Cooked vs raw dog food – which is best?

Quick takeaways about cooked vs raw dog food

• Raw food is packed with beneficial amino acids, which can be damaged when heated (even gently!).
• Studies suggest that raw might be best for digestive wellbeing.
• Transitioning from cooked or dry dog food to raw is easy, check out our guide to switching.

 

We all want the best for our pets, which is why there’s fierce debate about whether a raw or cooked diet is best for your pooch.

Both raw and cooked food have pros and cons. With more minimally processed options, the range within both is still wider – with different ingredients, preparation methods, and quality levels.

With so many choices, it can be challenging to determine which food is right for you and your dog, so here’s our guide to cooked vs raw dog food.

 

What’s in raw dog food, and how is it made?

Raw food is simply raw meat, offal and sometimes fresh fruit, veg and grains mixed together. It’s minimally processed and is free from additives and preservatives.

We freeze our raw food and keep it frozen until it reaches you, when you can defrost and serve to your dog each mealtime.

You can make your own homemade raw recipes or buy from a reputable brand like Natures Menu. It’s just important to choose a complete and balanced raw food so that your dog can easily get all the nutrients they need.

Raw dog food comes in a range of styles and can often be tailored to your dog’s needs – for example, you can choose the best proteins and recipes for your dog via our personalised nutrition plans.

 

What’s cooked dog food, and how is it made?

Also called fresh food, it’s usually made up of fresh meat, fruit, vegetables, and sometimes grains. You can make and cook your own dog food at home, or some dog food brands offer cooked dog food.

Good-quality versions are usually cooked at low temperatures – but even this can damage some of the nutritional value of the food. It’s mainly the amino acids (that make up protein) that can be damaged during heating. Some cooked food brands add them back in artificially.

 

But what about bacteria in raw food?

There’s minimal risk of bacterial contamination here at Nature’s Menu as we follow strict safety checks and source quality ingredients. We also make our food so it’s safe to store and serve.

If you cook with meat in your own meals at home, you know how to handle raw food and handling raw dog food is no different. It’s no more dangerous than cooking your roast dinner, if you take the right precautions.

Your dog's digestive system also evolved to eat raw food. So, if they’re healthy, they can manage the trace amounts of bacteria occasionally found in raw meals without issue.

 

What’s the difference between cooked and fresh dog food?

You might see both options out there in the dog food market, but these essentially mean the same thing. Both mean that the dog food has been lightly cooked, and good-quality versions are made with high-quality ingredients. They’re different to dry, wet or raw dog food.

 

Why raw can be better than cooked food

We might be a bit biased, but we think raw dog food can be tastier and potentially more beneficial for some dogs. Here’s why:

1. Your dog was designed to eat raw

Raw food is the closest replication of what dogs would have eaten naturally in the wild.

Plenty of our customers have found that their dog finds it easy to digest, and it can help dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies to specific proteins as you can easily opt for specific recipes.

 

2. Raw food is minimally processed

Cooking or processing ingredients can cause nutrient loss. Raw food is minced before being frozen, so it retains more of the natural nutrients.

For example, raw food is packed with amino acids, which help create strong muscles and robust immunity. They’re the foundations of protein but can be destroyed when heated.

Although good-quality fresh dog food is only minimally processed and cooked gently, heating food can cause nutrient loss.

 

3. Raw food is linked to better gut health

Feeding a raw diet to your dog early on has been linked to fewer long-term gut problems. Gut health can impact many other areas of your dog’s overall wellbeing, like their energy levels and digestion.

 

4. Raw can be just as convenient

Raw might sound messy but it needn’t be. Our nuggets come frozen so you just need to pour them into a bowl and thaw them overnight in the fridge or over a couple of hours on the side.

You can also opt for a personalised nutrition plan so you always have enough.

 

5. Raw can be more nutrient-dense

Our raw products are made with high-quality, natural ingredients. This means our raw food is packed with vitamins, minerals, lean protein and healthy fats – minus any fillers.

 

Can you mix cooked and raw?

Yes, you can, especially when transitioning, but it might be easier for your dog to digest one regular type of food.

That said, a mixed diet might be convenient if your dog goes to daycare regularly or if they’re a fussy eater.

 

What effect does cooking food have?

The cooking process can damage some of the nutritional benefits of the dog food.

• Protein denaturation – proteins in the dog food undergo denaturation, where their structure changes due to heat. This can affect their digestibility and how they interact with other nutrients.
• Nutrient availability – cooking can affect the availability of certain nutrients. Some nutrients might become more accessible and easier for dogs to absorb, while others might be partially destroyed or be less bioavailable.
• Amino acid profile – the amino acid profile of proteins can be altered. This might affect how well the proteins can be used by your dog's body for different functions.
• Fats – heat can affect the stability of fats and oils in dog food. Some beneficial fatty acids might be lost or degraded during cooking.

Overall, the cooking process plays a significant role in the digestibility and nutritional value of dog food, impacting how effectively dogs can absorb and use the nutrients in the ingredients.

 

What about if I’m home cooking my dog food?

Some dog owners prefer to create their own homemade dog food. This might mean buying fresh ingredients and cooking them yourself, or buying raw ingredients and mixing them together for raw meals.

Cooking your food at home can also affect the nutrient value of raw ingredients, so raw might be best if you want your dog to benefit from all the tasty nutrients you’re bringing together. Raw can also save you significant cooking time!

Either way, if you’re making your own food, it’s important to strike the right nutritional balance and serve your dogs complete and balanced meals. Otherwise, they might miss out on important nutrients needed for growth and healthy living. This is why opting for a reputable brand is easier.

 

How to transition from cooked to raw

Transitioning from fresh to raw couldn’t be easier. We recommend switching gradually across 7 days.

If you feed your dog 2 meals a day, serve their usual food for one of these meals and the other raw across the first 7 days. Then, from day 8, every meal can be raw.

 

A veterinary nurse’s verdict

“It’s really down to personal preference on how you want to feed your dog,” says veterinary nurse and Natures Menu educator Melanie Sainsbury. “For those who prefer to follow the most natural way in which dogs would have evolved, a raw diet can prove beneficial and satisfying to feed.

“For some dog owners, storage in fridges and freezers might be an issue therefore, cooked fresh food might be preferable. In either case, always look for a complete and balanced food that you feel happy with.”

 
Try our personalised nutrition plans with high-quality raw ingredients to help keep your dog healthy and happy.