What type of pet food should I feed my dog and cat? Pros and cons of pet food formats

The right food for your pet depends on your values and preferences. This guide will inform you about the most common types of foods available for pets so you can make the best decision for your dog and/or cat.

Contents:

• Dry pet food
• Air-dried pet food
• Wet pet food
• Gently cooked pet food
• Raw pet food
• Freeze-dried pet food
• What is the best type of pet food?

Dry pet food

Dry pet food, sometimes called kibble or dog/ cat biscuits, is the most commonly fed format of pet food. There are a range of different dry food diets available, from affordable daily diets that support the average pet in their day-to-day life to specialised diets formulated to meet specific pet health needs.

How is dry pet food made?

Most dry food is made through a process called extrusion. Ingredients are thoroughly blended to make a uniform mixture. This mixture is then pushed through an extruder where high temperature and pressure cook the food, killing foodborne pathogens. Once cooked, the food is then cut to shape and dried to remove excess moisture.

Alternatively, some dry foods are baked rather than extruded. This method still uses temperature to cook the food, but lower temperatures than is seen with extrusion.

Once dried, some kibbles are then coated with flavours to enhance taste or preservatives to prevent the food spoiling.

Advantages of Dry Pet Food	Disadvantages of Dry Pet Food
Shelf stable with long shelf life and easy to buy in bulk High level of food safety Easy to measure out and feed Won’t spoil if left in bowl Minimal clean up Easy to use in puzzle feeders, occupier toys, etc Uniform bite – ingredients are evenly mixed. Pets can’t pick out select ingredients and leave others behind	Not as appealing to some fussy pets Higher level of processing than other methods High temperatures degrade some nutrients (though supplements are added to ensure the end product meets nutritional guidelines)

Air-dried pet food

Air-dried pet foods combine the advantages of gently cooked foods with kibble. These high-protein foods are popular as complete diets, toppers, and treats.

How is air-dried pet food made?

Air-dried pet foods take similar fresh, wholefood ingredients as what’s used for raw and gently cooked pet foods and mixes them. The combined mixture then goes through an air-drying process to preserve the food. This involves low temperature air circulating to remove moisture from the food, maintaining the nutrients that would be lost in extrusion and other high temperature methods.

Advantages of Air-Dried Pet Food	Disadvantages of Air-Dried Pet Food
Highly palatable Often use natural ingredients Minimal processing – many use raw ingredients only Low temperatures for dehydration keep nutrient profile close to that of raw ingredients Uniform bites so pets can’t leave select ingredients behind Shelf stable with long shelf life Nutrient dense – smaller portion sizes Ready to feed on opening Easy to use in puzzle feeders and occupier toys	Air-drying is an expensive process, which makes air-dried diets more expensive than more traditional formats Air-drying does not completely remove the risk of food pathogens Some dogs don’t enjoy the jerky-like consistency

Wet pet food

Wet pet food has a higher water content than dry food and often comes in cans or sachets. It often has a strong aroma that pets find appealing. Whereas all dry food looks similar – as small, uniform biscuits – wet food comes in a wide variety of options, from stews and casseroles to chunks in gravy or jelly or broth to a pate or loafs.

How is wet pet food made?

o make wet food, ingredients are first combined to reach their required form and texture. Depending on the food, this may require blending to a uniform consistency or adding thickening agents to create gravies, jellies, or whatever the recipe requires to reach the desired texture.

Once mixed, the food is put into the packaging – typically a can, pouch, or tray – which is sealed and then exposed to high temperatures. This sterilizes the food inside, removing dangerous food pathogens and extending shelf life.

Advantages of Wet Pet Food	Disadvantages of Wet Pet Food
Aroma that appeals to pets Unopened, it has a long shelf life and does not require refrigeration High level of food safety Mixed to ensure even distribution of nutrients in every serve Variety of texture options: stews, pates and loafs, rolls, chunks in gravy, chunks in jelly, and more	More clean up required compared to dry food Once opened, needs to be stored in the fridge and used within 5 days Typically works out more expensive than dry food on a cost per feed basis as larger amounts need to be fed to meet a pet’s daily nutritional requirements High temperatures degrade some nutrients (though these can be supplemented to ensure the end product meets nutritional guidelines)

Gently-cooked pet food

Gently cooked pet foods take the fresh, natural wholefood ingredients and cooks them at low temperatures to improve food safety.

How is gently cooked pet food made?

Gently cooked pet food is available in commercially made diets but can also be prepared at home. Commercial gently cooked pet food starts with the mixing of raw ingredients. Some supplements may be added at this step or after cooking to ensure the diet is complete and balanced.

Once combined, the food is cooked to remove pathogens. Compared to the high temperatures in the wet and dry pet food processes, lower temperatures are used for gently cooked diets to maintain more of the ingredients original nutritional profile while killing some of the most common foodborne pathogens. Some gently cooked diets, like The Nosh Project, cook the food sous vide, where the food is cooked in the packaging, sealing all the goodness inside. Other brands cook the food before packaging portions.

