9 Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services: Gently & Lightly Cooked

Filed in Dog Health, Dog Products by on March 29, 2022

Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services

Pet owners want what’s best for their furry friends, which is why we’ve seen such an increase in fresh pet food options. Sales of fresh pet food increased in 2022.

Fresh dog food is normally gently or lightly cooked, so that it maintains its nutritional benefits, while also killing any pathogens like e-coli, salmonella and more.

If you’re like many pet owners, you’re probably overwhelmed by how many choices are on the market.

Below are 9 of the best fresh dog food delivery services available in the U.S. and Canada. The article below details key features, cost, and benefits of each fresh food service.

Although these companies are all great options, I will help you choose an option that best fits your needs.

I may earn a commission if you buy through my links, but I only recommend products that I support and you pay nothing extra.

My Top Picks for Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery

1. Nom Nom (Finest Overall)

Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food

My first transition packet of Nom Nom’s Chicken Cuisine recipe

Not only do I recommend Nom Nom as my top choice, but I’m also a subscriber, so I am little biased. You can read my full Nom Nom dog food review if interested.

They use whole food ingredients to create fresh meals for your dog. All of their ingredients are sourced from farms in the United States.

Ever since I started feeding my toy poodle their food, he ditched his old food and won’t touch it anymore. Their food is gently cooked using the sous-vide method, which you can thaw in the refrigerator before feeding. He had no stomach issues and appears to really enjoy their food.

They use their state-of-the-art portioning machine that portions your dog’s food down to the exact calorie. This machine ensures that each meal is exactly what your dog needs, based on their age, breed, weight, and health factors.

Key Features:

• Use only high-quality whole foods
• All ingredients sustainably sourced
• Work toward zero waste in their kitchens
• Recipes formulated by veterinary nutritionist
• Gluten-free and grain-free options available

Recipes:

Nom Nom offers four recipes: Beef Mash, Turkey Fare, Chicken Cuisine, and Pork Potluck.

Price:

Nom Nom’s meals are pre-portioned based on the nutritional need of your dog. They also now offer a flexible feeding option, so you can choose the amount of food to feed your dog.

Food starts at around $30 per week. For my 14 year old toy poodle weighing 13 lb, the price for 4 weeks of meals is a total of $123.66 consisting of $117.88 price plus $5.78 sales tax. I do get a slight discount since I also promote their product.

Nom Nom Coupons

Get 50% off your order at Nom Nom!

Pros:

• Ingredients – all ingredients are fresh and ethically sourced
• Gluten-free – all recipes are gluten-free, with several grain-free options
• Pre-portioned bags – no need to measure portions, just thaw and serve
• Veterinary nutritionist formulated – dog poop carefully studied to see what is and isn’t digested well, feedback incorporated into recipes
• Smaller boxes – My 4 week box is a lot smaller than some other fresh dog food subscriptions I’ve received
• Easy to prepare – Just store in the freezer, and thaw some packets for 24 hours in the fridge to prepare. You can also warm in microwave once thawed.
• Microbiome kit – you can submit your dog’s poop for analysis to determine health and needs
• Improved digestion in pets – fewer digestive issues and healthier poops

Cons:

• Pricing transparency – in order to get an online price estimate, Nom Nom requires your name, email, phone number, and address, but you can call them or message them instead.

Recommended for Gluten-free and Grain-free Diets

All Nom Nom’s recipes are gluten-free and they have more grain-free options for dogs on special diets. While other fresh pet food brands may have one grain-free or gluten-free option, Nom Nom’s selection is unmatched.

Go to Nom Nom’s website or read my more detailed Nom Nom dog food review.

2. Open Farm (Good for Locally Sourced Ingredients)

Another one of the best fresh dog food delivery services is Open Farm who offers a variety of fresh pet food options. They use certified humane meats and non-GMO fruits and vegetables in their recipes.

While most of their produce is organic, they focus more on certified humane treatment of animals (instead of guaranteeing that the protein sources were fed only organic feed).

