Your pet’s health and well-being are largely affected by the food it consumes. That’s why pet food brands aim to make a more natural version of dog and cat food. While doing so, they focus on using good quality ingredients that are “human-grade” rather than feed grade and lower or exclude the use of preservatives, artificial colorants, and artificial flavors.
Thus, these natural dog and cat food recipes are low in chemicals and designed to optimize your pet’s health and replace the classic highly-processed versions of dog or cat food. The quality of the protein used in the recipes is also an essential factor to take into account since protein is a vital component of your pet’s diet.
Fresh pet food recipes are based on natural protein from real meat, which is not always the case for the protein used in commercial dog and cat food recipes. This means that your pet is consuming a higher quality natural protein by eating a fresh meal and reaping its health benefits.
On top of the quality of the recipes, fresh pet food providers take into account the special dietary needs, allergies, and health conditions of your dog or cat. Pets with specific sensitivities can benefit from tailored meal plans that respect these restrictions. The recipes usually come with detailed specifications and information about their nutritional value. Alternatively, you can find these details on the website of the pet food provider. Looking into macronutrient values allows you to keep track the nutrients and caloric intake of your cat or dog.
All things aside, it is a good idea to consult with a veterinarian before switching your pet’s diet to fresh food.
You might be wondering what the hype is about when it comes to fresh pet food and how different it actually is from commercial kibble. The ingenuity of fresh pet food stems from the use of natural, whole foods in the recipes, such as vegetables, herbs, grains, and natural meat.
The cooking process is also one of the main differentiation points between fresh and kibble since the former relies on cooking and freezing the meals while using little to no preservatives. Fresh pet food has a meager shelf life and needs to be refrigerated, unlike commercial kibble, which can last for long periods of time.
Since whole, natural foods are favored in these recipes, they constitute healthy pet food options that can positively affect your canine companion’s digestive health and overall well-being. When it comes to cats, the provided recipes feature a large selection of wet-food options, which might actually be better for your cat since it helps it stay hydrated by providing more water content.
Dog and cat food brands that specialize in making fresh pet food offer various meals, treats, and supplements aimed at fulfilling your pet’s nutrition needs. An essential feature of these pet food brands is healthy dog and cat food delivery, which has become more and more popular due to its convenience. This service provides you with a few weeks’ worth of customized meals for your furry friend. Here’s how it usually works:
On the website of a given brand that offers natural dog and cat food options, the pet parent is invited to provide basic information about their pup. These short assessments usually only take a few minutes to complete and require the following information: your dog or cat’s name, age, breed, weight and/or body shape, activity level, allergies, health specifications, and others.
Once you have finished the assessment, you will be presented with a custom meal assembled according to your dog or cat’s needs. These plans’ prices start from as little as $2.50 a day in some brands but can be slightly pricier than their equivalent in commercial kibble. This price difference is naturally due to the higher quality ingredients used in the fresh pet food recipes.
Many fresh pet food brands offer free home delivery on their meal plans, as well as the possibility to plan your orders according to your schedule. You will often also have the option to modify or cancel your subscription anytime. These features make the subscriptions highly convenient.
The hunt for the best cat or dog food can be an exhausting and time-consuming process. For this reason, opting for a customized meal plan subscription can be a good option for the convenience it provides on top of all the health benefits you will achieve from feeding your pet a healthy diet. For a reasonable price to value ratio, fresh pet food subscriptions provide you with regular deliveries of packages containing meals that are put together specifically for your pet.
In addition to meals, some brands provide treats, supplements, and healthier versions of kibble. The meals that will be delivered directly to your door may be packaged in individual portions or in larger packages that you need to store properly in the fridge or freezer and divide according to your dog or cat’s daily needs.
Some brands also provide you with the possibility to consult their in-house nutrition experts online. This way, you can get all the answers you need to questions related to your pet’s transition to natural food and other pet-nutrition-related queries.
Fresh pet food is an excellent option if you’d like to provide your dog or cat with a diet that’s rich in natural protein and good quality ingredients while being low or free from preservatives and artificial colorants and flavors.
Subscribing to a customized meal plan ensures you’ll get regular deliveries of healthy pet food packages put together according to the information you’ve provided about your pup or kitten.
For more information regarding fresh cat and dog food brands, check out our reviews for the top pet food services, where you’ll find detailed articles about different fresh pet food providers.