The Pros and Cons of Pet Food Styles

This article originally appeared in Pets in the City Magazine

Did you know that the pet food industry brings in almost 70 BILLION dollars a year in the U.S.? That means we love our pets! It also means that there are a LOT of choices out there for us as pet parents, and it is up to us to understand our options so we can make the best decision for our pets. Especially when it comes to food, this decision can have long-term consequences, so it is good to know what the differences are and their benefits and risks.
Pet food can be roughly divided into seven categories. Dry, wet, refrigerated, dehydrated, air dried, raw, and freeze dried. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each:

1. Dry pet food: Kibble is any food that is shelf stable, dry, and bite-sized. It is easy to transport and store, it is affordable, and quick and easy to feed. The cons are that it can also be low quality, the lack of moisture can leave your pet dehydrated, and it can be difficult to digest.
   
2. Wet food comes in cans. It is shelf stable, easy to feed, and usually tasty. You can buy in bulk and stock up for years at a time, but It can be more expensive and is cooked to a higher heat, which leads to more nutrient loss. But, it has that important moisture that dry food lacks.
   
3. Refrigerated food can be found in the cooler (not freezer) of your local grocery or pet store. It usually is slightly better quality than your average dry or wet food, it is easy to store, and the moisture content is good for your pet. The drawback is that it has preservatives to make it last for months in the refrigerator, and the few brands that sell this type of food are fraught with recalls due to mold, so I would caution against it.
   
4. Dehydrated foods combine the benefits of dry and wet foods. By cooking the food to a low heat (which helps preserve nutrients and reduces the need for synthetic vitamins and minerals) the products can be shelf stable, but you add water back in before feeding, allowing you the best of both worlds. Dehydrated brands are often smaller, use human-grade ingredients, and use less fillers. The drawback is they can be more expensive and less convenient, since you have to take that few minutes to add the water back in.
   
5. Air dried food is food that has been slowly dried to be shelf-stable without high levels of heat. Commercial brands of air dried are usually mostly meat and very bioavailable, making it so you can feed less while getting the same nutrition for your pet. It can be a very healthy option. The drawbacks is that it is slightly more expensive (though this is balanced when considering you feed less at a time), the best brands are from New Zealand so you have a higher carbon footprint, and it lacks moisture.
   
6. The raw category references food that is mostly meat, has never had any heat or pasteurization applied to it, and meets both AAFCO nutritional requirements and a generally accepted ratio of meat, organs, bones, and veggies and supplements. Commercially prepared raw comes in the freezer, and many people see much healthier pets because the food is so easy for pets to digest. The drawback is that it takes up room in the freezer, it is definitely more expensive than kibble, and you have to take the time to practice safe raw-meat practices such as thoroughly washing your hands and cleaning bowls and surface areas it comes into contact with.
   
7. Freeze-Dried is food that is raw but that has taken the extra step of freeze-drying to make it shelf stable. It has all the benefits of raw food but it is light and excellent for travelling or camping. However, the freeze-drying machines are expensive, making this raw option even more expensive than freezer raw.  It is crucial to rehydrate the food before feeding, or it can cause more dehydration than even dry food can. But as a quick option to keep for travel or if you run out of your regular food, it can’t be beat.
   

With all of these options, literally anyone can find the right fit for their lifestyle, budget, and the health of their pet.

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