Leslie had an intriguing question earlier this week. She’s been feeding her dogs a NW Naturals raw diet for years and recently began adding some Honest Kitchen Force to the furkids’ bowls.
“Which is better,” she wanted to know, “the frozen raw or the raw mix?”
The answer is as simple or as complicated as you’d like to make it
For starters, we’re comparing two significantly different forms of food. One is a raw diet, the other is minimally processed, but gently cooked. So if your goal is to feed raw, and raw only, the answer is quite simple- feed raw.
It begins to get more complicated if you’re after the “best” food and are not concerned with which form it takes. Both the raw diet and the dehydrated mix are excellent choices. As Leslie mentioned, there are all sorts of “goodies” in the mix that aren’t found in the raw formula- things like celery, apples, green beans, bananas and more.
This is true, although the same goes for the raw diet. It contains “goodies” not found in the dehydrated mix- things like cantaloupe, carrots, broccoli, blueberry and cranberry. So either way, we’ll get fruits and veggies. Does your dog prefer or dislike one or more of these ingredients? If so, that can help with your choice. If not, there are two other factors to consider.
Convenience and cost can help determine your choice between the two
While a raw diet or dehydrated mix is not quite as convenient as kibble, it’s pretty darn close. In some situations, a dehydrated mix can actually be more convenient, and even safer, than feeding kibble.
Think back just a few short weeks to our early record-breaking temperatures. Now consider which would be easier to manage while traveling in 90 degree heat. That type of temperature can easily turn the fat used in kibble rancid. An ice chest would be needed for raw food. But that dehydrated mix? It’s lightweight, easily transported and stored, and can be mixed up as needed. Yes, it does need to be protected from high temperatures, but can be more easily managed in situations like this.
Combine that ease of handling while traveling with its lower cast when compared to raw and the dehydrated mix begins to look even more attractive.
Which brings us back to the original question
Which is better? All things being equal (which is rarely the case) I’d give the edge to a raw diet. That’s my personal bias showing through, and I’m happy to share it with anyone willing to listen. Raw food in as close to its natural state as possible will almost always be my choice over a more heavily-processed product.
With the two foods in question here, however, it’s a very close call. Both are excellent, and while I’d give a slight edge to the NW Naturals, the Honest Kitchen is a very, very close runner up.
Leslie has decided to continue mixing the two, which gives her the best of both worlds. Great nutrition in every bowl, and a very simple transition for both humans and dogs while traveling.
Where do you weigh in?
Leave a Reply