Best Fresh Dog Foods: Reviews & Top Picks

Are you on the lookout to bring diversity to your dog’s diet and offer some fresh bites?

If so, you know that fresh dog foods should be your first option, but is this diet for your dog?

Before you make any drastic food-related choices make sure that you talk with your veterinarian first.

You have already done that and you are ready for the next step? If so, keep on reading, because we have got you covered.

On this page, you will find the best fresh dog foods available on the pet market today.

We will talk about not only the best brands but also what makes their food so great.

Scroll below and you will get all the info you need before you run to make a purchase.

How we chose

Because choosing the right food for your dog can be confusing and overwhelming, we reviewed all dog foods.

Every product on our list has been vetted to ensure that it aligns with Barking Royalty’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:

• adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements
• is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs)
• is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
• is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust

Additional factors we considered included:

• Ingredients. We looked for supplements that are free of unnecessary ingredients such as fillers and artificial
• sweeteners and colors.
• AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile. We checked if the food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO.
• Price. We included products to suit a range of budgets.

Now, let’s see the best picks when it comes to dog fresh foods.

Best Overall

1. JustFoodForDogs Fresh Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken, rice, spinach, carrots, apples

• Price: $$
• Energy: 1532 kcal ME/kg; 43 kcal ME/oz
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: No

Chicken is the first ingredient for better taste and a strong protein base, followed by rice, spinach, carrots, and apples.

The first five ingredients are low in fat, and great in protein percentage, which is why the second ingredient in rice is low in fat and low in sodium.

Spinach offers large amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and K, while carrots are great for a dog’s dental health.

Plus, carrots are a great source of vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. Apples are included in this formula to provide vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and antioxidants.

For a richer taste, this formula contains chicken liver, chicken gizzard, and fish oil.

As a gluten-free formula, this food is suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Shop Now At Chewy

Best Budget

2. Freshpet Fresh Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken, sweet potato, carrots, pea protein, pea fiber

• Price: $$
• Energy: Metabolize Energy (ME) 1,485 kcal / kg 675 kcal / lb. 171 kcal / cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: No

It is common for manufacturers to include chicken in dog food as the first ingredient due to its benefits.

Chicken serves as a great protein source and a valuable source of energy which is why chicken is included in this formula as the first ingredient.

Chicken is followed by sweet potato, carrots, pea protein, and pea fiber.

Next to chicken, sweet potato provides enough energy, while carrots are responsible for the fiber present.

Pea protein enables an extra protein boost, while pea fiber helps dogs have a stronger intestinal tract and overall great digestion.

Green beans are added for a richer texture and cranberries are included to serve as antioxidants.

Fish oil and spinach serve to support healthy digestion while improving skin and coat.

Due to its texture, this formula is recommended for even picky eaters.

Once open, this food can be stored in the refrigerator and used for seven days of opening.

Shop Now At Chewy

Best Grain-Free

3. Now Fresh Grain-Free Fresh Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Deboned turkey, turkey bone broth, potatoes, peas, carrots

• Price: $$
• Energy: ME = 923 kcal/kg or 327 kcal/354 g carton
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Deboned turkey is the first ingredient in this formula, followed by turkey bone broth, potatoes, peas, and carrots.

In pet food, turkey is often used as fresh meat or as a pre-prepared meal that can be mixed further on.

Potatoes are added to provide energy, pea to deliver fiber, and carrots to support the dog’s oral hygiene.

Canola oil is included to keep the skin moistened, while coconut oil can help digestion, and fight off harmful bacteria.

Dried kelp is included to help regulate the dog’s metabolism, while turkey bone broth supports the dog’s joint health.

This grain-free formula is made without by-products or meat meals and provides balanced nutrition for dogs of all ages.

Shop Now At Chewy

4. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Fresh Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, peas

• Price: $$
• Energy: 1,254 kcal/kg, 451 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: No

Chicken is the first ingredient in this formula to help dogs build muscle mass and provide enough energy.

