Keeping Your Dog Healthy with Raw, Freeze-Dried Dog Food

When it comes to keeping your dog healthy, energetic, and active, their diet plays a crucial role. An option that is gaining popularity among dog owners is raw, freeze-dried dog food. Fresh Is Best® raw dog food uses a freeze-dry process that retains most of the natural nutrients found in raw ingredients while being easy to store and serve. Among these nutrients, three key vitamins and minerals stand out for their significant benefits: Vitamin A, calcium, and naturally occurring copper.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for many bodily functions. Fresh Is Best® uses liver as a key ingredient in our dog food recipes that help deliver the proper proportions of vitamin A to your dog.

How Does Vitamin A Benefit Your Dog?

Vision:
Vitamin A is critical for maintaining good vision. It helps form the pigments in the retina, which are necessary for seeing in low light conditions. Dogs rely on their vision to navigate their environment, spot potential threats, and locate food and toys. A deficiency in Vitamin A can lead to night blindness and other vision problems.

Immune System:
Vitamin A plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system. It supports the production and function of white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off infections and diseases. A strong immune system helps your dog stay healthy and recover quickly from illnesses.

Skin and Coat Health:
This vitamin is also important for maintaining healthy skin and a shiny coat. It supports the production of oils that keep the skin moisturized and the fur looking sleek. Dogs with a shiny coat often feel more comfortable and are less likely to suffer from skin irritations and infections.

Calcium

Calcium is a mineral that is essential for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth. It is also crucial for many other bodily functions, including muscle function and nerve signaling. At Fresh Is Best®, our dog food recipes contain a unique ingredient: fish bone meal. It provides your dog with a complete array of macro and micro minerals, including highly digestible calcium and protein. No additives are utilized for processing or preservation. The fish bone meal we use is made from the bones/trimmings of the Pacific Whiting Fish fillets, conforming to Marine Stewardship Council standards for sustainability.

How Does Calcium Benefit Your Dog?

Bone Health:
Calcium is the primary mineral found in bones. It works together with phosphorus to provide strength and structure. Adequate calcium intake is essential for growing puppies to develop strong bones and for adult dogs to maintain bone health. A lack of calcium can lead to weak bones, fractures, and conditions like osteoporosis.

Muscle Function:
Calcium plays a key role in muscle contraction. When a nerve stimulates a muscle, calcium is released into the muscle cells, allowing them to contract. This process is essential for all types of movement, from running and jumping to simply wagging a tail.

Nerve Function:
Calcium is involved in transmitting nerve impulses. It helps transmit signals from the brain to different parts of the body, enabling your dog to respond to stimuli quickly and effectively. Proper nerve function is vital for coordination and reflexes, which are necessary for your dog to stay active and alert.

Naturally Occurring Copper

Naturally occurring copper in raw dog food supports various critical bodily functions like antioxidant defense, collagen synthesis, energy production, neurological health, pigmentation, and immune system support.

Key Naturally Occurring Copper Benefits

Collagen and Connective Tissue Health:
Copper is necessary for the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein in connective tissues, skin, and bones. Adequate copper levels support healthy joints and skin, promoting overall structural integrity.

Cellular Energy:
Copper is involved in the electron transport chain within mitochondria, which is crucial for energy production. This means it helps ensure that dogs have the energy they need for daily activities and overall vitality.

What is Copper Storage Disease

Copper storage disease, also known as copper-associated hepatopathy (CAH), is a serious liver disorder in dogs caused by the accumulation of excessive copper in the liver. This excess copper can cause oxidative damage to liver cells, leading to inflammation, cirrhosis, and ultimately liver failure if not detected and treated.

At Fresh Is Best®, we know that copper toxicity is on pet owners’ minds in recent months due to over supplementation in commercial dog foods. Due to this issue and public concern, we’ve removed all copper amino acid chelate from our recipes, so dogs get their copper needs solely from the naturally occurring copper found in liver, fruits and vegetables in each of our recipes.

Incorporating raw, freeze-dried dog food into your pet’s diet can provide numerous health benefits, thanks to the preservation of essential vitamins and minerals. Fresh Is Best® ensures dogs receive vital nutrients like vitamin A, calcium, and naturally occurring copper, supporting vision, immune function, bone health, muscle function, and overall vitality. By relying on naturally occurring sources and avoiding synthetic supplements, Fresh Is Best® helps mitigate risks such as copper toxicity, promoting long-term health and well-being for your dog.