I just got a new job working at a fantastic boutique style specialty pet shop. They carry super premium kibbles and frozen premade raw along with freeze dried raw products.
This:
http://www.stellaandchewys.com/index.php
and this:
http://www.vitalessentialsraw.com/html/products/index.htm


Each summer when it gets really hot, my dogs have a tendency to go off their raw meals some days. But I found a raw food product that they seem to really like that is freeze dried raw.

http://www.vitalessentialsraw.com/html/products/ingredients.htm

I realize that fresh raw meals are best. Also, they provide the animal with hydration, when fresh. But what are your opinions of the raw freeze dried meals that Vital Essentials has?
This particular company has a prey model inspired philosophy.
I like it because it is contains some ingredients that I have a harder time sourcing, like beef lung, kidneys etc.

Do you feel their are any drawbacks to rotating in a freeze dried raw besides the cost being more expensive, and lacking in natural water content?

Since both dogs have seemed to like it, would you say it is better than say a high grade kibble or just comparable to it?

Freeze dried raw is new to me and I wanted to see what you all have to say about it.
I have found that rotating different products seem to help keep their interest and since they seemed to like the freeze dried, I am glad to have tried it.
I like to feed one meal fresh and one meal freeze dried.
Thanks in advance for all your replies.

Looks good to me.:smile:

There is a lack of vegetable matter in there. Not a big deal, though. Just add vegetables like you normally would.

Good find, and congrats on the job!

I feed raw dehydrated food in the same meal as my fresh raw so that I have my dog used to a dry portable food for when we are rv'ing and boating ( and refrigeration is sketchy). I alternate between 3 different brands for variety, and I add water to all of them to rehydrate so that's not an issue.

After doing a google search on dehydrated vs freeze dried, it is possible, but not conclusive, that freeze dried retains more nutrients but may be more expensive.
If I found a source for freeze dried in Canada, I would add it into my mix. So, yeah, I think it's a great idea!

Thanks Michael and Cindy! I doubt I will ever have much of a paycheck with this job, as I spend a lot trying out new foods for the dogs!
But, I thoroughly enjoy getting to help people make better choices in nutrition for their dogs and cats, especially when they come in saying their vet has them on Science Diet.

The biggest challenge for me is how to word it tactfully as to not offend or step on toes in my explanation. It is fun helping to educate people on what dogs and cats can thrive on if given the species appropriate foods.

6 months, and that pet food store will probably have to buy a bigger freezer if you convert too many people's pets!

Do you rehydrate it? Or is it ready to eat?

http://www.vitalessentialsraw.com/html/fillmybowl.htm

The freeze dried says ready to eat.

I don't see where a little water would hurt, though.

You can rehydrate, but the dogs love the niblets just dry, very similar to kibble in that regard.

I only tried it because one day last week, both dogs ate next to nothing for a couple days in a row. But now that I think about it, they could have been on a strike because they are used to me being home all day. Now that I work, they have had to adjust to a new schedule.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

6 months, and that pet food store will probably have to buy a bigger freezer if you convert too many people's pets!

That would be awesome! Given the cost I wonder, but the store is located in a fairly affluent city, so hopefully we can grow the business despite the higher cost and the slower economy.

Given that most people consider their dogs family, my goal is to get them to realize that a better diet will help keep their pets healthier and live longer etc. not to mention helping all the obese dogs that are fed foods high in grains!
Trying to convert the real skeptics to grain free at the very least.

The freeze-dried vs kibble question came up some where else, so I copy and pasted a response from L. Olson. "It may be better than kibble, if it is all animal based protein. But yes,dehydrating process does involve heat and removing moisture, all which affects food quality". Hope this helps a little.

I have given mine the Stella and they didn't really care for it and apparantly it didn't care for them either. I haven't seen or tried the other one.

Congrats on the hobby job, you will make a difference. A good friend of mine has a boutique and I will fill in as long as I get to bring a dog and we trade hours for product, I'm always at the owing end.