Plus, chicken provides omega-6 fatty acids, and helps dogs keep their muscles strong.

As a great source of protein, chicken is followed with chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, and peas to create a strong and nutrient-based formula for dogs.

Brown rice is included in this formula to help dogs with digestion, while at the same time providing enough vitamins and minerals.

Real fruit and vegetable are added to this food to provide antioxidants and improve the dog’s bladder health and even reduce tartar.

For similar reasons, blueberries are added to support the immune system and improve the dog’s overall health.

Shop Now At Chewy

Now, that you have the best of the best to choose from, let’s learn more about fresh dog food and how your dog can benefit from this type of food.

What Is Fresh Dog Food?

Fresh dog food is specially crafted to deliver the best to dogs of different ages, sizes, and activity levels.

Fresh dog food is made with no preservatives or any sort of filler than can anyhow be dangerous to dogs.

The biggest aim of fresh dog food is to deliver nutrients that are rich in protein and fat.

This type of food is easy to serve, convenient to store, and great to mix with dry dog food.

Due to its fresh ingredients, this type of food can be frozen or refrigerated but bear in mind that it has a shorter shelf life than kibble or canned food.

The pet market is rich in different types of dog food and choosing the best one can be tricky.

The most challenging part is that although there are many dog food, not all are created equal.

To help you choose the best one we have selected the best of the best.

Still, this isn’t enough as it is up to you to choose the food that your dog may benefit the most from.

To make sure that your dog gets the best do not focus on flavor only, but focus on serving the food with the ingredients that your Fido will thrive on.

Know that not all fresh foods are created equal, and you want the best for your dog.

Always focus on finding food that contains no artificial ingredients or any sort of preservatives or fillers.

Instead, focus on food that is nutritionally complete and contains high-quality ingredients.

Since fresh dog food has shorter shelf life than kibble or canned food, it is important to take care of it properly, and that is the food that your Fido will actually eat.

Are Fresh Foods Better For Dogs?

Everyone will have a different answer to this question, and it comes to you to eventually decide.

Every dog has different nutritional needs, and their needs should be met.

Still, fresh dog foods are generally considered to be a healthier option than dry or canned food, as it is healthy, and doesn’t contain any sort of fillers or preservatives.

Also, fresh dog foods are nutritionally complete – this means that it provides all of the nutrients that a dog needs to stay healthy.

Is Fresh Dog Food The Same As Raw?

Know that fresh dog food and raw dog food are two different types of food. What is the difference?

Raw dog food is made with uncooked meat and bones. This type of food is also considered to be dangerous from a certain point of view, if not prepared correctly.

On the other hand, fresh dog food is made with cooked meat and vegetable and doesn’t contain any bones.

Compared to raw dog food, fresh dog food is considered to be healthier because it doesn’t contain any sort of bones.

When there are no bones, there is no risk of dogs choking on bones, or getting sick from any sort of bacteria.

To Sum Up

There are a lot of different dog foods on the market and choosing the best one may be tricky.

How to choose the best food from available options? This is where the right kind of knowledge helps.

Not only that you should know when and how often you should feed your dog, but you should know how to learn pet food labels.

This simple skill will help your dog get the best food, with the right kind of nutrients.

Some people believe that fresh dog food is the best type of food to feed your Fido, while others prefer feeding dogs on dry dog food.

The truth is there is no one right answer. The best way to feed your dog is to look merely at your dog’s needs, including age, size, and activity level.

Dogs, just like humans, may experience hardship when on a poor diet. They need food that is mixed with meat, real fruit, and vegetable in order to thrive.

A diet that is imbalanced in terms of carbohydrates and other macronutrients can provide more harm than benefits.

In fact, this type of diet has a real potential to cause obesity, diabetes, and cardiac problems in dogs of all sizes and ages.

As a result, your dog might have low energy levels, may even eat more or less, and may feel lethargic, unhappy, and eventually ill.

To avoid these outcomes you should focus on food that delivers the right kind of nutrients.