Raw Vs Fresh Dog Food

Raw dog food is any food that contains completely uncooked ingredients – usually meat, offal, and bones, and in some cases fruits, vegetables, and other superfoods added to provide extra nutrients. This mimics a prey-model diet that raw dog feeders believed a dog's ancestors lived off.

According to pet parents, the benefits of feeding raw food to dogs include a glossier coat, healthier skin, and better digestion.

A nutritionally complete raw food for dogs contains everything your dog needs to stay healthy, in the right amounts. 

But is cooked meat or raw meat better for dogs?

If you consider cooked food vs raw food for dogs, we know that nutrients can be damaged by the cooking process if cooked on a high temperature, whilst raw dog food doesn’t lose any nutritional value during preparation. 

Despite these benefits, Let’s find out about the drawbacks and risks involved whilst feeding raw dog food.

Finding a complete raw food for dogs isn’t necessarily easy – feeding your dog raw meat, offal, and bones alone won’t give them the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that they need.

Your dog’s food should be made by a regulated brand or using a recipe formulated by a qualified veterinary nutritionist, otherwise, you could cause your pup long-term health issues due to deficiencies.

Another concern with raw dog food relates to bacteria and parasites normally destroyed during the cooking process, which could be a risk if it's not stored or prepared correctly.

Of course, it's not just your dog who's at risk. If they have bacteria on their mouth or fur after eating, infections could be passed on to vulnerable family members too. 

Raw food needs to be frozen to prevent bacteria build up which means defrosting carefully before feeding to your dog. 

This not only increases the risks of your dog getting ill, but also causes the headache of storage in a freezer. Not everybody has this space available and this isn't convenient for those that travel with dogs. 

Finally, the bones within raw dog food are a concern. While raw bones are less concerning than cooked bones because they don't splinter and are easier to digest, any bone can cause a blockage or gut damage.

Check out this information from The Kennel Club.

Fresh dog food is food that has been gently cooked to avoid destroying the nutrients. It typically contains lightly cooked unprocessed whole foods, including meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

In general, fresh whole foods are higher in nutrients than harshly cooked foods or processed foods that contain preservatives.

Years meals offer your dog a complete nutrition system and freshly steaming prime meats, whole foods and fruits, veggies and seeds. 

When considering fresh food vs raw food for dogs, the infection risks associated with raw meat are avoided, without compromising on nutritional value. All bacteria is killed off in the cooking process.

This prevents the risk of your dog getting sick from parasites or infection. 

There are no bones in Years meals too!

Years offers your dog a complete nutrition system using whole food ingredients, prime meats and superfoods packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Ingredients like sweet potato, red pepper, quinoa and even cranberries. 

60% of Years meals are made with prime cuts of meats such as salmon fillet, chicken thigh and pork shoulder. No homogenised mush used.

This ensures your dog is getting everything they need to truly thrive without the need for extra supplementation.

Unlike raw dog food, Years meals don’t need to be kept in the fridge or freezer until it’s opened, meaning more space for your food!

Every dog is different, meaning that they have unique needs. 

At Years, all meals are personalised to your dog to ensure they are getting the correct nutrients for their weight, life cycle and breed. 

This includes personalised meals and a breed superfood supplement which is added to every subscription.

Unlike raw dog food, Years meals don’t need to be kept in the fridge or freezer until it’s opened, meaning more space for your food!

Due to the unique cooking process all Years meals can be stored in the cupboard for 3 months and 7 days once opened. 

This means no freezer space is needed. Great for travelling and no need to monitor defrosting food every week!

Fresh dog food doesn’t last as long in storage as some dog foods, because it doesn’t contain preservatives or any nasties.

Due to the unique cooking process, all Years meals can be stored 3 months in the cupboard and 7 days in the fridge once opened. 

You can also order dog food for exactly when you need it straight to your door, no supermarkets needed!

One other drawback of fresh dog food is that it is more expensive than other types of dog food. 

This is due to Years food providing dog's a complete nutrition system with real whole food ingredients and prime cuts of meats. However, budget is always a consideration.

There are no other specific drawbacks of fresh dog food, but always change your dog's food gradually and avoid ingredients that have previously caused an upset stomach or allergic reaction.

At Years, every ingredient and percentage is listed on the packaging. you can also find more information on all our dog meals.