water throughout the day, is not the same as the natural moisture in meat, usually tap water is completely different and irrigates rather than hydrates, plus it can reduce the nutrients ability to synchronise and be absorbed.
3. Quality Matters
Not all freeze-dried raw products are created equal. The quality and sourcing of ingredients can vary between brands. It's essential to choose a reputable brand that uses high-quality, safe ingredients.
Freeze-dried vs Raw - What are the differences?
Freeze-dried and raw foods for pets offer distinct differences in terms of preparation, safety, shelf life, and convenience. Here's a breakdown of the key differences between freeze-dried and raw pet diets:
1. Moisture Content:
Raw Food: Raw pet food typically has a high moisture content, similar to fresh meat. This moisture is essential for proper hydration.
Freeze-Dried Food: Freeze-dried pet food has had most of its moisture removed, making it lightweight and shelf-stable. It requires rehydration with water before feeding to restore moisture. (But this is not natural structured water like in meat, as mentioned above)
2. Safety:
Many pet guardians worry that raw pet food may carry a risk of bacteria, however DEFRA approved raw pet food manufacturers have incredibly strict quality control regulations to adhere to and the food goes through extensive testing too to mitigate risks! In fact, the numbers of recalls of DEFRA approved raw pet food are miniscule whereas dry and wet foods are incredibly large.
When it comes to Freeze-Dried Food, the freeze-drying process significantly reduces the risk of bacterial contamination due to the process it undergoes during manufacturing; however, once opened, its crucial you keep the air out if not feeding it all then and there, as bacteria will build very quickly if not.
3. Shelf Life:
Raw Food: Raw food has a limited shelf life and must be stored in a refrigerator or freezer to prevent spoilage.
Freeze-Dried Food: Freeze-dried pet food has a longer shelf life, typically lasting months to years, and doesn't require refrigeration.
4. Convenience:
Raw Food: Preparing a raw diet can be time-consuming, as it involves handling and portioning raw meat, organs, and bones, however if you use a DEFRA approved pre-made raw it can be just as simple as any other pet food
Freeze-Dried Food: Freeze-dried food is convenient to store, handle, and serve. It's portioned and ready to use, requiring no refrigeration.
5. Nutritional Value:
Raw Food: Raw diets can retain their full nutritional value, but it may vary based on ingredient quality. Many raw pet food brands offer options that include fruits and vegetables, or you can add your own. Our blogs on variety & protein and brand blindness offer insight into how you can maximise the nutrients available to your dog.
Freeze-Dried Food: The freeze-drying process retains a high degree of the food's nutritional value. It is important to note that some level of the nutrients will be evaporated through the freeze drying process though and synthetic vitamins and minerals are therefore added. There is also great concern over the lack of absorbable calcium in particular. The variety that is available in the raw pet food industry is not replicated in the freeze dried industry as yet, there is very little variety available which of course can make things difficult for those dealing with allergies or sensitivities.
6. Cost:
Raw Food: High-quality raw diets can be expensive, especially if you're sourcing premium ingredients. However, we do have a great list of raw food options that can be filtered down to low, medium and high cost - plus our suppliers map can help you to find suppliers who at times will have special offers, bargain (no bin hehe) and bulk discounts
Freeze-Dried Food: Freeze-dried pet food is often considered a premium product due to its costly manufacturing process, and can also be relatively expensive compared to traditional kibble or canned food as well as most raw pet food brands.
8. Variability:
Raw Food: You have control over the ingredients in a raw diet, allowing you to customise it for your pet's specific needs.
Freeze-Dried Food: Freeze-dried diets come in pre-made, balanced formulas, which may not offer as much customisation or variety.
In summary, the choice between freeze-dried and raw pet food depends on your priorities, your pet's dietary requirements, and your lifestyle. Freeze-dried food is a convenient ( but no 'safer') option for when you cannot feed raw, however due to its limitations on variety, and the reliance on synthetically added additives to meet nutritional requirements, it is not a long term raw pet food option as yet.
Examples of additives used:
(Additives (per kg) in COYA: Vitamin A 2500IU, Vitamin D3 250IU, Vitamin E 50mg, Zinc (Zinc chelate of protein hydrolysates) 15mg, Iron (Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate) 10mg, Manganese (Mangnaous sulphate monohydrate) 2.5mg, Copper (Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate) 1.5mg, Iodine (Calcium iodate, anhydrous) 0.1mg, Selenium (Selenised yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060, inactivated) 0.02mg.
Technological additives; Tocopherol extracts from vegetable oils 150mg.
Sensory additives; Rosemary oil extract 4mg.)
(Additives (per kg) Natures Variety: Vitamin A 1000IU, Vitamin D 100IU, Vitamin E 14mg, Iron Sulphate Monohydrate 20mg, Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 0.4mg, Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate 7,2mg)
(Additives Ella & Co: Vitamin A 1,000IU, Vitamin D 100IU, Vitamin E 14mg
Trace elements: Zinc sulphate monohydrate 50.1mg, (Zn 18.3mg); Ferrous sulphate monohydrate 20mg, (Fe 6mg); Copper (II) Sulphate pentahydrate 7.2mg (Cu 1.8mg), Calcium iodate anhydrous 0.4mg (I0.26mg); Selenised yeast inactivated 8.6 mg (Se 0.02mg).
Please note: Calcium iodate is the form of iodine added, not the calcium, there is no labelling law that manufacturers need to add Calcium type to the label
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