Freeze-Dried Raw: The Truth About The Latest Convenience Food for Dogs

Acknowledgment

A special thanks to Caroline Griffith for her invaluable support, guidance, and insight in helping shape this blog.

Freeze-Dried Pet Food: The Truth Behind the Trend

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 that freeze-dried is equivalent to raw—just without the freezer.

As pet owners, we always strive to provide the best for our dogs, and freeze-dried diets appear to offer the benefits of raw feeding with minimal effort. But is freeze-dried food really as great as advertised? Let's explore the facts behind this latest trend in canine nutrition.

What Is Freeze-Dried Raw?

Freeze-dried raw food is made by taking frozen raw ingredients and removing moisture through a vacuum process.

📽️ Watch this video for a detailed explanation:🔗 Freeze-Drying Process Explained

The Benefits of Freeze-Dried Raw

✅ Nutrition Retention: Freeze-drying helps preserve essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals found in raw ingredients. However, it’s important to note that it requires the addition of synthetic additives, and a major concern is the lack of absorbable calcium.

✅ Convenience: Freeze-dried diets are easy to store, require no refrigeration, and are simple to portion—ideal for pet owners who travel frequently.

✅ Improved Palatability: Many dogs love the taste and texture of freeze-dried food, making transitions to new diets smoother—especially for picky eaters.

✅ Allergy & Sensitivity-Friendly: These diets often have limited ingredient lists, which can help pets with food allergies or sensitivities.

The Reality of Freeze-Dried Raw

⚠️ High Cost: One of the biggest downsides of freeze-dried diets is their price tag. These premium products are significantly more expensive than traditional kibble or canned dog food, though some owners believe the benefits outweigh the cost.

⚠️ Hydration Concerns: Since freeze-dried food lacks natural moisture, hydration is crucial. Simply adding water isn't the same as the structured moisture found in fresh meat—it can alter nutrient absorption and may only irrigate rather than properly hydrate your pet.

⚠️ Quality Varies by Brand: Not all freeze-dried foods are created equal. Ingredient sourcing differs across brands, so choosing a reputable manufacturer committed to high-quality ingredients is essential.

Freeze-Dried vs. Raw: Key Differences

✅ Raw diets allow customization to fit your pet's needs, whereas freeze-dried options come pre-balanced but with less variety.

Is Freeze-Dried a True Alternative to Raw Feeding?

Freeze-dried food is a convenient option when raw feeding isn't possible, but it's not a direct substitute. Due to limitations on variety and reliance on synthetic additives, it’s not yet a long-term raw feeding solution.

For those seeking a balanced raw diet, explore available cost-effective options and supplier discounts using:🔗 [Raw Food Supplier Map]

Examples of Additives in Freeze-Dried Foods

📌 COYA Additives (per kg):

• Vitamin A 2500IU, Vitamin D3 250IU, Vitamin E 50mg

• Zinc (Zinc chelate of protein hydrolysates) 15mg

• Iron (Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate) 10mg

• Manganese (Manganous 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

  
  

📌 Natures Variety Additives (per kg):

• Vitamin A 1000IU, Vitamin D 100IU, Vitamin E 14mg

• Iron Sulphate Monohydrate 20mg

• Calcium Iodate Anhydrous 0.4mg

• Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate 7.2mg

  
  

📌 Ella & Co Additives (per kg):

• Vitamin A 1,000IU, Vitamin D 100IU, Vitamin E 14mg

• 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 (I 0.26mg)

• Selenised yeast inactivated 8.6mg (Se 0.02mg)

💡 Important Note: Calcium iodate refers to iodine—not calcium itself. Current labelling laws don't require manufacturers to specify the type of calcium added.

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