Raw, Freeze-Dried, Gently-Cooked: What Should You Add to Your Kibble?

I had the chance to meet Dr. James Templeman, Director of Nutrition at Primal Pet Foods at SuperZoo this summer, and we had a great chat about the nutritional benefits of raw, freeze-dried, and gently-cooked diets. Adding even a little bit of one of these food forms to your pet's kibble can go a long way towards improving their overall health. Since SuperZoo, I've made a conscious effort to increase the levels of freeze-dried food in my dog, Peony's diet, and the results have been amazing. Peony was already demonstrating higher energy levels since we put her on Leap Years® in April, but switching her canned topper to a freeze-dried gravy has her running to her bowl again every morning. While we didn't discuss Peony directly, in this episode, Dr. Templeman and I touched on the reasons more pet parents should consider including at least some minimally processed food in their pet's diet, and how pet parents can provide increased nutritional benefits to their pets, even on a budget. Minimally Processed vs. Processed Foods: The conversation began with a focus on the nutritional differences between minimally processed diets (like raw freeze-dried, fresh, refrigerated, and gently cooked foods) and more processed foods, such as kibble. The balance between cost, convenience, and nutrition is a challenge many pet parents face. Recent Research Breakthroughs: Dr. Templeman highlighted Primal's recent research assessing the digestibility of pet foods, going beyond just macronutrient levels. They employed a unique methodology from the University of Illinois called the Sectorized Rooster model to assess standardized amino acid digestibility in these diets. Benefits of Minimally Processed Foods: While Dr. Templeman, as a researcher, hesitated to discuss anecdotal benefits, he did mention potential positive changes pet owners might observe. These include improved gut function, higher quality stools, and an increased desire of pets to consume the diet. Economic Realities: Recognizing the economic constraints many pet parents face, the discussion acknowledged that not everyone can switch entirely to minimally processed foods due to their higher cost. However, even introducing a mix of these foods with kibble can offer some of the nutritional benefits. This episode provides some eye-opening insight about the importance of research-backed data in making informed decisions about pet diets. Enjoy!