Open Farm believes in using quality ingredients without antibiotics or growth hormones.

Most of their ingredients are sourced from local, family farms and all fish is wild caught, ensuring the sustainability and health of your dog’s protein sources. They clearly label their packaging so you can track the ingredients to the source.

Key Features:

• Protein is certified humane, ensuring ethical treatment of farm animals
• Sustainable fishing practices are used
• 90% of produce is grown in-state or in a bordering state with the manufacturing facilities
• Extensive third-party testing is used to ensure safety
• Clear labeling lets you know exactly where your food came from

Recipes:

Open Farm offers four recipes: Beef, Surf & Turf, Turkey, and Chicken.

Price:

Open Farm’s food is sold in 8-pound bags, which cost $79.99.

Open Farm Coupons

Get 15% off your 1st order OR 20% off subscriptions at Open Farm (Use coupon code DOGENDORSED15 for all orders or DOGENDORSED20 for subscriptions)

Pros:

• Availability – can be purchased in pet food stores or shipped to homes in U.S. and parts of Canada
• Local produce – 90% of produce is grown in-state or in a bordering state to their manufacturing facility and 40% of it is grown in the same town as their facilities
• Ethical and sustainable protein sourcing – protein sourced from certified humane sources and fish is offered as a “fish-of-the-season” to allow open ocean in-season fishing operation
• Low glycemic food – recipes contain no corn, rice, sugar, tapioca, or potato starch
• Green – use recyclable packaging and participate in initiatives for positive environmental change
• Sensitive stomach friendly – recipes good for pets with sensitive digestive systems
• Allergen-friendly

Cons:

• Availability – not available in Hawaii, Alaska, and large portions of Canada

Good for Locally Sourced Ingredients

Open Farm makes every effort to use locally-sourced ingredients from local and family farms. Local sourcing allows them to cut down on the shipping costs of ingredients and reduce their carbon footprint.

Go to Open Farm’s website or read my more detailed review of Open Farm.

3. A Pup Above (Optimal for High Protein)

One of my top fresh dog food delivery services is A Pup Above. They provide fresh dog food cooked with the sous-vide method in small batches. This cooking method allows food to retain its nutrients. They use clear labeling and premium ingredients to provide a healthy option for your pet.

All the ingredients in A Pup Above’s food are human-grade and locally sourced. Meals are packaged in 100% recyclable packaging, making the food good for your dog and the environment.

Key Features:

• Ingredients are 100% sourced from United States farms
• Recipes use single source protein without antibiotics or growth hormones
• All ingredients are fully traceable so you can know exactly where your pet’s food came from
• Cooked ingredients are formed into patties, making it easy to thaw and serve the recommended portions
• Meals are shipped each month to your doorstep

Recipes:

A Pup Above offers four recipes: Texas Beef Stew, Turkey Pawella, Porky’s Luau, and Chicka Chicka Bow Wow.

Price:

The fresh pet food from A Pup Above is frozen into one-pound patties. A 3-pound package sells for $34.99 while a 7-pound package sells for $69.99. You can save 25% off this price by signing up for their subscription service.

A Pup Above Coupons

25% Off your Pup’s 1st Meal Delivery when you Subscribe (Use code HAPPINESS25)

15% off your Pup’s First Samper Pack (Use code SAMPLEHAPPINESS)

Pros:

• More protein – their food contains on average 72% more protein than competitors
• Quality ingredients – their high-quality ingredients are fully traceable and sourced within the United States
• Sustainability – their fulfillment center uses 100% renewable energy and all packaging is 100% recyclable
• Green initiatives – they donate 1% of their revenue to White Buffalo Land Trust, which provides resources for regenerative farming
• Easy to feed – simply thaw the patties and feed your pet the portion size recommended based on your pet’s weight, age, breed, and health concerns

Cons:

• Lack of custom recipes – while all four recipes are considered full and complete by AAFCO, there are not custom recipes to target special needs your dog may have

Optimal for High Protein

With their sous-vide cooking method, they are able to pack in more meat protein. They offer up to 70% more protein compared to some other gently or lightly cooked food brand competitors. They provide 11.5 grams of protein per 100 calories.

