This post is sponsored by Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend dog food. You can read our review of this freeze-dried food to learn more about how it is made and our experiences with it.
Though this post is brought to you by a freeze-dried food, I wanted to help you understand the differences between freeze-dried and dehydrated, present the pros and cons, and make a choice that’s right for your dog.
Both are excellent choices, much better than kibble, and can make a difference in your dog’s health. You should know what makes them different before you try something new with your dog’s diet, whether you want to make a switch, add a new food to your rotation, or use a healthier food as a nutritious topper to serve with her regular diet.
Table of Contents
Which Is Closer To Fresh Food?
Dehydrated dog food is processed at around 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which destroys anything living in your dog’s food – including bacteria and enzymes. It’s not considered raw, though it’s not quite cooked, either.
Freeze-dried dog food, on the other hand, is frozen, and then the ice is removed through a process called sublimation. All of the moisture content is converted from solid to gas. There is no cooking involved in this process, so all of the vitamins and nutrients are preserved.
Bacteria and live enzymes are unable to grow on freeze-dried food because there is no moisture, but some survive and will start to grow again when you moisten the food.
Whether freeze-dried is “raw” or not is a matter of semantics, I consider it to be raw because it is still “alive,” and should be treated as raw once you rehydrate it.
Which Is Better For Your Dog?
Both freeze-dried and dehydrated dog foods normally meet AAFCO standards and are complete and balanced. They contain all of the essential vitamins and minerals your dog needs in her diet.
If you can find the AAFCO seal on the bag, or “complete and balanced,” it’s suitable for everyday feeding, and you don’t have to feed anything else with it.
So, though dehydrating food does break down some of the food’s nutritional value, it still must meet those guidelines. I wouldn’t be overly concerned about a dog getting those basic vitamins and nutrients on any commercial diet.
However… those nutritional guidelines cannot account for how your dog’s body metabolizes those vitamins and nutrients. We want to feed dog food that is easy to digest so your dog can actually use the nutrients in their food, not just convert it to poop.
Since freeze-dried dog food is closer to the raw meat that our dogs evolved to eat, and it contains some active enzymes once rehydrated, it’s going to be somewhat easier for your dog to digest and break down into usable nutrients.
Which Has A Longer Shelf Life?
Dehydrating removes anywhere from 70%-95% of the moisture content in food – less if you’re doing it at home, and more with commercial dehydrators.
Freeze-drying, on the other hand, removes 98-99% of the moisture content from food.
Moisture is the worst enemy of your dehydrated or freeze-dried food. It is the lack of moisture that keeps bacteria from growing, and the food from spoiling.
So, if you keep your food in a dark, clean, dry place, it’s going to last a long time whether it’s dehydrated or freeze-dried. Since freeze-dried food is drier, it has a longer shelf life.
But we’re talking a difference of years – as in, 10 years vs 20 years, so this isn’t a major differentiator for the average household.
Which Is Easier To Store?
Dehydrating “shrinks” the dog food, while freeze-dried basically keeps the same volume while removing water weight.
A month’s worth of dehydrated food and freeze-dried food weigh about the same, but the dehydrated food will take up less space. So, dehydrated food actually wins when it comes to storage space.
If you’re traveling, you might want to bring dehydrated food. When it comes down to it, though, freeze-dried takes up about the same amount of space as kibble, so it’s fine for storing in cupboards as you would any other food.
Which Takes Longer To Prepare?
Freeze-dried foods rehydrate more quickly. However, total rehydrating times vary based on whether your dog likes their food totally soaked, whether the food is in powder or pellet form, and the temperature of the water.
Use warm water to rehydrate freeze-dried food, but not too hot, because you don’t want to cook it. I like to use hot sink water. You can also rehydrate enough for up to three days and store any rehydrated food in the fridge.
Dehydrated nuggets take a long time to rehydrate – they stay tough and leathery for up to ten minutes. Dehydrated powdered food, I find, rehydrates in about the same amount of time as rehydrated pellets like Nature’s Blend, about three minutes.
Which Tastes Better?
Since freeze-dried food quickly returns to the texture of fresh food, and retains more flavors, dogs seem to like it more. It’s also easier to use to coat other types of food like kibble to make it more palatable.
Dogs seem to love dehydrated food, too. My dogs seem to like both equally.
Want To Try Dr. Marty Freeze Dried Dog Food For Free?
We’re giving away three bags EACH of Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend Freeze Dried Dog Food to three winners! Must be 18+ to win, USA only.
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She also uses her pet copywriting business to make sure the best pet products and services get found online through catchy copy and fun, informative blog posts. She also provides product description writing services for ecommerce companies.
As a dog mom to Matilda and Cow, she spends most of her days taking long walks and practicing new tricks, and most nights trying to make the best of a very modest portion of her bed.
You'll also find her baking bread and making homemade pizza, laughing, painting and shopping.
I’m looking for a healthier food I can feed all my dogs. I’d love to try this food with them. This would especially be great for my senior Chihuahua dogs that have few teeth :)and my picky eaters.
My Chinese crested are old girls with 6 teeth between them & breath that could choke 4 horses. After lily had a heart attack I switched the 3 to Dr. Marty’s & the change has been miraculous! Their breath is sweet & their skin is soft and elastic again & dr. Marty’s adds no salt other than what is in the salmon. It’s expensive but post Covid they are my biggest part of my life. We love Dr. Marty’s.
I’m always looking for something new for my dogs.
I’m interested because my dog’s wellbeing is important to me.
I am looking forward to trying this – I have been “rehydrating” kibble for my dogs- not realizing there was a freeze-dried option!
I want my dog happy & healthy and would love to try this.
I adopted my dog as a senior and consequently I am deeply concerned with doing my very best to make his life as long and healthy as possible. I have been reading good things about food like this and I think it might be a great option for my little guy.
I am always interested in finding a good food for my dogs. My 13 year old needs the good stuff to keep him healthy.
I would like to try this because I’m always looking for better food for my babies, I know they only deserve the best!
I’m interested in trying it because we are having a hard time finding a food that settles well with our dogs stomach.
i love to try new things for my rescue dogs thank you very much
I am always looking for good wholesome food for my fur baby He has a sensitive stomach unfortunately.
I think this would be much healthier for my dog Buddy.
I’m always interested in healthy food for my fur baby!
I have long wondered how my pup would do with freeze dried food.
I am very attracted to the long shelf life and easy storage. this has always been a problem with our current dog food.
great
This product looks awesome. Since my fur baby is a approaching senior status I am concerned that he appears a bit lethargic and am hoping this will help. I’m a research nut and everything that Dr Marty says and puts in his food seems healthy.
i want my pet to eat the purest form of his foods
I’m interested because I love my dog so much and always want to be able give her healthy food that she will enjoy.
My dog Angel is 12, She was only 18 months old when we adopted her after the loss of my husband. My daughter is now in college and Angel is such an important part of our family. I want to do everything to support her health and longevity!
looking for healthier dog food
This sounds like an awesome food for my girls! We had a scare the other night from something one of them apparently ate that she shouldn’t have – we awoke to her having a seizure. I’m fairly picky about what they get but now I really am watching ingredients like a hawk.
This sounds like a well balanced food to try with my chihuahua.
I would love to try this with my dog because I feel like the freeze dried food would be healthier,have a longer shelf life and easier storage,and I also love that it retains it’s flavor better so it will stay tasty for my fur baby.
I like giving my dog new food to try to see what she likes.
I’m really loving the longer shelf life and that it’s a healthier choice for my girls. We are moving to the country and won’t be able to run to the store like we do now so this could be a great solution, thanks for sharing!
I like that this food is healthier
I’ve never thought about dehydrated food for my dog, but love the idea of giving her more natural “real” food!
My dog Sandee likes a different food each day
i want it if it’s better for THE BOSS.
Pperfect for my finicky puppy Paco
I would love to try this
I’m always looking for healthy, delicious dog food my pack will love. If nothing else, this would make a great mix-in with their regular food.
Because I have heard good things!
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I would love to give this to my fur babies! I’m always on the lookout for fresh, healthy food for them!
sound healthy and safe for Maggie.
Just received this on 2/19/2019 and my 2yr yorkie LOVES it! I know it’s very early to give a review but she actually licks her bowl and is not being picky about eating like she usually is. This morning she was waiting by the pantry for me to get her food out and prepare it. I I am following the instructions of course and mixing it with her regular food. I think this one is a winner!
I want only the best for my 14 year old Chihuahua. She is our baby.
I’d like to try it because it sounds like it would be healthier for my dogs than dry dog food
I like the idea because it seems like it will be easy to store and will taste fresh
I’m always looking for good foods for my dogs.
Want to let our dog try it out. Always looking for healthier foods for him
I’m interested about whether or not our dogs will like it!
My dog deserves the best – a natural, healthy dog food. Your product definitely sounds great and I’d love to try it!
I’d like to have my dog try them….
I have three dogs. One of them has skin allergies, so I would love to try this and see if this food might help.
I think that freeze dried foods are exceptional since they are an intense version of the the raw. Thanks!
i love feeding great food to my dogs. I use both freeze dried and dehydrated but prefer freeze dried. I think it is easier to fix the amount you need for each dog with freeze dried. my girls love both.
I have 3 chihuahua and also 3 outside dogs. One of my chihuahua is a picky eater so it would be nice to try something he may like better. I actually have never heard of freeze dried dogfood before. It’s nice to learn of new products that may improve my dogs eating habits so he can put on more weight.
I’m looking for healthier options than the run of the mill foods offered in grocery stores. Something my dog would look forward to eating and I wouldn’t cringe when looking at the ingredients.
I would love to give this a try as we have a senior diabetic blind dog. Since becoming diabetic finding a good convenient food has been tough that keeps him feeling satisfied and does not send his sugars through the roof. I like all you had o say about it, and would love to see how Odin responds to something like this.
Our Great Dane has a somewhat fussy attitude about food. This might be something to try.
Because we love our furbabies and want the best for them. Thanks for the chance..
My Peaches is my best friend. Her liking her foods important. Id love to see if shell eat it!
I think this new way to feed my dog might be a great alternative ..and much tastier for her.
I would love to see how my furbaby does with this better option
I just got a new dog and I haven’t decided yet what Im going to feed him long term.
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I want to keep my dogs happy and healthy. They are both rescues and we love them.
I am always looking for healthier food for my fur babies.
I’m interested in trying because it won’t get stale.
My dogs would love to try this dog food because it does not contain artificaial colors .
I like that dehydrated food will take up less space
My dog has never tried this before.
I would love to win this awesome dog food because my dogs deserve high quality food. I am always on the lookout for healthy food for them.
I would love to try this. I hope my dog likes it.
This seems like a quality product. Also, thanks for the write-up above… I did wonder the difference between the two.
I feel like our pets deserve to have quality food just like us. This sounds like a great choice.
I’m hoping to try this becaue I’m always looking for good qualilty food for our pets.
We foster dogs so this would make good meals them.
I’m trying to find a food for 2 of my older dogs that they’ll eat.
I never heard of dehydrated dog food prior to now and would love to try it. Sounds interesting!
I am always looking for new foods for our dogs to try out.
Would love for our fur baby. Thank you! 💜💖❤💜💖❤💜💖❤
I’m interested to know that freeze-dried food quickly returns to the texture of fresh food and I would like my pets to experience the taste.
I love getting my doggies new goodies.
I think it would be great to introduce Roxy to a healthier diet, and I love the fact that this lasts a long time! I might put a bag in an emergency bag so she would have goodies in case of a hurricane, storm etc…
I would love for our dog to try something new.
I would like to win this to gift to our son, Elijah and his significant other for our granddoggy Pitbull Cruella. She is their “only child” and very possibly may always be and we = Gramma & PopPop love her and that little family more than words can say. The 3 of them live in Flint, MI and suffered through the notoriously awful Flint Water crisis and are low income, although VERY HARD WORKING and like any truly devoted pet parents they wish only the VERY best and healthiest for her so she can feel her best and live her longest as she is literally priceless to them, but, can’t always afford what they really want for her, so do the very best they can. I would love to bless the 3 of them by treating her to extra yummy & extra healthy dog food such as THIS and also to help her parents out financially and I know it will touch their hearts to see her indulged in something so nutritious and delicious. Thank you for the chance.
My dog, River, only likes freeze-dried treats. She is the pickiest dog I have ever had when it comes to eating/treats, so this was a really interesting article as to why she might prefer those.