Freshly Prepared Dog Food: Benefits, Ingredients & What to Know

Freshly prepared dog food is made from real ingredients that are minimally processed to retain its nutrients. It’s gently cooked at lower temperatures (around 70-90 degrees Celsius) which preserves nutrients and makes them easier to absorb. Unlike traditional kibble, freshly prepared dog food is higher in moisture and made with fewer preservatives.

Like with most foods, it’s best to gradually transition your dog onto a freshly prepared diet.  It’s important your pooch’s stomach has time to slowly adjust to their new mealtime, so introducing small amounts of the freshly prepared food alongside their usual diet can help prevent any tummy upset.

Keep an eye on your dog’s poops in the meantime – if it’s runnier than usual, you may need to slow the transition down even more. Go at their pace with the transition, until eventually your dog’s bowl is entirely freshly prepared food and their poops are remaining consistently firm and normal.

Interested in how a freshly prepared diet can benefit your dog? There’s a whole host of benefits in feeding freshly prepared!

-          Better digestion & gut health thanks to less processing, a shorter ingredients list and a higher moisture content.

-          More appealing to picky eaters thanks to fresher taste and scent from real ingredients!

-          Improved nutrition and nutrient retention thanks to minimal processing and fresh ingredients.

Freshly prepared dog food is suitable for many dogs, but it’s beneficial especially for dogs with allergies, senior dogs or dogs with weight management issues.  The fewer ingredients  makes it easier to figure out potential allergens, the palatability of fresh food is great for senior dogs who may struggle to chew, and the easy-to-portion nature of less processed food is ideal for dogs who struggle with their weight.

When shopping the freshly prepared dog food aisle, you might not know what ingredients to expect in these recipes! The key ingredients are:

-          High-quality proteins (chicken, beef, fish)​

-          Fresh vegetables (carrots, peas, spinach)​

-          Whole grains or grain-free alternatives​ (rice, sweet potatoes)​

-          Healthy fats (fish oil, flaxseed oil)

Freshly prepared dog food can be stored in different ways, depending on the brand and product. It can be stored ambiently, chilled or frozen rather than preserved in traditional ​dry or canned formats. At Jollyes, our freshly prepared dog food offering is in both freezers and on the shelf, so there’s a format to suit every parent’s space in their kitchen.

At Jollyes, we’re proud to stock the following freshly prepared dog food brands:

-          Boost

Boost’s brand mission is to deliver meals that are human-quality, minimally processed, and always focused on genuine nutrition​! They’re super transparent about what’s inside every meal – no misleading labels or hidden ingredients. Immediately after cooking, Boost meals are frozen to lock in freshness and nutritional value, so you’ll find this brand in our Freshly Prepared freezer section! There’s 3 freshly prepared ranges from Boost; Fresh Meals, Working Dog, Fresh Meatballs and there’s The Icy Puppucino which is a flavoured icy treat.

-          Dibo

Dibo pioneered the development of freeflow pure meat and complete meal products, making them a trusted name in the natural pet food world. They are dedicated to using only unprocessed, high-quality ingredients in every product. Dibo offers four Fresh Cooked Block varieties at Jollyes, suited to dogs with sensitive stomachs or protein-fatigue.

-          Nutriment Fresh Medallions

Nutriment Fresh Medallions are completely grain-free and contain zero fillers, making them suitable for dogs with sensitivities or allergies.​ Each recipe contains an incredibly high percentage of real meat, providing essential protein for your dog’s health and vitality. They’re pre-portioned into 40g medallions which makes it easier to serve and reduce waste.

-          Tuggs

Tuggs is committed to real food, no compromise. Only fresh British meat and vegetables are used in these insect-powered nutrition and vet approved recipes. Meals are pasteurised at 90°C to keep nutrients intact, unlike traditional sterilization methods. Tuggs sets new standards when it comes to quality and sustainability in dog food.

-          Wilsons Fresh

Wilsons Fresh meals are shelf-stable and can be stored in the cupboard until opened, meaning there’s no need for a freezer! Feeding Wilsons Fresh is as simple as opening a pouch and serving—no thawing, chopping, or complicated prep required. Freshly prepared food made easy! From an improvement in energy to a shinier coat and reduction in digestive issues, there’s plenty of perks from feeding Wilsons Fresh.

Freshly prepared dog food is suggested to be richer in nutrients as it’s minimally processed, unlike traditional kibble! However, like most food types there are pros and cons of both, and different dogs will suit to different meals.

Yes! Freshly prepared food for dogs is gentle on sensitive stomachs, which is thanks to the quality of ingredients and the limited ingredients these recipes contain, making identifying allergens/triggers easier. Some fresh foods also contain prebiotics which can help your dog’s digestive system.

This can depend on the brand, as freshly prepared food ranges in how it’s stored (from cupboard to freezer) so always read the information on the product packaging. The duration it lasts will differ based on the product being unopened or opened too!