Curious about which type of pet food is healthiest in 2025? From homemade meals to canned food, we rank the best to worst based on adulteration and nutritional integrity.
Discover the least to most processed dog foods,from fresh, homemade meals to canned varieties,based on science and longevity studies. Explore what works best for your furry friend’s health and how to choose wisely among pet food options in Hong Kong.
Explore the latest findings from The Forever Dog Life and discover which food fuels longevity, vitality, and well-being in dogs. The best-selling book in Amazon dog category
With science confirming the connection between nutrition and dog longevity, what you feed your pet has never been more crucial. As emphasized in The Forever Dog Life, less processed food means fewer harmful additives and more bioavailable nutrients. Whether you’re making homemade meals or exploring freeze-dried options, choosing the right type can make a real difference in energy, digestion, and long-term wellness.
Homemade, vet-approved meals and gently cooked fresh food top the list for their whole-food nutrition and minimal processing. Both options allow full control over ingredients and preparation methods, ensuring nutrient density and safety.
Pros: These foods are ideal for dogs with sensitivities or chronic health issues and provide the freshest, most tailored meals possible. They offer high bioavailability of nutrients and preserve natural enzymes.
Cons: The main downside is that many pet owners struggle with portion control and nutritional balance, which can lead to under or overfeeding, as well as nutrient deficiencies or excesses. While homemade meals can take more time and effort, gently cooked food provides a more convenient option for busy pet parents. However, both options require careful planning and ideally should be prepared in consultation with a vet or pet nutritionist to ensure a balanced, complete diet.
Dehydrated dog food, like the one offered by Petsona, is an excellent option for pet parents seeking a convenient, nutritious alternative to fresh or raw food. The dehydration process retains up to 90% of the nutrients, ensuring your pet gets the essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins they need for optimal health.
This type of food is shelf-stable, making it easy to store without refrigeration, and is travel-friendly, which is perfect for pet parents on the go. It also tends to be easier to digest for picky eaters or dogs with sensitive stomachs. While it requires rehydration before serving, the process is quick and simple, and the benefits of this nutrient-dense option make it a great choice. At Petsona, we ensure our dehydrated food meets the highest standards, certified by both US AAFCO and EU FEDIAF, providing a scientifically backed, high-quality diet for your dog.
Raw diets, when prepared with pathogen-control techniques like High Pressure Processing (HPP), provide bioavailable proteins and natural enzymes that are beneficial for dogs. This type of diet is closest to a dog's natural ancestral diet, offering nutrient-rich food that can improve digestion, energy, and overall health. However, it’s important to ensure that the raw food is sourced from reliable providers who follow strict safety protocols to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination, making it essential to handle and store raw food with care.
Freeze-dried dog food is created by removing moisture from raw or cooked ingredients, preserving the nutrients without the need for high heat or preservatives. It retains most of the essential vitamins and minerals, offering a convenient and shelf-stable solution for pet parents. Just adding water before serving rehydrates the food, giving your dog a nutritious meal. Freeze-dried food closely resembles raw food in terms of nutritional value and can be a good option for those looking for an easy-to-store, nutrient-dense alternative.
Canned dog food is a convenient, shelf-stable option that typically contains high moisture content, making it appealing to dogs who prefer a softer texture. However, it is often processed with additives, thickeners, and preservatives to enhance taste and prolong shelf life. Additionally, the high-temperature cooking process used to prepare canned food can degrade sensitive nutrients, reducing its overall nutritional value. While it may be a good option for dogs with certain dietary needs, it is important to read ingredient labels carefully to ensure quality and avoid unnecessary fillers.
Air-dried dog food is a method of preservation that removes moisture from raw food, typically using a low-temperature drying process. While it falls between raw food and kibble, air-dried food can sometimes contain additives or denatured proteins, which may reduce its overall nutritional value. The effectiveness of this preservation method depends on the temperature and processing method used, meaning nutrient retention can vary, and some brands may sacrifice quality for shelf stability.
Baked kibble is an alternative to extruded kibble and is prepared at lower temperatures. While it is somewhat gentler on nutrients compared to extruded kibble, it still involves high-heat processes and often contains binders or fillers. Some of the valuable nutrients can be lost during baking, and the ingredients used may still be highly processed, which can impact the overall nutritional quality of the food.
Dry kibble is one of the most commonly used types of dog food, but it is often highly processed, with ingredients exposed to high temperatures during the extrusion process. This high heat can destroy some of the sensitive nutrients, and kibble may also contain preservatives and fillers to enhance shelf life and reduce costs. While kibble can be convenient and cost-effective, it is not as nutrient-dense as fresher options and may contain artificial additives that could impact a dog’s overall health.
Semi-moist dog food is typically more processed, often containing higher levels of sugars, salts, and preservatives. Although it may be appealing to dogs because of its texture and flavor, it does not provide the same level of nutritional quality as less processed options. These foods are often packed with artificial additives to maintain their moisture content and improve palatability, but they may not be the best choice for dogs that require a diet rich in whole, natural ingredients.
In 2024, the best pet foods are those that are least processed and most nutrient-rich. Based on The Forever Dog Life, a ranking from best to worst includes: homemade meals, pathogen-controlled raw food, gently cooked food, freeze-dried meals, and dehydrated diets. Petsona, Hong Kong’s first dehydrated dog food company, offers science-backed nutrition with 90% nutrient retention. At the lower end of the spectrum are semi-moist, extruded, baked, air-dried, and canned foods due to processing and additives. Making informed choices is key to improving your dog’s energy, digestion, and lifespan. Whether you choose to cook at home or explore dehydrated solutions, prioritizing quality and transparency is the path to a healthier future for your pet.
1. How can I transition my dog from dry food to a less processed diet?
Transition gradually over 7–10 days. Start by mixing 25% new food with 75% current food, increasing the new food every 2–3 days. Always monitor digestion and stool quality, and add probiotics to ease the transition.
2. Is dehydrated food as good as raw or homemade?
Dehydrated food offers a convenient middle ground. While raw and homemade diets provide the highest nutritional value, dehydrated food retains up to 90% of nutrients and is safer and easier to store. It’s ideal for busy pet parents who still want quality.
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