Go to A Pup Above’s website or read my more detailed review of A Pup Above.

4. Kabo (Top Canadian Unprocessed Pet Meal)

Kabo is a Canadian company that offers freshly cooked wet food for pets. They use fresh ingredients from local Canadian sources to create healthy recipes for your dog. The meals are pre-portioned based on your dog’s weight, breed, age, and needs.

Portioned meals are shipped to your front door. You can store their fresh meals in your freezer for up to six months. Simply thaw, unwrap, and serve to provide your dog with fresh, healthy food.

Key Features:

• All ingredients sourced from local farms in Canada
• No artificial flavors or colors and no by-product meals
• Ingredients and food meet AAFCO standards
• All food is cooked fresh every week
• Food can be frozen up to six months before serving
• Pre-portioned bags mean you won’t have to measure food

Recipes:

Kabo offers four recipes with their fresh dog food delivery service: Savoury Beef Recipe, Luscious Lamb Recipe, Tender Chicken Recipe, and Hearty Turkey Recipe.

Price:

Kabo pre-portions food into individual packages based on your dog’s weight, age, breed, and health information.

On average, it costs $19 a week to feed a 5 lb. dog and about $178 a week to feed a 100 lb. dog. The calculator on their website can help you determine exactly how much it will cost to feed your dog.

Kabo Coupons

Get 40% off your first box at Kabo

Pros:

• Flexible subscription options – you can pause, cancel, or modify your plan at any time
• Custom portions – food comes in custom-portioned packaging so all you need to do is thaw, open, and serve
• 100% recyclable packaging – since food packaging doesn’t have to hurt the environment
• Special diets – their Sovoury Beef is grain-free, Luscious Lamb is good for senior dogs, Tender Chicken is lean for limiting fat intake, and Turkey is highly digestible
• Customer service – helpful customer service representatives can walk you through enrolling and help with any hiccups

Cons:

• Availability – meal plans are only available for certain parts of Canada (and no U.S. shipping)

Top Canadian Unprocessed Pet Meal

While many of the other brands focus on shipping within the U.S., Kabo offers fresh pet food for Canada residents. Although they don’t cover all of Canada, their meals are available for a significant portion of the country.

Go to Kabo’s website or read my more detailed review of Kabo.

5. The Farmer’s Dog (Leading Eco-Friendly Shipping Materials)

The Farmer’s Dog offers high-quality, fresh dog food shipped to your door. The vision behind The Farmer’s Dog comes from the desire to provide dog food that is actually food.

They believe that feeding your dog real food will drastically improve their health and quality of life.

Key Features:

• Only human-grade ingredients used
• All recipes 100% complete and balanced by AAFCO standards
• Made in USDA-approved kitchens
• Pre-portioned based on your dog’s age, size, breed, and health conditions
• Use eco-friendly shipping materials

Recipes:

The Farmer’s Dog offers four recipes: Turkey, Beef, Chicken, and Pork.

Price:

The fresh pet food from The Farmer’s Dog is pre-portioned into individual packages based on your dog’s weight, breed, age, and health. It costs about $54 a week to feed their fresh food to a 35 lb. dog.

