Raw Vs Fresh Dog Food — Which Is Best?
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As pet parents, one of the toughest and most important decisions we face is choosing the right food to help our dogs live a long, happy, and healthy life. But with countless food options available, making the right pick for our dogs can be challenging.
To help you make an informed decision, our editors did some research to see which food type is best for dogs. In this guide, we will review three popular food brands — Maev’s frozen raw food, Freshpet’s fresh food, and Nom Nom’s fresh food — and provide the insights you need to make the right pick for your pet.
Key Similarities:
- All three brands offer a variety of dog food options.
- They all provide detailed information about the ingredients and nutritional value of their products.
- They all offer products that meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards for balanced nutrition.
Key Differences:
- Ingredient Quality: Maev’s frozen raw food is 100% uncooked and unprocessed — it retains most of its natural nutrients, vitamins, and enzymes. | Freshpet’s food is gently cooked which naturally degrades ingredient quality. | Nom Nom’s fresh food, though also human-grade, loses some nutrients due to cooking.
- Convenience: Maev requires no thawing, you can serve straight from the bag. | Nom Nom and Freshpet’s raw food both require hours of thawing prior to serving.
- Health Benefits: Dogs on Maev have better digestion and dental health, as well as improved mobility and fewer allergies. | Nom Nom and Freshpet, while helpful for some health needs, cannot match the raw-food advantages.
Overview Of Maev’s Frozen Raw Food
Maev’s frozen raw food is the only human-grade dog raw food in the market. It is formulated using 11 core ingredients, including real beef or chicken, fresh vegetables, fruits, and functional supplements.
Unlike kibble or fresh food that is cooked or processed, Maev’s food is 100% unprocessed, so it retains all its nutritional value. Plus, the ingredients are fully visible — when you open the bag, you see real meat, fruits, and vegetables.
Maev’s raw food improves dogs’ health in seven core areas — gut, immune system, oral hygiene, skin & coat, hip & joint, mental health, and growth & early development. When we tried our dog on Maev’s frozen raw food, we noticed significant improvements in just 30 days.
Overview Of Freshpet’s Fresh Food
Freshpet offers fresh food for both cats and dogs. They have separate food options for large breeds, small breeds, and puppies.
Their recipes are made from high quality chicken, beef, fish and nutrient-rich veggies and fruits. They don’t contain preservatives or any meat by-products.
While it is fresh, because they use the slow cooking method, it loses some of its nutritional value compared to a raw food diet. Their food is also processed into a homogeneous patty-like form which makes the ingredients less discernible.
Freshpet’s food also needs to be consumed within 7 days of opening, you can freeze it but the color and texture changes.
Overview Of Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food
Nom Nom offers a variety of fresh food recipes for dogs — Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Pork Potluck, and Turkey Fare. You can choose from their menu and get the meals delivered to your door.
Their food is made from fresh, real ingredients and doesn’t contain any fillers or other harmful chemicals. However, it is also cooked, which, like Freshpet, also reduces some of the natural nutrients and enzymes found in raw diets and therefore offers less health benefits.
Also, Nom Nom’s fresh meals need refrigeration and can’t stay in the fridge for longer than 5 days after opening, which isn’t as convenient.
Our Verdict:
Out of Maev’s frozen raw food, and Freshpet and Nom Nom’s fresh dog food, our top choice is Maev.
Its simplicity and quality provide your dog with just the nutrition they need to be your bright-eyed, shiny-coated, energetic friend-for-life. Though Freshpet and Nom Nom offer more food options, they lack the benefits of a fully unprocessed diet, which is what dogs are biologically primed to eat. What Sets Maev Apart:
- Customizable raw diet for all stages of your dog’s life
- 100% USDA-certified, human-grade, raw diet built by veterinarians
- Meets AAFCO industry requirements
- Made in the USA
Maev’s flexible subscription means no more lugging home huge sacks of dog food. They’ll deliver as much and as often as you need. And if you’re worried about freezer space, simply split your subscription. You can add, swap, modify your orders, or unsubscribe at any time — completely hassle-free.
If you want to give your dog food that will lead to a happier and healthier lifestyle, it is clear that Maev’s frozen raw food is the way to go.
