Last Updated on June 6, 2024 by Dogster Team
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Cat Stick
Dehydrated dog food continues to grow in popularity as more dog owners are becoming aware of its benefits. This type of food is prepared by slowly removing moisture from whole foods at low heat. This process helps food retain more nutrients and keep its natural flavors.
More and more dog food companies are jumping on board the dehydrated dog food trend, and it can be difficult finding a trustworthy and reliable brand. So, we’re here to help you decide on making the switch to dehydrated dog food.
We have reviews of some of the most popular dehydrated dog food recipes and also break down the differences between different types of dog food. By the end of reading this article, you’ll be able to make a well-informed decision on feeding your dog dehydrated dog food.
The Honest Kitchen’s Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food is a great place to start when stepping into the world of dehydrated dog food. The Honest Kitchen was founded in 2002 and is the world’s first human-grade pet food company. It is a reliable brand that has had just one recall in 2013.
This particular recipe is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs and food allergies because it contains a very short list of healthy, human-grade ingredients. It lists dehydrated chicken as its first ingredient and contains a moderate proportion of protein for dogs of all life stages, including pregnant and nursing dogs.
The formula also doesn’t contain any preservatives, animal by-products, fillers, corn, wheat, or soy. The use of high-quality ingredients does make this dog food more expensive than kibble and other dehydrated dog food brands. However, you can trust that your dog’s eating a very healthy and nutritious meal, so we still consider this recipe to be the best overall dehydrated dog food.
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, consider trying I and Love and You Stir & Boom Raw Raw Turk Boom Ba Dinner Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food. One 5½-pound bag makes 36 pounds of food, while The Honest Kitchen’s 10-pound box makes 40 pounds of food. This yield comparison alone makes it the best dehydrated dog food for the money you pay.
The recipe is fairly simple, so it is great for dogs with food sensitivities. It also contains all the delicious and nutritious foods that dogs typically love, including turkey, eggs, sweet potatoes, and carrots. The formula contains low-glycemic ingredients to help with weight management, and it’s also grain-free and gluten-free.
The dehydrated food doesn’t hold together very well and can easily turn to powder, making the dog food texture very mushy when it’s re-hydrated.
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Spot & Tango is a subscription-based dog food service that ships customized portions of dog food straight to your door. For the price that you pay, you receive high-quality dog food, access to customer service, and the convenience of never having to shop around for dog food.
The packaging is also eco-friendly and made with compostable and recyclable materials, and you can customize your deliveries so that you’re always ordering the right amount of food.
Spot & Tango has its own special Fresh Dry process that retains the nutrients in each ingredient and preserves their natural flavors. The Beef & Barley recipe is always made with fresh and whole ingredients, and it doesn’t contain any preservatives. It is also GMO and hormone-free and suitable for both puppies and adult dogs.
At this time, Spot & Tango only ships within the US, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. You also have a 2-week trial period, which may not be enough time for you to decide if you want to make the switch to dehydrated dog food.
The Honest Kitchen Turkey Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food is a great recipe for puppies because it contains a sufficient amount of protein, calories, and nutrients to promote developmental growth. It’s a suitable option for puppies of all breeds, including large breed puppies.
Feeding your puppy this recipe is a great way to introduce healthy foods. It contains delicious whole ingredients and nutrient-dense superfoods, such as spinach and flaxseeds. All the ingredients are human-grade, and you don’t have to worry about any meat by-products, preservatives, or carbohydrate fillers.
With dehydrated dog food, you’ll have to expect prices to be more expensive than traditional kibble. This recipe is no exception. It’s relatively expensive, even amongst other dehydrated dog food competitors. However, the formula is very clean, and it’s easily digestible for a puppy’s sensitive stomach. It’s also very flavorful and delicious, so picky puppies will enjoy their mealtimes.
Addiction Homestyle Venison & Cranberry Dinner Raw Dehydrated Dog Food is a great option for dogs with poultry or beef allergies. Along with using lean meat protein, the formula contains a nutritious blend of foods. It’s rich in antioxidants and prebiotics to support the immune system and digestive system. The recipe also contains coconut oil, which promotes healthy skin and coat.
This ingredient list does contain a lot of different fruit, so if your dog doesn’t typically enjoy fruit as treats, it may not like this particular recipe. The dehydrated form of this dog food is also on the powdery side, so it tends to have a mushy consistency when rehydrated. This can benefit senior dogs or dogs with dental issues, but other dogs may not enjoy the texture.