Pros:

• Human-grade ingredients – they use real food fit for human consumption instead of feed-grade ingredients
• Easy-to-serve – no cooking required, simply thaw and serve
• Eco-friendly shipping materials – meals are shipped in a recyclable box with biodegradable insulation as well as recyclable food packaging
• Complete and balanced meals – no need for additional food or dietary supplements, unless needed for specific medical conditions (as advised by your dog’s veterinarian)
• Healthier diet – save money on your pet’s vet bills by feeding a healthier diet
• Fewer allergy issues – pet parents notice less skin irritation and fewer allergy symptoms
• Amazing customer service – if you run into problems, their customer service is top notch

Cons:

• Unclear information – although they use human-grade ingredients, it’s unclear whether they use GMOs and antibiotics

Leading Eco-Friendly Shipping Materials

The Farmer’s Dog makes every effort to minimize the environmental impact of shipping fresh food to your dog. Their boxes are recyclable and contain biodegradable insulation. The food packaging itself is also recyclable.

Go to The Farmer’s Dog website or read my more detailed review on The Farmer’s Dog.

6. JustFoodForDogs (Prime for Custom-Formulated Diets) (Save $10 off orders over $50 with link)

JustFoodForDogs provides a wide variety of fresh pet food recipes. In addition to providing great food for your dog, they advocate for pet health and make science-based decisions concerning your dog’s diet.

Their advocacy also includes driving change in pet food and helping with pet rescue efforts.

In addition to their great pre-formulated recipes, JustFoodForDogs offers a custom diet option. This option allows you to submit your dog’s most recent bloodwork to get a custom-formulated diet plan to address his or her specific dietary needs.

Key Features:

• Use only fresh, whole-food ingredients that are 100% human-grade
• No antibiotics or preservatives
• Meat sourced from same source as restaurants
• Use locally sourced produce when possible
• Test all recipes over the course of a year, providing regular blood tests and health screenings for dogs participating in studies
• Create diets based on ongoing nutrition research
• Custom diet plans available, formulated based on your dog’s medical records

Recipes:

JustFoodForDogs offers six pre-formulated recipes with their fresh dog food delivery service: Chicken & White Rice, Beef & Russet Potato, Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni, Fish & Sweet Potato, Lamb & Brown Rice, and Venison & Squash.

They also offer custom-formulated recipes for an additional cost.

Price:

Their Fresh Frozen food is sold in 31.5 lb. boxes, which cost approximately $200 (with minor differences in cost between recipes). That makes their food about $6.35 a pound.

Custom diets cost a one-time formulation fee of $250 plus between $280 and $700 a month for custom-prepared meals.

Justfoodfordogs Coupons

Get $10 off orders over $50

Pros:

• Availability – pickup available at Petco and Pet Food Express
• Custom diets – can pay to get food custom-formulated based on your dog’s medical records
• Quality ingredients – use human-grade whole foods
• Improved health – fewer digestive issues, more energy, and better test results at the vet

Cons:

• Full box shipping – they only send full box amounts to cut shipping costs, which means each delivery only contains one recipe

Prime for Custom-Formulated Diets

JustFoodForDogs offers a custom-formulated diet plan. A one-time, non-refundable formulation fee of $250 is required to get started. However, this is a great option if your dog has special dietary needs that aren’t met by other fresh food options.

7. Ollie (Top Ethical Treatment of Protein Sources)

Ollie makes my list for best fresh dog food delivery and offers highly nutritious food with no filler ingredients. They use hormone-free meat from free-range farms in the United States and Australia. The human-grade ingredients are collected and cooked before delivery to your front step.

Key Features:

• Use only human-grade ingredients
• Use micronutrient-packed ingredients like fresh produce
• Ship on a regular schedule so your dog doesn’t run out of food
• Only use hormone-free meat from free-range farms

Recipes:

Ollie offers four recipes: Hearty Beef Eats, Tasty Lamb Fare, Healthy Turkey Feast, and Chicken Goodness.

Price:

Ollie’s meal plans cost, on average, about $8 a day. The exact cost of their meal plans depends on your dog’s size, breed, age, and health information.

