Spotlighting the Top Nutrients for Your Dog

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Ollie is a dog-first company providing fresh, healthy food for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes.

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Just like humans, your dog’s health depends heavily on the food they consume daily. Read on to learn more about essential nutrients for your dog’s health and explore how fresh, human-grade dog food like Ollie supports a longer, happier life.

What Your Dog Needs Most: The Six Essential Building Blocks

Dogs require six fundamental compounds to maintain their bodies and thrive, and understanding these basics helps you make better choices when selecting the best fresh dog food for your pup:

Water

Your dog, like you, consists of nearly 80% water, making proper hydration crucial for every bodily function.

Proteins and Amino Acids

These serve as the building blocks for your pup’s muscle and tissue development, supporting structural health and organ function.

Fats

Essential for nutrient absorption, particularly omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in fish oil, which support your dog’s skin, coat, and brain health.

Carbohydrates

Converted to energy or stored for later use, providing fuel for your pup’s daily activities and metabolic processes.

Minerals

Critical for healthy blood formation and organ function, supporting everything from bone development to nerve transmission in your dog.

Vitamins

Support your pup’s immune function, healing, and hormone production, including niacin, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, and riboflavin.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) establishes guidelines for commercial dog food standards. However, many commercial products available on store shelves fall short of optimal quality standards that veterinarians and pet nutritionists recommend for supporting your dog’s immune system, dental health, and overall wellbeing.

As veterinarians and pet nutritionists consistently advise, you should give your dog the best possible food you can afford to protect their health and longevity.

Why Fresh Dog Food Benefits Your Pup’s Health

Pet parents are discovering that the best fresh dog food offers remarkable advantages for their companions.

The Life-Changing Benefits of Fresh Nutrition

Studies have shown that dogs fed fresh diets can live up to 2.5 years longer than those on commercial diets [2]. Research demonstrates several key advantages of making the switch to fresh dog food:

Superior Digestibility: Dogs digest fresh food with absorption rates above 82%, especially for proteins and fats [2]
Enhanced Nutrient Absorption: Dogs absorb nutrients better from fresh food than kibble diets, showing higher digestibility rates for dry matter, organic matter, energy, and fats, leading to lower daily food intake because dogs absorb nutrients more efficiently [2]
Immune System Support: Fresh diets boost dogs’ immune systems through natural antioxidants that fight harmful free radicals, with dogs eating fresh food having lower pro-inflammatory markers [2]

At Ollie, we’ve seen these benefits firsthand with thousands of pups who’ve made the transition to our fresh, human-grade recipes. Pet parents consistently report improvements in their dog’s energy levels, coat shine, and overall vitality within weeks of starting their fresh food journey.

Human Grade Dog Food: Setting the Gold Standard

Human-grade dog food ensures every ingredient has passed high standards necessary for human consumption and the food must be made in a human food facility that gets inspected by the USDA, with processing and manufacturing regulations designed to assure safety for consumption by humans [3].

What Makes Human-Grade Different for Your Pup

Human-grade dog food is made to the same safety and quality standards found in the FDA and USDA regulations for human food, with standards applying not just to the ingredients, but also to the way the food is prepared and the location in which it’s produced [4].

This means every ingredient in your pup’s bowl meets the same quality standards as your own food. At Ollie, our human-grade approach ensures:

Ingredient Quality: All ingredients must be fit for human consumption
Manufacturing Standards: Must be manufactured in a facility registered as both an FDA animal food facility and an FDA human food facility that gets inspected by the USDA, implementing preventive controls as required by AAFCO labeling standards [3]
Safety Protocols: Unlike feed-grade dog foods that can include 4D meats from dead, dying, diseased, or downer animals, human-grade requires every ingredient to pass standards for human consumption [3]

A golden retriever puppy being fed human-grade dog food out of a red dog food bowl in a modern kitchen.

The Best Natural Puppy Food for Growing Pups

Fresh food provides balanced nutrition that works for both growing puppies and senior dogs to maintain optimal health [2]. Your puppy’s nutritional needs are unique and critical for proper development.

Life Stage Nutrition That Matters

Your pup’s requirements change throughout their life:

Puppies (0-12 months): Need more protein and fat, requiring 22-32% protein based on dry matter [2]

Adults (1-7 years): Require balanced nutrition with moderate protein levels for maintenance

Seniors (7+ years): Need increased protein to maintain muscle mass [2]

Ollie’s recipes are expertly formulated for all life stages, meaning your pup can enjoy the same high-quality nutrition whether they’re a growing puppy or a distinguished senior dog.

Fresh Dog Food Delivery: Bringing Convenience to Your Door

The fresh pet food market is forecasted to grow by USD 1,233.81 million during 2023-2028, driven by new product launches, increasing pet adoption, and rising adoption of customized fresh pet foods, with increasing focus on promoting fresh pet foods and rising demand for human-grade fresh pet foods [5].

