Fresh Dog Food vs Kibble

What "fresh" means

Commercial fresh dog food is cooked without extrusion (by kettle or steam cooking, for example), then refrigerated or frozen, and is usually sold by subscription. Like kibble, it has to comply with AAFCO regulations to meet nutrient standards for the labeled life stage (Tanprasertsuk et al.). Kibble is extruded dry food. Both formats can carry a "complete and balanced" statement, and that statement matters more than the format (AAFCO).

What the research shows

A 2021 study compared a chicken-based kibble with several commercial fresh diets in healthy adult dogs. On the fresh diets, the dogs pooped less often, produced less fecal matter, and digested more of their food's dry matter, protein, fat, and calories (Tanprasertsuk et al.). That is a real difference in digestibility. It's also a short, small study (each diet was fed for 10 days), and it doesn't show long-term health benefits.

Tufts veterinary nutritionists make a related point about canned versus dry food: both have to meet basically the same nutrient standards, and for most dogs without health concerns the choice can come down to the dog's needs, your lifestyle, and budget (Tufts).

Cost

In a 2022 Tufts comparison of popular brands, fresh foods cost 4 to 6 times as much as the most expensive dry food and 18 to 27 times as much as the least expensive. The author notes that every diet compared was complete and balanced, and that a higher price doesn't buy proportionally better health (Tufts).

Grain-free and heart disease

In 2018 the FDA began investigating reports of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating certain foods, many labeled grain-free and high in peas, lentils, other legumes, or potatoes. The FDA has said that the reports alone aren't enough to establish a causal link, and in December 2022 it said it didn't plan further public updates until there was meaningful new science (FDA). This applies to kibble and fresh food alike. Read the ingredient list, and ask your vet if you're considering a grain-free diet.

Raw is a different question

Raw diets aren't the same as fresh-cooked. The FDA screened more than 1,000 pet food samples for bacteria that cause foodborne illness, including Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in raw pet food, and it warns that people who handle raw pet food can infect themselves (FDA). Tufts nutritionists don't recommend raw feeding because of the health risks to pets and people (Tufts).

How to choose

1. Check the adequacy statement. Look for "complete and balanced" for your dog's life stage (AAFCO).
2. Ask who formulates it. WSAVA suggests asking whether the company employs a qualified nutritionist (a PhD in animal nutrition, or board certification in veterinary nutrition) and how it checks quality (WSAVA).
3. Look at calories. WSAVA suggests checking calories per gram or serving (WSAVA). Recalculate portions when you switch foods, because the old scoop size won't carry over.
4. Price it per day. Pick something you can afford to feed every day for years.

Whatever you choose, the corgi rule is the same: measure meals and keep the dog lean (see Keeping Your Corgi Lean). If you cook at home, as we do for George, the recipe needs a dog-specific vitamin and mineral supplement; see George's recipe.