10 Best Freeze-Dried Dog Foods

Freeze-dried dog food is prepared using a technique that involves freezing fresh food to remove moisture. The food is quickly frozen at very low temperatures and then the ice crystals are vacuumed out, rendering the product low in moisture and shelf stable. Because freeze-dried food is so low in moisture, it is recommended that you rehydrate the product before feeding it to your dog.

One thing to keep in mind about freeze-dried food is that it is technically raw food. This type of food is made with raw ingredients, but the freeze-drying process helps eliminate some of the potential for foodborne pathogens. Freeze-dried food can be stored at room temperature in its original packaging for months, even years, and opened food is good for about 30 days.

Freeze-dried food is a very nutritious option for dogs. As is true for any type of food, the quality is determined by the ingredients and nutritional composition. That being said, however, freeze-dried dog food tends to offer higher quality than the average dry food.

Many freeze-dried dog foods are made with higher inclusions of animal protein and, in many cases, a single source of animal protein. This makes many recipes a great choice for dogs with food allergies and sensitivities to certain animal proteins. Due to the freeze-drying process, this type of food doesn’t require as many carbohydrate fillers or thickeners as traditionally extruded dry food.

The main caveat with freeze-dried food is that it is very low in moisture. It’s recommended that you rehydrate the product with water or broth before feeding it to your dog to ensure that he gets the moisture he needs for optimal hydration.

It is very easy to rehydrate freeze-dried food – you just add water. Freeze-dried food can also be rehydrated with broth or other liquids like goat milk. Just make sure whatever you’re using to rehydrate the food doesn’t contain any potentially harmful ingredients like onion or garlic.

Most commercial freeze-dried dog foods will provide instructions for rehydrating the food. Generally speaking, however, you just add your dog’s portion to his bowl then add the liquid. In most cases, an equal proportion of food to water works well.

It typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes for freeze-dried cat food to rehydrate, though the timing may vary by recipe. Large freeze-dried patties may take longer to rehydrate than smaller nibs or nuggets. Again, you should refer to the feeding instructions on the package. Once the dog food has been rehydrated it should be treated like wet dog food and not left out for more than 4 hours.

A raw diet can be incredibly nutritious for your dog, but it isn’t without risks. There is always some degree of risk for bacterial contamination with raw foods but following safe food handling procedures is very easy. Always wash your hands after handling the food along with any utensils you use to serve it.

The main concern with freeze-dried raw dog food is bacterial contamination, the most common culprits being E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. Fortunately, the freeze-drying process helps decrease the number of pathogens in the raw ingredients, but some may still survive freeze-drying. Unprocessed and homemade raw foods may have lower rates of contamination than commercial freeze-dried foods.

For the most part, freeze-dried dog food is considered safe, and it can provide many nutritional benefits for your dog. Quality varies by brand and by recipe, however, so some formulas may be better than others. A recipe that contains too many plant-based ingredients, especially low-value grains like wheat and corn, won’t be as good for your dog as one primarily composed of meat, organs, and bone.

It’s also important to note that the process of freeze drying removes the moisture from the raw ingredients. This helps kill bacteria and makes the product shelf-stable, but it robs the food of essential moisture. Dogs require moisture in their diet for proper hydration, so it’s best to rehydrate your dog’s freeze-dried food before feeding it to him and provide plenty of fresh water.

While commercial freeze-dried diets are generally formulated for nutritional adequacy, homemade raw diets come with a risk for nutritional imbalance or deficiencies. If you’re going to feed your dog raw or freeze-dried raw food, make sure to choose a recipe formulated by a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist.