Freeze Dried Vs Air Dried Dog Food

This article is written by Pet Circle's qualified veterinarian, Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)

Grain-free, natural, air-dried, freeze-dried, insect-based, novel protein, therapeutic, premium... Are you overwhelmed with all the food options available for your dog? With the range of alternative dog foods now available, it's easy to get confused and to wonder which is the right one for your dog. There are several factors to consider when choosing the right food for your dog, and this guide is designed to help demystify the specialised natural foods available, specifically air-dried, freeze-dried and insect based, and help you decide if these are right for your pooch.

Contents:
Air-Dried vs. Freeze-Dried vs. Insect Based: What Are The Differences?
What Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food?
What Is Air-Dried Dog Food?
What Is Insect-Based Food?
How To Choose The Right Food For Your Dog
Further reading

Air-Dried vs. Freeze-Dried vs. Insect Based: What Are The Differences?

Both air and freeze-dried dog foods are becoming increasingly sought-after, as dog owners look to offer highly nutritious foods which are also safe and practical to feed. Air and freeze-dried diets involve no cooking of the ingredients - they are minimally processed without heat to preserve the quality of the fresh ingredients without chemical additives or preservatives. They are therefore an ideal alternative to raw food diets.

With the rise in popularity of raw-feeding, clinical studies have shown that there can be some benefits to raw feeding such as improved digestibility, reduced chance of developing atopic dermatitis¹ and more favourable blood parameters². However, raw animal products are well documented to be common sources of bacterial and parasitic pathogens, posing a significant risk to both human and pet health. Air and freeze-dried products can provide a suitable alternative to help mitigate these risks while retaining the benefits of the raw ingredients.

For more information about the benefits and risks of raw diets, take a read through our article: Is a Raw Food Diet Good for Pets?.

As their names suggest, air-dried foods are made by slowly dehydrating the food by the movement of air at a low heat, which helps to lock in the nutrients and taste of the ingredients. Freeze-dried foods are made by lowering the temperature of combined raw materials to below freezing, then extracting the water from the final product. The product can then be rehydrated prior to feeding. Air-dried foods are more dense and jerky-like in texture, whereas freeze-dried foods are a little softer and crunchier.

Interest in insect-based foods is growing as dog owners seek to purchase dog foods made from sustainable sources. Certain insects have been shown to have a protein content similar to commonly used dog food proteins like chicken and fish. Using these insects as the protein source in dog food not only reduces food waste, but also uses less water and land area in production than traditional proteins like beef and chicken, thereby creating a smaller carbon footprint and environmental impact.

What Is Freeze-Dried Dog Food?

Freeze dried foods retain the nutritional qualities and taste of the raw products, while preserving the shelf-life of the product. Freeze-dried foods are made by dehydrating the ingredients at very low temperatures, in contrast to conventional methods of food manufacture which evaporate water from the food using heat.

How is freeze-dried food made?

To make freeze-dried foods, the raw ingredients are combined and then snap-frozen. The frozen water in the ingredient blend is then turned directly into vapour through a process called 'sublimation'. Sublimation involves lowering the pressure and supplying enough heat in order for the water in the frozen food to be removed directly as vapour. There may then be a secondary drying phase where the temperature is raised higher to ensure that the unfrozen water molecules are also removed, resulting in a dry product.

Some manufacturers also include high pressure processing in the first stage of this process. The blend of raw ingredients is subjected to a high isostatic pressure transmitted by cold water. This process inactivates pathogens and spoilage microorganisms, enhancing the safety of the finished product. The ingredients are then flash-frozen, and gently freeze dried as above.

How should I feed my dog freeze-dried food?

Freeze-dried foods are typically a little softer and crunchier than air-dried foods, and are typically rehydrated prior to serving to enhance digestibility. However, freeze-dried dog foods can be fed dry, straight from the packet, as long as you ensure that your dog has free access to fresh water at all times.

Freeze-dried foods are an excellent choice for travelling, as the stored product can be rehydrated into a much larger volume of food when required - a much more convenient alternative to lugging around cans of dog food!

Are freeze-dried foods safe to feed my dog?

Freeze-dried foods generally have excellent shelf-stability, and should be stored in a cool, dry place - not in the fridge. Once rehydrated, they may be safe to be kept refridgerated for a short period of time - we recommend following the guidelines on the product packaging for storage and rehydration instructions.

Like with air-dried raw foods, there is a potentially increased risk of food borne bacterial and parasitic contamination from freeze-dried foods also, to both you and your dog. If you do choose to feed freeze-dried foods, they should be kept separate from other foods, and proper hygiene procedures (washing hands, sanitising surfaces) should be followed.

Top Recommended Freeze-Dried Dog Foods and Treats

What Is Air-Dried Dog Food?

How is air-dried food made?

The manufacturing process for air-dried foods involves combining raw ingredients, and then dehydrating the mixture with the movement of air. The gentle manufacturing process helps to retain the taste and nutritional benefits of the raw ingredients. The end product is similar in texture to a firm jerky.

How should I feed my dog air-dried food?

One of the major benefits of air-dried foods is that they can be fed through a range of different methods. Complete and balanced air-dried foods can be offered in a bowl in a similar way to traditional kibble or used as a topper to enhance the palatability of other foods for fussy eaters. Air-drying foods helps to retain the intense flavour and taste of the ingredients, and will not crumble, so they are also ideal to be used as treats for training or a special reward.

Are air-dried foods safe to feed my dog?

By removing the moisture from the raw ingredients through the air-drying process, the risk of contamination with pathogenic bacteria is reduced. Reputable manufacturers will also test each batch of food after manufacture, to ensure that it is safe and shelf-stable.

Air-dried foods require no refridgeration after opening. However, they should be kept in the original packaging, properly sealed, and stored away from direct sunlight and high temperatures.

Despite it's benefits in retaining the nutrients and flavours of raw ingredients, the air-drying process is not an equal substitute for cooking with heat in terms of bacterial and parasitic control, so extra caution must be taken in the handling of air-dried foods and hygiene control. Air-dried foods should be stored in their original packaging and away from other foods. Any utensils used in the preparation and feeding process should be thoroughly washed, along with all surfaces, bowls and other feeding devices.

Top Recommended Air-Dried Dog Foods and Treats