4 Fresh Dog Food Delivery Options to Pamper Your Dog. Your dog is an integral part of your family. And, just like any other family member, you want to ensure he eats healthy dog food. Fresh dog food, or “human-grade” dog food created to order and contain premium meats, vegetables, grains, and fruits but no preservatives or chemical additives, has recently gained popularity. Is, however, fresh dog food better for your pup? Depending on who you ask.
These five dog food delivery businesses provide fresher, presumably healthier alternatives to dried kibble.According to Dr. Justin Shmalberg, DVM, clinical associate professor at the University of Florida, creator of Integrative Veterinary Innovations, and Chief Nutrition Officer at NomNomNow, fresh diets have several health and nutrition advantages. They’re often free of preservatives and fillers and contain extra nutrients that benefit your dog’s health and coat. He claims that “feeding our pets well is the best method for preventing chronic diseases” and that we should feed our dogs at least some fresh food.
However, there are some drawbacks. For one thing, fresh dog food is frequently more expensive and difficult to keep than kibble—refrigerated foods have a shelf life of less than a week. Dry dog food, on the other hand, aids in the removal of plaque and tartar from your dog’s teeth, and the texture stimulates your dog to chew before swallowing. However, it is frequently loaded with preservatives and other ingredients you may not want to feed your dog. So it’s a matter of personal preference and what works best for your dog’s needs.
No matter what type of dog food you choose, Ruairi White, DVM, MPH, an associate veterinarian at Norwichtown Veterinary Hospital in Norwich, CT, says it’s critical that it’s been evaluated and found to be adequate in nutrition by The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a non-profit association of local, state, and federal agencies that recommend pet food.
Of course, any food changes should be discussed with your veterinarian first. However, if you are given the go-ahead, here are five of our famous fresh dog food suppliers. All fees are for a 60-pound mixed breed that likes to lay about all day, so your cost may vary based on your dog’s size and activity level.
The Farmer’s Dog
1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food
$9PER DAY
The Farmer’s Dog manufactures their dog food in USDA-approved kitchens using human-grade meat and vegetables. Veterinarians create every meal with a nutritional profile that exceeds the AAFCO industry guidelines for dogs. There are no preservatives or byproducts, and the food is provided to your door fresh (never frozen) within a few days of cooking.
When you join The Farmer’s Dog, you create a profile for each of your dogs, including their age, weight, and breed, as well as their exercise level, body type, feeding habits, and any existing health conditions. The website will then recommend a meal plan and provide you with a daily price. The pricing for my 60-pound German Shepherd mix was $9.28 per day, but if you try out the service, you can get 20% off the first week.
Turkey, beef, and hog meals are all parts of the menu, but you can uncheck an option if you want it outside your dog’s meal plan. Because all meals are pre-portioned, you remove a pouch from the refrigerator, cut it open, and pour it into your dog’s dish. Furthermore, all deliveries are timed so you always have enough food.
Nom Nom
2. Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food
$15per pack
Nom creates dog food with three guiding concepts: nutrition, sustainable sourcing, and zero waste. All ingredients are sourced sustainably (where feasible) from US growers and suppliers, and each meal is prepared in a specialized Nom Nom kitchen. Because each component is cooked separately, temperature and cooking time may be adjusted for optimal nutrition.
Unlike The Farmer’s Dog, which packages food founded on your dog’s weight and tastes, Nom Nom prepackages its food fresh every week, with options including Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Pork Potluck, and Turkey Fare. Each meal contains fish oil in addition to restaurant-quality ingredients. Before committing to a meal plan, you can buy individual meals or opt for a variety pack with all four to discover what your dog loves.
Each pack costs $15, and feeding instructions are weight-based: half a bag for dogs under 15 pounds, a full bag for dogs 15 to 25 pounds, and a complete bag combined with your current food for dogs above 25 pounds. That means that if you have a larger dog, Nom Nom should be used as a supplement rather than the main course of nutrition.
PetPlate
3. PetPlate Fresh Dog Food
$9PER DAY
PetPlate’s subscription concept is similar to The Farmer’s Dog in that you enter your dog’s information (age, exercise level, weight status, and so on) and receive a personalized fresh dog food meal plan delivered right to your door. Protein selections include beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb; each plan is carefully portioned—a veterinary nutritionist designed all meals which meet or exceed AAFCO guidelines.
You can select between a full plan (a balanced diet costing $9.37 per day for a 60-pound dog) and a topper plan (a supplemental alternative combined with your dog’s current food). The top price is $3.30 per day for a huge dog. In either case, your first order will be discounted by 50%.
All containers arrive frozen, and you may defrost them in the fridge or thaw them in the microwave in 30 seconds. The food will keep in the refrigerator for about five days once thawed—it’s that fresh.
Spot & Tango
MOST POPULAR
4. Spot & Tango Fresh or Fresh-Dried Dog Food
$8PER DAY
Spot & Tango is another fresh dog food subscription service at first glance—you enter your dog’s particular information and receive a customized meal plan. But what distinguishes Spot & Tango is that it offers both fresh dog food and what the company calls UnKibble: fresh-dried food made with all fresh, human-grade ingredients that have the characteristic crunch of dry kibble and can be kept in the pantry or cabinet rather than the fridge.
For a 60-pound dog, fresh dog food costs $4.05 per meal (or $8.10 per day if you feed two dogs), and UnKibble costs $2.29 per meal ($4.58 daily). The cost increases slightly depending on the type of protein you choose. Turkey is the cheapest option, while lamb is the most expensive. Both types of food are designed to provide complete nutrition for your dog, so the choice is purely personal.
If you choose UnKibble, it will be delivered in a bag, much like dry dog food. If you opt for fresh dog food, it will arrive chilly. However, Spot & Tango recommends freezing it immediately upon arrival. The dog food will last four days in the refrigerator and six months in the freezer.
