As you’re preparing to feed your dog, you’ll probably head to the store. There, you’ll encounter many types of dog food, but you’ll probably see 5 main options:

1. Dry Kibble
2. Dehydrated
3. Wet—canned or in pouches
4. Freeze-dried and frozen/refrigerated
5. Mixes

Let’s take a closer look at these various types.

1) Dry Kibble

Dry kibble is probably the most popular type of dog food and is generally the cheapest. In general, it is made through a simple process called “extrusion.” Basically, ingredients are mixed to form a dough then entered into a huge machine that cooks them through high pressure and hot water or steam. Then, the food is extruded through shaped holes and dried into kibble.

Some companies bake kibble instead, though there is no reason to believe that baking is inherently healthier. It is a longer process, so companies that bake it usually ensure that it’s very high-quality. 

Once made, Kibble is usually sprayed with various vitamins, minerals, and fats or oils to keep it high-quality and provide extra nutrition. Kibble is one of the most popular foods for dogs because it is generally a complete meal providing all the nutrition a dog needs in one serving. 

2) Dehydrated

Dehydrated foods are made by extracting most of the liquid from a food before packaging it for sale to dog owners. Dehydrated foods are slow to spoil without added preservatives and are convenient to travel with. 

However, some require rehydration before your dog can eat them, and dehydrated foods (like kibble) have fairly low moisture content so your dog will need more to drink. Overall, though, dehydrated foods are generally more nutrient-dense than those that are cooked at high temperatures.

3) Wet

Wet dog food is one of the more popular varieties available to pet owners. It is sold in cans or in pouches and usually thickened with some form of starch (corn starch, guar gum, etc.) to help it maintain shape and consistency. 

Most wet foods are higher in fat and protein content and contain between 70% and 80% moisture content, making them a popular choice for small pups, and older dogs who are not interested in eating dry food anymore. However, they are usually more expensive per ounce.

Be sure to check the nutritional quality of canned foods, as some are made for supplementation rather than complete nutrition. In addition, pouched dog food is often high in sugar and/or salt, which may not be the best for your dog. Always read the label before purchasing a wet dog food. 

4) Freeze-dried and Frozen/Refrigerated

Frozen and freeze-dried raw dog foods are increasing in popularity as pet owners become more aware of their pets’ nutritional needs. These foods are generally frozen or freeze-dried raw, which means they retain a high percentage of their original nutritional value. 

Freeze-drying is a simple process by which a frozen raw food is drained of all moisture while retaining its frozen form. This leaves the same raw food that you started out with, but dried of the moisture that might cause it to go bad. 

It’s important to note that freeze-dried and raw foods often need to be kept cold and/or rehydrated and generally contain slightly higher fat content than some other foods. In addition, many lack some nutritional benefits because they are more expensive to make. 

If you do use raw foods, you may want to start out by using them as a supplement to keep your dog on a more well-roudned diet. 

5) Mixes

Mixes made for dogs are not all that different than mixes made for humans. You’ll find a base of dry ingredients in a bag that you can either feed as-is or will have to supplement with fresh ingredients (water, eggs, meat, yogurt, etc.). 

Mixes are more time-consuming than other types of dog food as you’ll generally have to make them up yourself. They are often lacking some nutrients as well and should only be used as supplementation in a well-balanced diet.