Your dog is part of your family. And like any other family member, you want to make sure he’s getting healthy dog food. Lately, there’s been increased interest in fresh dog food—“human-grade” food that’s prepared to order and includes high-quality meats, vegetables, grains and fruits, but no preservatives or artificial additives. But is fresh dog food better for your pup? It depends on who you ask.
Here are five fresh dog food delivery services that offer fresher, potentially more healthful ... [+]
According to Dr. Justin Shmalberg, DVM, clinical associate professor at the University of Florida, cofounder of Integrative Veterinary Innovations and Chief Nutrition Officer at NomNomNow, fresh diets have a variety of health and nutrition benefits. They’re usually free of preservatives and fillers and have additional nutrients that support your dog’s health and coat. He says that “feeding our pets well is the best strategy for preventing chronic diseases,” and we should include at least some fresh food in our dog’s diet.
There are some downsides though. For one, fresh dog food is often more costly and harder to store than kibble—refrigerated foods have a shelf life of less than a week. On the other hand, dry dog food helps remove plaque and tartar from your dog’s teeth and the texture encourages your dog to chew before swallowing. But it’s often filled with preservatives and other ingredients that you might not feel good about giving your pup. So it’s really a matter of personal preference and what’s best for your dog’s individual needs.
No matter which kind of dog food you go with, Ruairi White, DVM, MPH, an associate veterinarian at Norwichtown Veterinary Hospital in Norwich, CT, says that it’s important that it’s been evaluated and found nutritionally adequate by The Association of the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)—a non-profit organization of local, state and federal agencies that make recommendations for pet food.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to discuss any dietary changes with your veterinarian first. But if you get the green light, here are five of our favorite fresh dog food companies to choose from. All prices listed are for a 60-pound mixed breed that likes to lounge around all day, so your cost may go up or down depending on your dog’s size and activity level.
The Farmer’s Dog
The Farmer’s Dog makes its dog food with human-grade meat and veggies in USDA-approved kitchens. Every meal is developed by veterinarians and has a nutritional profile that exceeds the industry standards for dogs set by the AAFCO. There are no preservatives or byproducts and the food is delivered fresh (never frozen) to your door within a few days of cooking.
When you sign up for The Farmer’s Dog, you set up a profile for each of your dogs with their age, weight and breed, plus activity level, body type, eating habits and any existing health issues. From there, the website will automatically recommend a meal plan and give you a daily price. For my 60-pound German Shepherd mix, the price amounted to $9.28 per day, but if you try out the service, you can get 20% off the first week.
Turkey, beef and pork meals are all part of the menu, but you can uncheck an option if you don’t want to include it in your dog’s plan. All meals are pre-portioned, so you just take a pouch out of the refrigerator, cut it open and pour it into your dog’s bowl. And all deliveries are timed so you never run out of food.
Ollie
Ollie is another subscription-based fresh dog food delivery service that brings your dog’s food to your house on a recurring basis. All meals are human-grade, sourced from high-quality farms in the US that care about animal welfare, and are made without any fillers or artificial ingredients.
You can choose from beef, turkey, chicken and lamb—or a combination of all of the above. All options include meat and veggies that provide ample nutrition for your pup; the beef and lamb meals also feature organ meats that are rich in essential amino acids and taurine that help protect your dog’s heart.
The food is delivered fresh and lasts for four days in the fridge, or you can store it in the freezer for about six months. Each pack comes with a resealable lid, so if you don’t use it all in one sitting, you can keep it fresh until your dog’s next meal. For a 60-pound dog, the prices start at $7.30 per meal, but you can get 20% off your first two-week starter box.
Nom Nom
Nom Nom makes its dog food based on three principles: nutrition, sustainable sourcing and zero waste. All ingredients are sustainably-sourced (whenever possible) from U.S. growers and suppliers and each meal is made in a dedicated kitchen that’s only used for Nom Nom. Each ingredient is cooked individually, so temperature and cooking time can be controlled for optimal nutrition.
Unlike The Farmer’s Dog which packages food based on your dog’s weight and preferences, Nom Nom prepackages its food fresh every week, offering Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Pork Potluck and Turkey Fare. In addition to restaurant-quality ingredients, each meal also has added fish oil. You can purchase individual meals or opt for a variety pack that includes all four so you can see what your dog likes before committing to a meal plan.
Each pack is $15, and feeding instructions are based on weight: half of a bag for dogs under 15 pounds, a full bag for dogs between 15 to 25 pounds or a full bag with your current food for dogs over 25 pounds. That means if you have a larger dog, Nom Nom serves only as a supplemental source of nutrition rather than the main dish.
PetPlate
PetPlate’s subscription model is quite similar to The Farmer’s Dog: You input your dog’s information (age, activity level, weight status, and so on) and get a personalized fresh dog food meal plan delivered right to your door. Each plan is perfectly portioned, and protein options include beef, chicken, turkey and lamb. All meals are designed by a veterinary nutritionist and meet or exceed AAFCO standards.
You can choose from a full plan—a balanced diet that costs $9.37 per day for a 60-pound dog—or the topper plan, which is a supplemental option that you mix with your dog’s current food. The topper breaks down to $3.30 per day for a large dog. Either way, you’ll get 50% off your first order.
All containers arrive frozen, and you can let them defrost in the fridge or use the microwave to thaw them out in 30 seconds. Once thawed, the food will last for about five days in the refrigerator—it’s that fresh.
Spot & Tango
At first glance, Spot & Tango looks just like any other fresh dog food subscription service—you plug in your dog’s personal information and get a tailored meal plan. But the thing that makes Spot & Tango unique is that it offers a choice between fresh dog food and something the company calls UnKibble: fresh-dried food that’s made with all fresh, human-grade ingredients, but has the characteristic crunch of dry kibble and can be stored in the pantry or cabinet, instead of the fridge.
For a 60-pound dog, the fresh dog food starts at $4.05 per meal (or $8.10 per day if you feed two meals) and $2.29 per meal ($4.58 daily) for the UnKibble. The price goes up slightly depending on which type of protein you choose. Turkey is least expensive, while lamb costs more. Both types of food are designed to provide full nutrition for your pup, so it really comes down to personal preference.
If you choose the UnKibble, it arrives packaged in a bag, just like dry dog food. If you opt for the fresh dog food instead, it ships cold but Spot & Tango recommends you freeze it immediately upon arrival. The dog food lasts in the refrigerator for four days or the freezer for six months.
