Let’s talk about something controversial: freeze dried raw food/treats for puppies! TLDR—avoid them.
Freeze dried is great—it’s soft for their baby teeth, and tasty. But freeze dried RAW carries just a bit more risk than we’re comfortable with for puppies. Here’s why:
- Pathogen contamination. Contrary to popular belief, freeze drying does not kill pathogens—it actually preserves them in a dormant living state which is reversible by rehydration. This means that freeze dried raw foods carry a higher risk of pathogen contamination, and puppies are particularly susceptible.
- Do you have kids in the home? It’s true that dogs are more resistant to many pathogens because they have a more acidic stomach and short digestive tracts! But even if your pet doesn’t become sick, they can become an asymptomatic carrier of dangerous pathogens and shed them in your home. This is especially a risk to young children and the immunocompromised.
What to give instead
So what should you do if your dog loves freeze dried treats? Get freeze dried treats that are cooked first! We recommend Sheraton Luxuries Organic Freeze-Dried Chicken Treats. Here’s why:
- They’re freeze dried so they’re soft, but they’re cooked first so there’s much less risk of pathogen survival.
- They’re organic so there’s less risk of contamination with multi drug-resistant bacteria (and bonus—higher animal welfare standards).
- The specific way they chose to cook these treats triggers the Maillard reaction, which dogs really like.
- It’s a good protein choice—for example, with puppies, avoid liver which is too rich and has too much vitamin A for very young dogs.
- Cooked protein is more bioavailable and easier to digest.
We have no affiliation with this brand, we just like this product! We hope this helps some puppy parents! Happy treating!!
Raising a puppy on the Upper East Side? Our concierges can help with dog walking and in-home pet sitting, one pet at a time.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About Pet Food Safety (updated January 30, 2025).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Cautions Pet Owners Not to Feed Performance Dog Raw Pet Food Due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes (September 26, 2019).