Fresh Dog Food vs. Raw Dog Food: Which Is Better for Your Dog?

Choosing the right food for your dog is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Two of the most popular premium options are fresh dog food and raw dog food. But which is better for your pup’s health, happiness, and longevity?

At Ollie, we believe fresh dog food offers the best balance of nutrition, safety, and convenience — and experts agree.

Let’s break it down.

What Is Fresh Dog Food?

Fresh dog food is made from real, human-grade ingredients like meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains. It’s gently cooked to preserve nutrients, then delivered fresh — never shelf-stable for months like kibble.

Ollie recipes are carefully formulated by veterinary nutritionists to meet all AAFCO standards, ensuring your dog gets complete and balanced meals with every bite.

Key Features of Fresh Food:

• Fully cooked at low temperatures to maintain nutrients
• Pre-portioned for your dog’s size and needs
• No fillers, by-products, or artificial preservatives

What Is Raw Dog Food?

Raw diets are typically made up of uncooked meat, bones, and sometimes fruits and vegetables. The idea is to mimic what dogs’ wild ancestors might have eaten.

Key Features of Raw Food:

• Uncooked meats and bones
• Higher risk of bacterial contamination (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli)
• Can be difficult to balance nutrients properly at home
• Commercial raw brands often freeze raw meals for safety

According to the U.S. FDA, “Feeding raw foods to pets carries a higher risk of foodborne illness, both for the pet and for humans in the household.

Dr. Renate Reimschuessel, VMD, PhD, states, that the pet food study performed by the FDA study has “identified a potential health risk for the pets eating the raw food, and for the owners handling the product.”

Fresh Dog Food vs. Raw Dog Food: A Quick Comparison

Feature	Fresh Food	Raw Food
Ingredient Quality	Human-grade, cooked safely	Often human-grade but uncooked
Safety	Cooked to eliminate pathogens	Higher risk of harmful bacteria
Nutrition	Complete and balanced	Can be unbalanced without expert formulation
Convenience	Delivered ready-to-serve	Often requires special handling or thawing
Shelf Life	Refrigerated and portioned	Frozen and requires thawing
Cost	$2-10/day	$4-12+/day

Why Fresh Dog Food Is the Smarter Choice

1. Better Safety for Dogs and Humans

Fresh dog food is gently cooked to kill harmful bacteria without destroying nutrients. Raw food, by contrast, carries a documented risk of foodborne illness for both dogs and their human family members.

2. Nutritional Balance Matters

Ollie fresh dog food recipes are created with veterinary nutritionists and exceed AAFCO standards for complete nutrition. Many raw feeders unintentionally create unbalanced meals, leading to long-term health problems like bone deformities, heart issues, and vitamin deficiencies.

A 2019 study of raw dog food diets found that “Many homemade or commercial raw diets are not nutritionally complete, which can cause serious health consequences.”

3. Fresh Food Is More Convenient

Ollie pre-portioned, ready-to-serve meals take the guesswork (and mess!) out of feeding time. No handling raw meat, no thawing, no worrying about contamination.

Cost Comparison: Fresh vs. Raw

• Fresh Dog Food (like Ollie): Typically $2 to $10 per day depending on your dog’s size and plan.
• Raw Dog Food: Often $4 to $12+ per day when you factor in premium sourcing and safe handling.

Fresh food often ends up being more affordable when you account for convenience, balanced nutrition, and reduced veterinary risks.

Health Benefits of Fresh Dog Food

Numerous studies show that dogs on fresh, balanced diets can experience:

• Shinier coats
• Healthier weight management
• Better digestion
• Fewer allergy symptoms
• Increased energy levels

In fact, a study found that dogs who were fed a fresh diet lived an average of 13.1 years, while those fed commercial, canned dog food lived an average of 10.4 years. In other words, a fresh food diet could help you and your dog enjoy an additional 2.5 years of love, laughter and licks.

Why Ollie Fresh Food Is a Better Choice

• 100% Human-Grade: Every Ollie recipe is made with real, whole ingredients—meats, veggies, fruits, and grains you’d eat yourself.
  
• Vet-Formulated Recipes: Developed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition.
  
• Personalized Meal Plans: Each plan is tailored to your dog’s unique age, breed, size, and activity level—so they get the exact nutrients they need.
  
• Convenient Delivery: Fresh, ready-to-serve meals delivered to your door on your schedule. Plus, easily manage your subscription, pause shipments, or update your plan through the Ollie app.
  
• More Variety, More Tail Wags: With 5 fresh recipes and 2 baked recipes, Ollie offers more variety than most fresh food brands—so even picky pups can find a plan they love.
  
• Ollie Health Screenings: Track your dog’s progress with our one-of-a-kind Health Screening program. Real data shows:
  • 100% of dogs had firmer, healthier poop within 3 days
  • 80% of dogs reached a healthy weight within 2 months
    
• No Fillers or Junk: Every meal is free from by-products, artificial flavors, and preservatives. Just real food that supports real health.

Final Verdict: Fresh or Raw?

While both fresh and raw diets focus on giving your dog better nutrition than traditional kibble, fresh dog food — like Ollie — is often considered safer, more convenient, more nutritionally balanced, and easier to trust.

If you want all the benefits of a fresh, wholesome diet without the risks and hassle of raw feeding, Ollie is the perfect choice for your pup.

Explore Ollie fresh dog food plans today and see the difference for yourself!