However, grain-free foods have recently become correlated with heart problems in dogs. Now, the overwhelming majority of dogs digest cooked grains without issue, but some owners decided that’s what they wanted for their pets, and the market obliged. There was a time when grain-free dog foods were considered superior to their grain-inclusive counterparts. The Majority of Freeze-Dried Foods Are Grain-Free The risks they present may be acceptable for some dogs, while they may be too dangerous for others. Ultimately, we’d encourage you to discuss freeze-dried dog food with your vet before making the switch. However, once you pour some water on your dog’s freeze-dried dinner, the bacteria can begin reproducing again. This probably makes freeze-dried foods slightly safer than completely unprocessed, raw foods. It is true that freeze-drying removes the bulk of the moisture from a piece of meat, and therefore reduces the rate that bacteria can reproduce - but it does not eliminate the bacteria completely.
But they still can and do get sick from time to time after consuming raw meat.Īccordingly, the raw meat included in some freeze-dried dog foods may cause your dog to fall ill. That’s part of the reason humans cook our food - it keeps us healthy.īroadly speaking, dogs don’t appear to be quite as susceptible to illness-causing bacteria as humans are. Raw meats are often contaminated with bacteria that can make you or your pooch sick. Freeze-Dried Dog Foods May Be Contaminated with Bacteria Do note that some manufacturers discourage this kind of use, so be sure to consult the feeding instructions (and, as always, your vet) before using a food in this manner. Since freeze-dried dog food can get quite pricey, a lot of owners end up using freeze-dried foods as “toppers,” by serving them with other, more budget-friendly dog foods. However, it is important to remember that most dehydrated dog foods swell to three to five times their original size once rehydrated - so don’t be thrown off by the small package sizes often used for freeze-dried products. Every freeze-dried dog food on the market is pricey when compared to regular kibble that’s been cooked. The single greatest problem with freeze-dried dog foods (and dehydrated foods to a lesser extent) is their expense. They may be deal-breakers for some owners, while others are willing to overlook these downsides. In terms of freeze-dried dog food options, there are two primary downsides. No type of dog food is perfect - otherwise, we’d all just feed whichever one was perfect and call it a day. What Are the Downsides to Freeze-Dried Dog Food? And although taste isn’t as important as nutrition, giving our dogs a food they enjoy is absolutely an important part of their overall wellness and quality of life. In fact, some people use them as healthy (if somewhat high-calorie) treats.