What’s the Best Dog Food?
A Science-Based Comparison
Nutrition is one of the most important factors in your dog’s long-term health. Studies show that diet quality can directly impact lifespan, immune function, skin health, and energy levels.
But with kibble, canned, raw, home-cooked, and newer options like freeze-dried, how do you know what’s best?
Here we break down the most common feeding styles, their pros and cons, and rank them from least to most beneficial for most dogs.
1. Kibble (Dry Dog Food)
Kibble is made by extrusion at high temperatures, which increases shelf life but also destroys some vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes. Many formulas rely heavily on carbohydrates (corn, wheat, rice) which provide calories but limited amino acids.
✅ Pros: Convenient, affordable, fortified to meet FEDIAF nutrient profiles, long shelf life.
❌ Cons: Highly processed, nutrient losses during cooking, fillers/preservatives common. Long-term high-carb feeding may predispose to obesity.
Ranking: ⭐⭐ (2/5)
2. Canned / Wet Food
✅ Pros: Higher moisture (supports urinary health), more palatable, higher protein than kibble.
❌ Cons: Heavy, shorter shelf life once opened, often pricier per portion, variable quality.
Ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
3. Home-Cooked Diets
Home preparation gives owners control, but research shows most recipes online are nutritionally incomplete — commonly deficient in calcium, essential fatty acids, or trace minerals.
✅ Pros: Control ingredients, avoids preservatives, good for allergies if formulated correctly.
❌ Cons: Time-consuming, expensive, high risk of nutrient imbalance unless guided by a veterinary nutritionist.
Ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
4. Raw Diet (Fresh or Frozen)
Raw diets provide uncooked proteins, fats, vitamins, and enzymes. Benefits include improved stool quality, dental health, and coat condition. Risks include microbial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli) and unbalanced formulations.
✅ Pros: Minimally processed, nutrient-dense, visible benefits to coat and digestion.
❌ Cons: Requires freezer storage, strict handling, higher cost. Risk of imbalances if not formulated properly.
Ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
5. Freeze-Dried Raw Food (Winner 🏅)
Freeze-drying preserves up to 97% of nutrients found in raw food by removing moisture at low temperatures without cooking. This maintains proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, and probiotics, while removing the bacterial risk compared to fresh raw.
✅ Pros: Nutrient retention close to raw, shelf-stable, safe, lightweight, highly palatable. No need for freezers. Research shows freeze-drying preserves amino acids and antioxidants far better than extrusion.
❌ Cons: Higher cost.
Ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) — the best overall option for most dogs.
Vet’s Note: Always transition slowly between foods (7–10 days) to avoid GI upset. Choose diets that meet FEDIAF/AAFCO standards for complete nutrition.
The Bottom Line
Kibble is convenient but heavily processed. Canned and home-cooked offer benefits but carry drawbacks in cost or nutrient balance. Fresh raw is nutritious but riskier to handle.
Freeze-dried raw combines the best of raw nutrition with convenience and safety. For most dogs, it’s the clear winner — nutrient-dense, practical, and supported by science. But remember, every dog is unique. It’s just as important to choose a diet that matches your dog’s age, breed, lifestyle, and individual health needs
P.S. NutriPaw’s supplements are designed to complement a high-quality diet — supporting skin, digestion, immunity, and calm behaviour from the inside out.
