Is fresh food good for dogs? Learn more about fresh dog food and its benefits, plus a review of A Pup Above.
Fresh Food for Dogs
We love our dogs. We always want to do what’s best for them, including keeping them as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
To do that, we need to make the right choice when it comes to dog food. There are quite a few options now: kibble, freeze dried, fresh, raw, homecooked, etc.
How do you know which is best for your pet?
I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you what I learned about fresh dog food and give you a review of a brand of fresh dog food, A Pup Above.
But first, let’s talk about what’s healthy for dogs to eat.
What is the Healthiest Food to Feed Your Dog
Just like humans, does need certain essential nutrients to be healthy. Every day, they need:
- protein, for energy and healthy muscles and bones,
- carbs, for maintaining energy,
- vitamins A, B12, C, D, E, and K for a variety of benefits,
- minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, etc. for healthy bones, nerves and much more,
- fats, which can help with healthy organs, their fur, a healthy body temperature, and functioning nervous system
- and water, to help almost everything in the body work as it should.
Dog food should include a balance of all of that for it to be healthy for your dog. Kibble as well as fresh dog food should include all of these essential nutrients in order for them to be considered healthy.
Is Fresh Dog Food Better Than Kibble or Dry Food?
So many of us pet parents feed our dogs kibble, but is fresh dog food better?
The benefits of fresh dog food include:
- not highly processed ingredients
- higher-quality ingredients
- more control over ingredients
- fewer or no preservatives
- most often made with ‘human-grade food’ as defined by Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
Sounds pretty good, right?
Let’s take a look at kibble. Some claim the benefits of kibble or dry food to include:
- less dental plaque
- healthier gums
- easier storage
- less risk of spoiling
- cost effective for the average family
Health-wise, I’d say that fresh food is better than kibble, as long as it provides nutritional value for your dog. It may not be as cost effective, but more on that later.
A Pup Above Review
My dogs, Ruby and Keeva, have been doing well on their diet of kibble, but I usually add fresh food and bone broth to their meals to give them the added health benefits fresh food provides.
When A Pup Above contacted me about a collaboration, I was stoked! I’ve been wanting to give them more fresh food, so being able to review A Pup Above’s Sampler Pack was perfect timing.
A Pup Above’s fresh dog food uses human-grade ingredients that are cooked sous-vide, meaning that they are sealed in a vacuum pouch and then slowly cooked in water so that the food retains all of the vitamins and minerals that are usually lost in traditional cooking methods.
Compared to other similar types of fresh dog food, A Pup Above’s food contains more protein, bone broth, and non-GMO veggies. The ingredients are sourced locally, and the meat is without steroids, antibiotics, and hormones.
The food is also made in a USDA inspected facility, which means the food is tested to make sure it’s safe for dogs and free of pathogens.
The pouches of fresh food, once frozen, are placed in a recyclable terracycle bag. The bags are shipped in a box with dry ice, so if you’re not home to receive the delivery, the food will stay frozen for a few hours.
To serve the food to dogs, the frozen patties need to be defrosted either overnight in the fridge or in room temperature water for 30 minutes.
While the fresh dog food doesn’t look fabulous in the pouch, once it’s out, it really does look like real food. You can see the meat and the veggies.
My favorite part? It smells so good, especially compared to canned wet dog food that to me smells so bad. I was really tempted to try the Texas Beef Stew myself it smelled sooo good! (No worries, I didn’t!)
See them loving the Texas Beef Stew on Instagram!
How Much Fresh Dog Food to Feed
How much fresh food your dog needs will depend on their size.
My two dogs, 45lbs and 65lbs, would need to use 2.5 pouches of A Pup Above fresh food a day. For reference, a 3lb bag has 3 pouches in it, so we would need at least 6 bags a week. A 7lb bag has 7 pouches, so we would need 3 bags a week.
A Pup Above has a chart on their website and on their bags to tell you how much to feed your dog.
Is Fresh Dog Food Worth It?
Based on how my dogs react the second I take out a pouch of this food, they LOVE it. They devour it in less than a minute, leaving no trace behind!
Watch how they LOVE the Chicka Chicka Bow Wow!
Using fresh dog food that isn’t homecooked is very convenient. All I need to do is defrost and serve. Simple!
As far as price, I’m going to be 100% honest: it’s out of my budget as it may be out of others. With two dogs 45lbs and 65lbs, we would be spending more than our budget would allow.
In the future if it fit in our budget, I’d be very interested though!
Many fresh dog food brands are similar, because you are paying for the convenience of premium ingredients being cooked really well in facilities deemed safe for food, being packaged really well, and delivered frozen to your front door. The food they provide is worth their price.
But if it’s in your budget for your pups, I say go for it! Your pups will be getting delicious balanced meals that you don’t need to worry about delivered right to your door (or, if you’re lucky, nearby at your local pet shop!).
$50 Off your 1st order of $100+ with code TRYNOW at A Pup Above
Still interested but not in your budget as the only food? You can still get a subscription and use the fresh food as a topper on whatever other food you choose is best for your dog.
Where to Buy Fresh Dog Food
You can buy A Pup Above on their website. You may also be able to find their foods in select stores (grab their online coupon!).
Many thanks to A Pup Above for sending us these sample bags of fresh food to try!
Would Your Dog Benefit from Fresh Dog Food?
Interested in fresh food for your pooch? Have you already tried some? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Note: I am not a vet and cannot recommend what is best for your dog. Please consult your vet if you have concerns about different types of food.
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