Canisource Grand Cru Red Meat Dehydrated Dog Food is a fan favorite for dogs that love red meat. Pork and beef are the first two ingredients, and the ingredient list contains other healthy foods, including whole grains, apples, and flaxseed.
All the ingredients are human-grade and the recipe doesn’t contain any animal by-products and artificial colors and flavors.
The pieces tend to be very tough, so it may not be a good option for senior dogs, dogs with dental issues, and dogs that eat quickly without chewing. You should add water to the food to rehydrate and soften it. However, it can take a long time for the pieces of food to soak up moisture.
Beef lovers are going to love this recipe. The first ingredient is beef, and the next four ingredients are beef organs. The beef is also high-quality. It comes from 100% grass-fed cows that were humanely raised without any added hormones, antibiotics, or grains.
The recipe is very simple and only contains one type of meat protein, so dogs with a lot of food allergies can eat it as long as they don’t have a beef allergy. It doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. The formula is also very high in protein, so it’s a great option for high-energy and athletic dogs.
With that being said, low-energy dogs should refrain from this food because the recipe is high in fat. For the same reason, it’s not the best option for overweight dogs and dogs needing to lose some weight.
If you’re looking for a healthy and convenient option, I and Love and You Stir Mix-A-Little Beef & Bone Broth Dehydrated Dog Food is an easy way to feed your dog nutritious dehydrated food. It comes in a convenient single-portion cup, and all you have to do is add a little water and stir.
The first ingredient is 100% real beef, and all the ingredients are human-grade. The recipe also doesn’t contain any carbohydrate fillers, soy, grain, and artificial colors and flavors.
The dehydrated pieces do run on the smaller size, so when you mix water with the food, it tends to have a texture similar to mashed potatoes. Some dogs love it, while others won’t. If your dog doesn’t like the texture, then you can always try using it as a meal topper instead of the main meal.
Only Natural Pet EasyRaw Human Grade Dehydrated Raw Dog Food Formula is great for dogs with beef and chicken allergies. It only uses lamb as a meat protein, and it has a simple ingredient list containing nutritious whole foods.
All the ingredients are also human-grade, and the formula doesn’t have any artificial colors, preservatives, or animal by-products. It’s gently cooked to make the food easily digestible while retaining a high amount of nutrients. The recipe does contain a significant amount of celery, and the smell can be relatively strong and deterring to some dogs.
On top of being a high-quality formula, the packaging is also eco-friendly. The compact design is intended to lower carbon emissions by making shipping more efficient.
Dog food has become more complex over the years. Consumers don’t just have to choose between dry food and wet food. You can now find dehydrated dog food, freeze-dried dog food, and air-dried dog food.
Sometimes, these terms get used interchangeably, but they do have differences. Here’s what you need to know about each one.
Air-dried dog food is a slow process where raw ingredients are placed in drying areas or chambers that evaporate moisture. Fresh air constantly gets pumped and circulated in these chambers until the moisture of the dog food reaches a certain low percentage.
This process eliminates the need for artificial preservatives because it kills dangerous bacteria. It also leaves a good amount of nutrients and flavor in the food. It tends to have a longer shelf-life than dehydrated dog food.
Dehydrated dog food gets prepared similarly to air-dried food. However, it uses more heat to get rid of moisture. Therefore, dehydrated dog food can’t be considered fully raw because it gets slightly cooked in the process. At the same time, it’s not fully cooked and still preserves a lot of natural flavor and nutrients.
This type of dog food removes moisture while the food is kept frozen. The raw food first gets frozen. Then, a combination of low temperatures and pressure extracts the moisture from the food.
This process enables freeze-dried food to have the same nutritional components as its frozen forms. The only difference is the absence of moisture.
According to our reviews, The Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food is the best dehydrated dog food because it contains high-quality ingredients and most dogs can easily digest it. I and Love and You Stir & Boom Raw Raw Turk Boom Ba Dinner Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food is a great affordable option that has delicious and nutrient-dense natural foods in it. Spot & Tango Unkibble Beef & Barley is a wonderful subscription based option that is made with fresh and whole ingredients.
Overall, dehydrated dog food is great for dogs with food sensitivities and a reliable way to make sure your dog’s getting the most out of its food.
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Featured Image Credit: tanyastock, Shutterstock
Wet Dog Food Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.