The 5 Best Dehydrated Dog Foods
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Out of the many categories of dog foods available on the market, one option that is rapidly gaining popularity is dehydrated dog food. This type of product removes all the moisture from the food and dries it up completely.
This process of dehydration increases the shelf life and also retains its original nutritional value. Therefore, dehydrated dog food is for dog owners who prefer a raw diet for their beloved pets.
At a Glance: Best Dehydrated Dog Food:
We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below, where we have highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Compare Best Dehydrated Dog Food
OVERALL BEST  1. The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food | BEST AFFORDABLE  2. Stella & Chewy's Chewy's Chicken Meal Mixers Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Topper | BEST FOR SENIORS  4. Sojos Pre-Mix Natural Grain Free Dry Raw Freeze Dried Dog Food | BEST FOR ALLERGIES  5. Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food | |
Protein 24.5% Min | Protein 44% Min | Protein 31% Min | Protein 14.3% Min | Protein 47% Min |
Fat 14% Min | Fat 35% Min | Fat 21% Min | Fat 5.1% Min | Fat 25% Min |
Fiber 4% Max | Fiber 5% Max | Fiber 3% Max | Fiber 8.2% Max | Fiber 3% Max |
Calories 485 kcal/cup | Calories 224 kcal/cup | Calories 411 kcal/cup | Calories 332 kcal/cup | Calories 127 kcal/oz |
Best Rated Dehydrated Dog Food Reviewed
The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 24.5% Min
- Fat: 14% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 485 kcal/cup
- Tastes and smells great
- Low sodium content which is good for the heart health
- Grain-free and low-carbohydrate
- Some reviewers complain about questionable ingredients
Stella & Chewy's Chewy's Chicken Meal Mixers Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Topper
Product Info
- Protein: 44% Min
- Fat: 35% Min
- Fiber: 5% Max
- Calories: 224 kcal/cup
- Grain-free and made with complex carbohydrates
- Rich in dietary fiber (5% crude fiber)
- 100% Organic-certified fruits and vegetables
- Slightly expensive
Each animal or bird is grass-fed, reared in a cage-free manner or caught from the wilds to guarantee that your pet’s diet is 100 percent natural. Furthermore, the recipe is carefully formulated with minimal processing to preserve the nutritional value of the raw meat. Hence, it provides dogs with the highest levels of animal protein and high-quality grain-free nutrition.
Wellness CORE Bowl Boosters Tender Turkey
Product Info
- Protein: 31% Min
- Fat: 21% Min
- Fiber: 3% Max
- Calories: 411 kcal/cup
- No digestive issues
- Can be used as a food topper
- 100% Natural and grain free
- Protein rich formula
- Fish flavor has a strong smell
- It is costlier than other food options
Sojos Pre-Mix Natural Grain Free Dry Raw Freeze Dried Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 14.3% Min
- Fat: 5.1% Min
- Fiber: 8.2% Max
- Calories: 332 kcal/cup
- High energy levels
- Vet-recommended
- Great taste
- Made in the USA
- Some find the smell of herbs too strong for dogs
- Extreme picky eaters did not eat it
Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 47% Min
- Fat: 25% Min
- Fiber: 3% Max
- Calories: 127 kcal/oz
- Balanced diet for all life stages
- Steroid-free chicken meat and organs
- Highly-palatable dog food
- Made in the USA
- Some reviewers complained about the inconsistency of food quality across products
Benefits Of Dehydrated Dog Food
This type of diet provides a healthy and high-protein diet for your canine. It has a lot of vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, if you are choosing this diet for the very first time, then the name might sound a little intimidating. However, these recipes are, in fact, very easy to prepare. Before we look into some of the most recommended dehydrated food recipes for dogs, let’s assess the benefits of dehydrated dog food.
- Freeze-dried foods are easier to digest: Such foods are easy on the stomach. Doctors also recommend this type of food.
- Dehydrated food retains most of the nutrients: While the cooking process of dry food kibble requires high temperatures, dehydrated food retains most nutrients.
- Easier to prepare: This type of food is much easier to prepare, as you only need to add boiled water. It helps save time.
- Dehydrated food has a longer shelf life: Due to zero moisture, these foods have a longer shelf life.
- Easier to store: There is no need for refrigeration, as opposed to canned or other food options.
- Diverse sources of protein: Usually, these diets are high in protein and have multiple sources.
- Healthier skin and coat: By preserving the nutritional content in the raw ingredients, dehydrated dog food helps ensure that your dog gets healthy fats to improve its skin and coat conditions.
- Improved energy levels: Since the dehydration method makes it easy for your canine pet to absorb nutrients, the overall intake and nutrient absorption process become healthier. This greatly affects the energy levels of your pet. This makes it active and stronger than earlier.
- Stronger immune system: Moreover, an increase in nutrient absorption will also help to improve the overall strength of your dog’s immune system, as improved digestion is directly attributed to a strong immune system.
- Healthy weight maintenance: Most dehydrated dog foods are rich in protein with a moderate amount of fat content and considerably lower carbohydrate content. This is the ideal formula to help your canine maintain a healthy body weight.
Disadvantages Of Dehydrated Dog Food
With so many advantages to dehydrated dog food, you might be wondering if there are also many disadvantages. Well, there definitely are some disadvantages that you should consider before picking this food option.
- Expensive: Dehydrated food is usually less expensive than freeze-dried food, but both options tend to be more expensive than the good old dry kibble.
- The texture may not be appealing to some dogs: Dogs that are used to the crunch of kibbles or the feel of raw food may not enjoy the texture of dehydrated or freeze-dried foods. These types of foods have a softer texture that is more like oatmeal.
- The taste isn’t always natural: The process of dehydration can change the taste slightly, but that’s good enough for your pet to detect the change. Your pet may not relish this change of taste. However, freeze-dried foods are much better at preserving the taste of the ingredients put into the recipe than air-dried foods.
- Rehydration time: Though rehydrating the food is usually a quick process, it could also take a few hours, depending on the type and brand of the food.
How are These Two Different Recipes Processed?
- Air-dried dog food: This dog food is processed at high temperatures to extract all the moisture from the raw dog food. Most air-dried dog foods are prepared at about 140°F to 180°F. One potential problem with this option is that the cooking process takes longer, which exposes meat to potential spoilage due to oxidation. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all air-dried, dehydrated dog foods may be spoiled. Moreover, the food is also slightly cooked when air dried, so the nutritional content might be lost during the process.
- Freeze-dried dog food: This type of dog food undergoes a process that is significantly quicker by using lower temperatures for drying dog food. It has less damage to the nutritional content. All the nutrition, including vitamins, minerals, fats, and proteins, remains intact until your dog eats it. This makes it a better option than air-dried food. This also retains most of the flavor and aroma of the food compared to air-dried food recipes.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, no processed food is completely perfect for your pup as any processed dog food loses some of its nutritional value. It is also important to keep in mind that every dog is different, and each dog has its own needs and taste preferences.
Dehydrated dog food recipes are certainly gaining popularity among dog owners because this dog food option retains a high amount of nutrition and flavor. In addition, it also offers a certain degree of convenience to dog owners, as it is extremely easy to prepare. Nevertheless, before introducing any big change in your pet’s diet, we recommend you seek the advice of an expert or a vet.
