Best Frozen Raw Food

[CocoGabrielle]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Actually, the freeze dried does not have higher fat (than frozen). The freeze dried just has all the moisture taken out, so water needs to be added again. The frozen has all the moisture intact & when the moisture is taken out, the protein & fat levels also go up.

Comparing Pet Foods | College of Veterinary Medicine

I learned that the dogs & cats uses the fats as energy, they easily burn it up, not store it like us humans.

So frozen and freeze dried are equivalent as far as how healthy they are? Also, if I used freeze dried, I wasnt planning on putting water back in it. Coco is good about drinking water through out the day.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by CocoGabrielle

So frozen and freeze dried are equivalent as far as how healthy they are? Also, if I used freeze dried, I wasnt planning on putting water back in it. Coco is good about drinking water through out the day.

They're the same, it's just that freeze dried is missing the moisture. Some people sprinkle the freeze dried on top of kibble...I guess you can give it dry if you'd like. The texture is better when mixed w/water, they can swallow it easier, just digests easier...moisture is good for their diet.

http://www.stellaandchewys.com/versus.php

Information on freeze-drying Freeze-drying is a process that enables us to remove the moisture from our products without cooking. The product is first frozen and then put into a freeze dryer. Inside the freeze dryer, powerful pumps create a vacuum and extremely cold temperatures. Very low levels of heat are applied to the shelves on which the trays of product sit, enabling the ice within the meat to "sublimate" directly into water vapor, skipping the liquid stage. The product changes from frozen to freeze-dried without ever being thawed or cooked, thereby retaining all of the nutritional value of raw meat, minus the water. With Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Dinners and Treats, you get the best of both worlds; the benefits of raw food with the convenience of a dry food.

[janeno]

I am feeding Stella's and Chewy freeze dried. She has been recently exclusively on venison due to her allergies. But I am thinking of changing to pheasant for a little bit because she is slightly getting tired of venison.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Primal has great informative videos on their site: Feeding, Transition and Safety for Raw Dog Food Diets


So you 1st dethaw on the counter? May I ask why? Just curious, maybe you know a secret.

I just transfer the Primal nuggets (that's what they usually eat for frozen) into the glass tupperware after their dinner. Put it in the fridge & it's already thawed in the am. There's no juices or anything, so I don't need to use any paper towels. I did notice that Stella & Chewy's gets a little juicy, but they lick it all up.

I like to dethaw mine at room temp bc it's faster and I just think it dethaws them more thoroughly. I feel like when I dethaw them in the fridge, sometimes the middle still feels a bit hard/frozen...know what I mean?

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I like to dethaw mine at room temp bc it's faster and I just think it dethaws them more thoroughly. I feel like when I dethaw them in the fridge, sometimes the middle still feels a bit hard/frozen...know what I mean?

Gotcha! I know what you mean...I used to take out their next day portion b4 bed & it wouldn't be completely thawed in the am for their breakfast, so I take it out after I do the dinner dishes. It probably works for me bc I only take out the nuggets needed for the next day.

[shelbysmom]

Originally Posted by CocoGabrielle

I am currently feeding Coco Freshpet Vital Complete Meals for breakfast and she loves it. However, after reading about it on here, I've found that one of the ingredients, Carrageenan, is controversial so I rather just find her something else to eat than to worry.

I think my best bet is frozen raw food. I've narrowed it down to 3, Stella and Chewy's, Primal, and Nature's Variety. I was wondering which one do you prefer? Also, this may sound silly, but what is the best way to thaw it? I was thinking about putting it in a zip lock in the refrigerator, but I'd feel like I would have to use a new zip lock bag each time and that would be wasteful. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts/opinions. Thanks!

The freshpet select roasted chicken does not have carrageenan in it. My dog loves it. Not rated as high because less meat protein but still a good quality food.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by shelbysmom

The freshpet select roasted chicken does not have carrageenan in it. My dog loves it. Not rated as high because less meat protein but still a good quality food.

Just FYI, fresh pet also has moisture in their foods, it's probably as fed basis (on the label). So, to calculate the dry matter basis, the moisture needs to be taken out & the %age of protein, fat, fiber etc will go up. This is a good thing, since healthy dogs & cats needs their protein.

[CocoGabrielle]

Originally Posted by shelbysmom

The freshpet select roasted chicken does not have carrageenan in it. My dog loves it. Not rated as high because less meat protein but still a good quality food.

Where did you get that from? I don't think I remember seeing it at Petsmart.

[shelbysmom]

Freshpet Vital is sold at Pet supply stores but Freshpet "select" is sold at grocery stores, walmart and target. I got it at Walmart, you can check the walmart website in your area to see if they have it.

Freshpet® Select Chicken With Carrots & Spinach Dog Food Recipe