5 Questions You Might Have About Dehydrated Dog Food

Choosing high-quality dog food is a vital part of keeping your pup healthy, happy, and thriving. Pet parents have more choices than ever before, and if you’re searching for the best dog food for your pet, you might have heard about an all-natural option that’s quickly gaining popularity: dehydrated dog food. To help you understand this type of diet and if it’s the right choice for your pet, take a look at the most frequently asked questions we’ve received about dehydrated dog food.

Related: Is Dehydrated Dog Food Good For Dogs?

1) Why Is Dehydrated Dog Food In A Powder Format?

Dehydrated food has a unique appearance straight out of the box, due to its unique preparation method. Dehydrated food is gently cooked on low heat to remove the moisture from the food. As a result, dehydrated dog food often appears as a powder mixed with small chunks or strips of meat. Although its appearance is different from kibble or other fresh frozen alternatives, rest assured its consistency means the moisture was cooked out of all the high-quality ingredients, helping the food retain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

2) How Should I Prepare and Serve Dehydrated Food?

Dehydrated dog food is easy to prepare and serve. Prepare your dog’s dehydrated meal in three easy steps:

1. Mix the recommended serving size of dehydrated food and warm water into your dog’s bowl. A good rule of thumb is to add 1.5 cups of water or bone broth to every 1 cup of dehydrated food, but you can adjust the consistency to your dog’s liking.
2. Stir and wait for about 10 minutes to allow the food to fully hydrate. For a no-stress prep, you can make your dog’s food the evening before and soak everything overnight in the refrigerator using a sealed container.
3. Serve at room temperature or add a little warm water to warm things up. Then, let your dog enjoy their freshly prepared meal! When serving, remember to always provide your dog with fresh drinking water.

3) Why Does Dehydrated Food Come In Smaller Quantities?

When shopping for dehydrated food, you might notice the quantity is smaller than traditional kibble. Don’t fret – this is purposeful! Once rehydrated, each bag of dehydrated food makes about 4 times the listed weight – so a 2lb bag of food would make up to 8 lbs of freshly prepared food, a 7lb bag would make up to 28 lbs, and so on.

4) Is Dehydrated Food The Same As Fresh Frozen Dog Food?

Dehydrated food is cooked at a low temperature to gradually remove the moisture from fresh ingredients. Once the cooking process is complete, dehydrated food is shelf-stable and doesn’t require refrigeration until you prepare it with water.

Fresh frozen food brands, such as The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, or Nom Nom, are also cooked at low temperatures and then frozen. Although it varies by brand, many fresh frozen dog food brands require the food to be stored in the freezer or thawed in the refrigerator until serving.

Both dehydrated and fresh frozen foods are good options for feeding your dog a freshly prepared meal, and the choice often comes down to a matter of budget, lifestyle, and personal preference.

5) Is Dehydrated Dog Food Good For Picky Eaters?

Dehydrated food is a great choice for picky dogs! The dehydration process helps maintain the natural taste of the ingredients, which creates a flavorful dish once it’s rehydrated. If your dog is extra picky, you can always rehydrate using bone broth instead of water, which adds a rich, meaty flavor that can entice even the fussiest of dogs.

Interested in trying dehydrated dog food? It’s always a good idea to check with your holistic veterinarian for guidance and get tips on how to slowly introduce a new food into your dog’s diet. If you’re ready to try an all-natural dehydrated dog food, shop Only Natural Pet’s MaxBlends Dehydrated Dog food, available in chicken and beef!