Ollie Coupons

50% discount on your first order

Pros:

• Flexible subscriptions – you can pause, skip, or cancel shipments at any time
• Recyclable materials – everything in the shipment except the ice bags can be recycled
• Veterinary nutritionist formulated – all meals designed to be full and complete
• Ingredient sourcing – all produce sourced from U.S. farms
• No bad stuff – no artificial flavors, preservatives, by-products, or fillers
• Ethical treatment of protein sources – chickens are hormone-free and vegetable-fed, beef is treated humanely and corn-fed, and lamb is cage-free

Cons:

• Availability – Ollie currently only ships to the 48 contiguous United States.

Top Ethical Treatment of Protein Sources

Ollie makes sure that the animals used in their recipes are treated ethically. Their chickens are hormone-free and vegetable-fed. The cattle is treated humanely and corn-fed and the lamb is cage-free.

Go to Ollie’s website or read my more detailed review of Ollie.

8. Spot and Tango (Finest Value)

Another great option for fresh dog food delivery is Spot and Tango who offers dog food made from whole ingredients. Their simple recipes each include only twelve ingredients, all packed with nutrients your dog needs to thrive.

Meals are cooked in small batches and portioned according to your dog’s dietary needs.

They offer convenient shipping and a risk-free trial. If you’re not satisfied with your dog’s food, they’ll refund your money, no questions asked.

Key Features:

• Use whole food, human-grade ingredients
• No preservatives used
• Clearly list ingredients so you know exactly what’s in your dog’s food
• Use healthy meats, vegetables, starches and proteins
• Cooked in small batches and custom-portioned for your dog

Recipes:

Spot and Tango offers three recipes: Turkey & Red Quinoa, Beef & Millet, and Lamb & Brown Rice.

Price:

Fresh dog food from Spot and Tango starts at $15 a week. Larger dogs will require more food, making the cost significantly more. The exact cost to feed your dog Spot and Tango’s food will depend on your dog’s age, weight, breed, and health.

Spot and Tango Coupons

Get 20% off your first meal plan

Pros:

• Ingredients – use only human-grade ingredients without preservatives
• Convenience – meals are shipped to your door and can be stored in the freezer until ready to thaw and serve
• Improved health – dogs show improved health when fed fresh food

Cons:

• Availability – they currently only ship to the 48 contiguous United States.

Finest Value

Spot and Tango is the most affordable option for feeding your dog fresh food. Although they only have three recipes, their recipes are made with quality ingredients and provided at a reasonable price.

Go to Spot and Tango’s website or read my more detailed review of Spot and Tango.

9. Pet Plate (Multiple Pet Discounts)

Pet Plate believes in delivering real fresh cooked food for your pets. The company was born out of a desire to provide a healthier alternative to dry pet food.

Their fresh and healthy recipes are developed by a veterinary nutritionist to ensure your dog’s nutritional needs are met.

Key Features:

• Use all-natural ingredients
• Developed by a veterinary nutritionist
• Cooked in a USDA-approved facility
• Custom portion sizes based on your dog’s needs
• Re-sealable containers for food
• Satisfaction guarantee

Recipes:

Pet Plate offers four recipes: Barkin’ Beef, Lip Lickin’ Lamb, Tail Waggin’ Turkey, and Chompin’ Chicken.

Price:

Pet Plate’s fresh food costs about $4 a day for a 14 lb. dog. If you’re feeding more than one dog, they offer combined meal plans to save money.

On their plan, two small dogs can eat for about $6.32 a day total. The price of your dog’s meal plan will depend on their age, weight, breed, and health information.

Pet Plate Coupons

Get 60% off your first box of PetPlate meals

Pros:

• All-natural ingredients – no additives or fillers used in Pet Plate’s recipes
• Variety – you can purchase full meals or meal toppers
• Pre-portioned and recyclable containers – no need to measure your dog’s food before serving
• Healthier pets – pets fed with fresh food show improved health and energy with fewer digestive issues
• Freshness – stays fresh for 5 days in fridge and 12 months in freezer

Cons:

• No samples available – while money-back guarantee makes it risk-free, Pet Plate does not offer free samples for your pet to try
• May not be suitable for sensitive stomachs – my Maltese had sensitivity and loose stools, although my poodle was fine

Multiple Pet Discounts

Pet Plate offers discounts for pet parents feeding multiple pets. Contact their customer service to get a special price when feeding more than one dog.