Why Pet Parents Choose Delivery Services

Fresh dog food delivery offers game-changing benefits for busy pet parents:

Customized Portions: Meals tailored to your dog’s specific age, weight, activity level, and health needs
Never Run Out: Regular deliveries ensure your pup never misses a meal
Quality Assurance: Maintained cold chain from kitchen to your door
Expert Formulation: Usually vet-designed and/or developed with board-certified veterinary nutritionists [6]

At Ollie, we’ve perfected this process. Our fresh dog food delivery service takes the guesswork out of feeding your pup, delivering perfectly portioned meals that arrive fresh and ready to serve.

Healthy Dog Food Alternatives for Every Pet Parent

More than half of U.S. pet food buyers perceive freshly prepared foods to be healthy, and 79% are willing to pay more for healthier pet food products [7]. You have several excellent options to upgrade your pup’s nutrition:

Fresh Food Options

Human-grade ingredients with minimal processing
Refrigerated or frozen meals with natural preservation
Customized recipes based on your dog’s specific needs (like Ollie’s personalized meal plans)

Premium Alternatives

Limited ingredient diets for sensitive stomachs
High-protein formulations with named meat sources
Grain-inclusive options for balanced nutrition

Supplemental Nutrition

Fresh food toppers to enhance your pup’s current diet
Mixed meal plans combining fresh and baked options
Rotational feeding for dietary variety

A macro photograph of a sliced red onion showing layers

Foods That Should Never Touch Your Pup’s Bowl

Regardless of the healthy dog food alternatives you choose, certain ingredients remain dangerous for your dog:

Toxic Compounds:

Methylxanthines: Present in chocolate and caffeine products, causing seizures and organ failure
Xylitol: Found in artificial sweeteners, causing dangerous blood sugar spikes
Alliums: Onions, garlic, shallots, and chives damage red blood cells and liver function

Dangerous Foods:

Grapes and raisins (even small amounts can be toxic)
Macadamia nuts and other high-fat nuts
Raw meat, eggs, and bones (choking and bacterial hazards)
High-sodium human foods

Making the Transition: Your Pup’s Journey to Better Health

A 5-10 day transition period leads to lasting benefits that make the short adjustment worth it [2]. When switching to the best fresh dog food options:

Start Gradually: Mix increasing amounts of new food with current food over 7-10 days
Watch and Learn: Monitor your pup’s response and energy levels
Get Expert Help: Your veterinarian can help create the perfect fresh food plan that matches your pet’s specific needs [2]
Document the Journey: Track improvements in coat quality, energy, and overall wellbeing

Many Ollie customers tell us they see positive changes within the first week of transition, with dramatic improvements in energy and coat quality becoming apparent within a month.

Variety of Ollie products on tan background with Puptainer, scoop, and bowls

An Investment in Your Pup’s Future

Fresh food isn’t just another trend — it’s an investment in your dog’s future, with studies showing better digestion rates, improved immune function, and healthier skin in dogs that eat fresh food [2].

At Ollie, we’ve made it our mission to provide the highest quality fresh dog food, delivered right to your door. Our recipes are formulated with veterinary nutritionists and only use human-grade ingredients, ensuring your pup gets the balanced nutrition they deserve without the hassle of meal planning and preparation.

Ready to give your pup the best? Start with a personalized Ollie meal plan that takes into account your dog’s unique nutritional needs, life stage, and preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What makes the best fresh dog food different from regular kibble?

A: Numerous studies show that fresh dog food is superior to kibble [2], offering higher digestibility rates, better nutrient absorption, and supporting improved immune function. Unlike heavily processed kibble, fresh food retains natural nutrients and enzymes that benefit your pup’s health.

Q: Is human-grade dog food worth the investment for my pup?

A: Absolutely. Human-grade dog food ensures higher safety and quality standards, with every ingredient meeting human consumption requirements. Many pet parents find the investment worthwhile for the improved health outcomes, increased energy, and peace of mind it provides.

Q: How does fresh dog food delivery work with Ollie?

A: Ollie creates a personalized feeding guide based on your pup’s specific needs, then delivers perfectly portioned fresh meals to your door.

Q: Can I use fresh dog food as a healthy dog food alternative alongside my pup’s current diet?

A: Yes! Many pet parents successfully use fresh food as a topper or partial replacement for kibble. Ollie offers half-portion plans specifically designed as a nutritious boost to enhance your pup’s current meals while providing fresh food benefits at a lower price point.

Q: How long before I see improvements in my dog after switching to the best natural puppy food or fresh options?

A: Most pet parents notice improvements in energy levels and coat quality within 2-4 weeks, with digestive improvements often appearing within the first week. Every pup is different, but the transition period typically shows positive results quickly.