Homemade gently cooked pet food follows a similar process, just made on a smaller scale in the kitchen. Making gently cooked pet food at home carries the same risks of handling raw ingredients and potential for nutritional deficiencies or toxicities if an imbalanced recipe is being used.

Advantages of Gently-Cooked Pet Food

Disadvantages of Gently-Cooked Pet Food

Minimally processed – typically cooked in small batches Natural, fresh ingredients, often human-grade Strong aroma and high palatability Low heat cooking removes some common food pathogens Control over ingredients when making at home

Needs to be stored in fridge/ freezer Short shelf life once defrosted If homemade, diet may be imbalanced if not closely following a recipe from a qualified pet nutritionist If homemade, takes time to prepare and cook Raw food safety risk when preparing ingredients to cook at home Does not kill the most heat-resistant food pathogens More clean up required Pets may pick out or leave some ingredients

Raw pet food

Raw pet food diets have grown in popularity over recent years. Raw feeding involves feeding your pet a mix of raw meat, offal, vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients and supplements required to make it balanced.

Many raw feeders believe that feeding raw, unprocessed ingredients more closely mimics the ancestral canine and feline diets. They often claim to have better nutrient values, as the ingredients are not exposed to high temperatures.

There are a couple of different raw feeding models, each with a slightly differing feeding philosophy:

• Prey model or raw meat-based diets (RMBD) – a meat-only diet that attempts to replicate the ratio of muscle meat, organ meat, and bone that a wild dog or cat would consume from their prey.
• Biologically appropriate raw food or bones and raw food (BARF) – feeding fresh ingredients, including raw meat, bones, vegetables, fruits, and other supplements.

How is raw pet food made?

Raw food diets are all about mixing raw, unprocessed ingredients together. Raw food diets can be made commercially, often sold in the fresh/ frozen section of a pet food store, or made at home.

Homemade raw diets come with higher risks. While you have complete control over what goes into food, many homemade diets are imbalanced. To avoid nutritional deficiencies or toxicities, a recipe formulated by a qualified pet nutritionist needs to be followed to the letter. Homemade diets also require more time and effort to prepare.

Commercially made raw diets will follow a consistent recipe, ideally one that has been tested to ensure it is complete and balanced. They’re also often sold in pre-portioned packaging which make it easier to feed.

Because raw pet food diets do not cook the ingredients, there is a high risk of foodborne pathogens, including bacteria and also parasites. Some of these pathogens, like Salmonella, can be passed to humans. Good hygiene practices are essential when handling raw meats and raw pet foods to reduce the risk of you or your pet contracting a foodborne illness:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm before and after handling raw food
• Thoroughly wash any cooking implements, bowls, and surfaces that come into contact with raw foods
• Properly store raw pet food according to the instructions
• Buy human-grade ingredients where possible
• Never refreeze raw pet food once it has defrosted

Advantages of Raw Pet Food

Disadvantages of Raw Pet Food

Minimal to zero processing and preservatives Not exposed to high temperatures Natural wholefood ingredients Know exactly what is in the food, especially if homemade Strong aroma and high palatability

Higher food safety risk, especially if made at home Homemade formulations may be deficient in some nutrients and in excess of others if not following a recipe made by a qualified pet nutritionist Can be more expensive due to higher portion size to meet nutritional needs More clean up required Homemade diets are more time consuming to make and serve Must be kept in fridge/ freezer Short shelf life once defrosted Pets may leave behind ingredients they don’t like

Freeze-dried pet food

Like air-dried foods, freeze-dried diets are minimally processed foods that sit somewhere between traditional pet foods and raw diets. Made via a different process, freeze-dried pet foods are softer than air-dried but just as appealing to pets as a topper or complete diet.

How is freeze-dried pet food made?

Once raw, wholefood ingredients have been thoroughly combined, the mixture is frozen before moisture is removed via a process called sublimation. During sublimation, the food is exposed to low pressure and heat, instantly turning the moisture frozen inside from ice to vapour, skipping the liquid phase. Sometimes, the food will be exposed to higher temperatures to evaporate any remaining moisture.

Advantages of Freeze-Dried Pet Food	Disadvantages of Freeze-Dried Pet Food
Highly palatable Minimally processed Nutrient dense – small portion sizes Uniform bites – pets can’t selectively eat certain components Shelf stable, long shelf life Easy to scoop and measure	More expensive than other, more traditional pet foods Some freeze-dried pet foods require rehydrating, especially if they’re being used as the base diet Freeze-drying does not entirely remove the risk of food pathogens

What is the best type of pet food?

The best food for your pet is something that is:

• Complete and balanced
• Appropriate for your pet’s age and life stage
• Appropriate for your pet’s breed size
• Part of a health management plan (if recommended by your vet)

Format is secondary to these factors, but still an important consideration as you want to pick something that appeals to your pet’s tastes and fits your lifestyle and preferences.

Many dogs and cats enjoy mixed feeding, where they get to eat two or three different food formats with a meal. This feeding style adds variety to their meals and can be particularly appealing to fussy eaters. It’s also a good way to test different foods before committing to a full bowl of something new.