Go to Pet Plate’s website or read my more detailed review of Pet Plate.

Buyer’s Guide for Fresh Dog Food

What is Unprocessed Pet Meal?

In general, fresh dog food refers to pet food that’s been made with little-to-no preservatives, but the term is very broad. Within the category, the ingredients, recipes, and cooking methods differ vastly from brand to brand.

Most fresh food brands are lightly or gently cooked at a low temperature, and they include a mixture of proteins, grains, fruits, and vegetables. They tend to resemble your own plate of food instead of traditional dry or canned dog food.

How is it Stored?

Just as the definition of fresh dog food varies, so does their storage requirements.

The majority of fresh dog food brands will ship directly to your home, and the food will be pre-portioned and frozen. You store the food in the freezer and then thaw an individual portion when you’re ready to serve to your dog. Brands like Nom Nom and The Farmer’s Dog operate with this method.

There are other brands that sell fresh dog food that’s refrigerated instead of frozen. These are typically not pre-portioned, so you’ll need to portion them out at each use, but they stay ready in the refrigerator to serve.

Keep in mind that refrigerated food, once open, will only stay good for up to 7 days, sometimes even less.

One key thing to note is that fresh dog food has to be stored either frozen or in the refrigerator at all times. Because there are little to no preservatives in the recipes, the food can spoil if left out.

Benefits and Disadvantages to Unprocessed Pet Meal

With so many different options to choose from, it can be tough to know whether fresh dog food is the right choice for your dog. Here are the pros and cons of fresh dog food to help you better understand how the meals could fit into your lifestyle:

Pros

Many fresh dog food options are offered through subscription-based meal services. These plans will personalize your dog’s meals with a veterinary nutritionist based on the information that you provide, such as their breed, activity level, and ideal weight.

With customized meal plans, your dog gets the proteins and nutrients that they need and not a generic formula for all dogs.

Other benefits of fresh dog food include:

  • Pre-portioned packages with precise calories for your dog’s health
  • Added convenience
  • Less processed
  • Easier to digest for your dog than kibble
  • Delicious for your dog

Cons

Because fresh dog food has no preservatives, it must always be kept refrigerated or frozen. This means a dedicated space in your refrigerator or freezer will always need to be reserved for your dog’s food, which can be tough if you lack storage space.

This also means that food delivered to your door needs to be kept at a low enough temperature to keep the food safe to consume.

Fresh dog food brands take appropriate precautions with their packaging to keep the food frozen, but it’s still important to double-check the temperature of the food when it arrives.

The cost of fresh dog food may also be a disadvantage for some pet owners. While the cost varies from brand to brand, fresh pet food typically costs more than kibble or canned dog food. With that said, there are options to vary the cost, like choosing half-portions or topper plans.

What to Look for When Purchasing

Fresh dog food is a broad category, so no two brands are created equally. As you decide which option is right for you, here are a few things to consider:

1. Balanced Meals Formulated by Veterinary Nutritionists

The top priority when you’re choosing fresh dog food is the quality of the meals. Even if they contain natural ingredients and grass-fed meats, the meals still need to be balanced to provide the right nutrition for your pup.

Make sure that any company that your purchase from works with veterinary nutritionists to formulate every recipe, so your dog is getting all of the essential vitamins and nutrients that they need.

2. Variety in Recipes

For dogs with allergies, sensitivities, or those that are just picky eaters, it’s important to choose fresh dog food that offers a variety of recipe choices, especially different protein options.

Variety also provides your dog with new tastes and textures to experience regularly to keep them more interested in their mealtimes. Some pet parents also say that feeding your dog a variety of different ingredients can help prevent allergies from developing.

Some fresh dog food companies, like Nom Nom, let you rotate between recipes every week.

