Cold-pressed dog food is fairly new to the UK dog food industry. So what exactly is it and how can it benefit your pet?
What is Cold Pressed Dog Food
Since the 1980s, Europe has been producing cold pressed dog food. But it’s only recently been introduced into the UK. Many dog owners have begun making the switch, yet thousands are still unaware of what exactly cold pressed dog food is!
Dry dog food is created through a method known as extrusion. The ingredients are mixed together, heated whilst under pressure, and then cut by a machine into shapes. The temperatures used are typically around 160 degrees. Around 95% of dry dog food brands use this method.
Cold-pressed dog food is made with lower temperatures ranging from 45-80 degrees. As a result, the food is cooked quicker without the need for excessive temperatures and steam. Ingredients are blended naturally and gently pressed together. The food shapes resemble their natural ingredients. Ingredients are pre-cooked to eliminate any bacteria from the food.
The cold-pressing method is the key difference between standard kibble brands. Nutrients are better preserved, allowing food to break down and digest quicker. Cold pressed dog food is the closest product you can get to a raw diet.
What are the Benefits of Cold Pressed Dog Food?
There are numerous benefits to switching your dog onto a cold pressed diet. Below, we have listed the positives of a cold-pressed dog food diet.
Nutritional Value
Due to the lower temperatures, cold pressed dog food preserves nutrients, fibres, enzymes and ingredients. Normal kibble brands destroy a lot of goodness due to the high temperatures used during the extrusion period.
Cold pressed dog food uses all-natural ingredients. There are no preservatives, additives, colours and other nasties that will enter your dog’s body! Many of these things are attributed to causing food allergies in some dogs.
Thanks to the higher nutritional value and high density, your dog can be fed in smaller amounts. This can save dog owners money as a result.
Bloat & Gastric Dilatation Volvulus
As opposed to extrusion, the method of cold-pressing makes the dog food easier to digest. Kibble expands and floats in your dog’s stomach, which can leave your dog with an upset tummy. Cold-pressed dog food doesn’t expand and dissolves from the outside.
This can help prevent fatal conditions such as Bloat and Gastric Dilatation Volvulus. Dogs that are fed pressed instead of extruded food are less affected by these two conditions. Kibble is known to be high in starch. A lack of fresh, raw food within your dog’s diet can contribute to Bloat.
Improvement to your Dog
The nutrients, vitamins and minerals all contribute to a healthy coat and skin. It may also increase your dog’s activity levels, great for senior dogs! Skin and fur should appear healthier. Nails may also grow longer and faster so keep the clippers to hand!
Dogs suffering from food allergies will benefit from cold pressed dog food as it’s completely natural. It’s not easy pinpointing your dog’s allergies, but if it is food, then a cold pressed diet should reduce their symptoms.
Cold Pressed Dog Food & Raw Diets
Raw diets have been the centre of debate amongst dog owners, pet nutritionists and vets. Whilst there are many pros to a raw diet, there are a number of cons. Vets don’t recommend dog owners creating their own dog food as this may not be balanced nutritionally.
Cold pressed dog food is created with natural minerals, vitamins, and ingredients. It is nutritionally balanced and can be fed alongside a raw diet. The low cooking and lack of processing make cold pressed food the closest alternative to raw food.
Costs of Cold Pressed Dog Food
Price-wise, cold pressed dog food isn’t excessively pricey. In fact, some kibble brands are the same price! Although it is worth saying the best brands of cold pressed food will be on the pricier end of the scale.
The higher nutrient and density levels in cold pressed dog food mean smaller portions can be given. This in turn means you won’t need to restock on food as quickly as you would with standard kibble.
Recommended: Learn about food allergies in dogs here!
What are the Negatives of Cold Pressed Dog Food?
Any food or brand will of course have negatives. After all, nothing in this world is perfect! Whilst this isn’t a long list, there are still downsides that dog owners should be aware of.
Shelf Life
As cold pressed food retains more nutrients and natural ingredients, the food will go off quicker than standard kibble. The shelf life of unopened bags typically lasts around 6-9 months. It’s much shorter than extruded food which lasts up to 18 months.
Food Allergies
Your dog may still show signs of allergies if you haven’t pinpointed the exact cause. So in some cases, cold pressed dog food might not be a quick fix. Especially if they are allergic to products such as chicken. You will need to start the process of elimination to determine the culprit of your dog’s triggers.
Cold Pressed Dog Food Brands
In the UK, cold pressed food is new to the dog food industry. So new brands will be popping up here and there telling you how great their food is! It’s important to research the company and where its ingredients are sourced.
Some may source their supplies from third parties that preheat the food. This could damage the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals held inside. It’s always best to find a company that sources and produces its own food right here in the UK.
Changing my Dog to Cold Pressed Dog Food
Every dog is different, so if you do decide to make the switch to cold pressed food, it’s important to transition slowly. Keep a close eye on your dog and consult with your vet if you feel this is necessary.
- Introduce the cold pressed food in small portions, whilst still feeding your dog their original food. Increase the amount of new food each day, reducing their previous kibble simultaneously.
- During the change, you will need to keep an eye on their stools. Poo should be firm so if your dog experiences diarrhoea you will need to slow down the transition. Some dogs have more sensitive stomachs and a richer diet could trigger loose stools.
- Your dog may vomit if their food has been swapped over too quickly. This isn’t a very common side effect so you should always contact your vet just to be on the safe side.
- Some dogs shed more fur than usual due to a poor diet. Cold pressed dog food should return the shedding to its normal form. It will also improve the coat so even the dead fur should be noticeably healthier and shinier.
- If you are simply changing to a different brand of cold pressed dog food you can start using the food as you would the previous brand.