3. Portion Options

There’s a variety of portion options available between the different fresh dog food companies, so this will depend on your lifestyle, personal preference, and budget.

You can choose pre-portioned meals that make it easy to feed your dog an appropriate calorie intake, or you can opt for a flexible feeding option where you portion the food yourself. With flexible feeding, you get the option of using the fresh dog food as the entire meal, as a topper, or as a snack.

Many plans also offer other portion options like half-portion plans.

4. Packaging

One way that many of these companies differentiate themselves, besides the cooking methods and recipes, is the way they package and ship their food. If you’re eco-conscious, you’ll want to look for environmentally friendly or recyclable packaging.

The Farmer’s Dog ships their boxes with insulation made from corn starch, so it dissolves under running water. Nom Nom aims at zero waste in all of their processes, from sourcing their ingredients to shipping. Many of these companies use recyclable or biodegradable materials, so it’s important to read up on their sustainability efforts.

Is it the Same as Softly or Subtly Prepared Pup Meal?

Yes, gently or lightly cooked dog food is the same as fresh dog food. All of these terms refer to food that has been cooked slowly over a low temperature just until it reaches the minimum required temperature by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to kill pathogens like E-coli and salmonella.

If you’d like to read more about gently cooked dog food, I have another in-depth article that looks at what it is and how it’s prepared.

How to Transition from Dry Pup Meal to Unprocessed Pup Meal

Any transition in your dog’s diet should be done gradually to allow your dog’s digestive system time to adjust, especially when going to a completely different medium of food like dry to fresh.

You’ll start with a small portion of new food, typically about ¼ of their meal, mixed with ¾ of their current food. You’ll continue this mixture for a few days and monitor your dog’s reaction to the change. If their stool seems normal and their stomach isn’t upset, you can up the amount of new food in every meal.

For the next few days, you’ll do a 50/50 mixture of new and old food and monitor your dog. If all seems well and their digestive tract is adjusting, you can make the full transition.

With many of the fresh dog food brands, they will provide you with transitional feeding guides, as well as transition meals that are portioned correctly to mix with your current food. This makes the transition much easier.

How Does Unprocessed Pup Meal Differ from Raw Pup Meal?

Because the definition of fresh dog food is so broad, many people may be tempted to consider raw dog food in this category. Raw food diets are not, however, fresh dog food.

Fresh dog food refers to lightly cooked meals that have reached the appropriate internal temperature to kill off any bacteria or pathogen that could make your dog sick. This makes these diets safe for your dog to consume and you to handle.

Raw food diets pose potential health risks to you and your dog. While a raw diet may preserve all of the nutrients in the ingredients, the risk of E. coli, salmonella, and more far outweigh the benefits.

You can read the American Veterinary Medical Association’s position on raw diets at this link: AVMA Position Statement.

Can I Just Prepare My Pup Meal at Home?

While the fresh dog food may resemble a home-cooked meal, all of the recipes have been created with expert veterinary nutritionists to provide your dog with the exact vitamins and nutrients that they need in the right proportions.

When you make your dog’s food at home, you run the risk of creating unbalanced meals that can lead to micronutrient deficiencies. If done long-term, these deficiencies can have a serious impact on your dog’s health.

If you’re dedicated to making your dog’s food at home, always consult with a veterinary nutritionist for recipes and portions to make sure your dog is eating a balanced diet

Conclusion 

If you’re looking for the best fresh dog food delivery service, there are plenty of options available whether you live in the U.S. or Canada.

You’ll save valuable time by having this lightly or gently cooked dog food delivered directly to your front door.

Although fresh pet food is more expensive than store-bought kibble, it may offer several health benefits for your dog.

Many pet parents report fewer digestive problems, cleared allergies and skin problems, and healthier coats. By the way, I had a vet compare fresh dog food with kibble in another article.

I hope the information in this article helps you make the right choice for you and your dog.

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