Why Gently-Cooked Food Is Good for Your Dog

As pet owners, we want the best for our furry friends, and that includes providing them with nutritious and delicious meals. Gently-cooked dog food, and fresh dog food, have gained popularity for its numerous health benefits and high-quality ingredients. Let’s explore why gently-cooked food might be an excellent choice for your dog.

What is Gently-Cooked Dog Food?

Gently-cooked dog food is prepared by cooking ingredients at a low temperature, just enough to kill harmful pathogens while preserving the natural nutrients and flavours. This method ensures that the food retains its nutritional value, making it a wholesome option for your dog. Gently-cooked food also offers a safer alternative by eliminating harmful pathogens while retaining nutritional benefits.

There are many different ways this can be done. For example, some companies might put all of the ingredients into a sous-vide and cook all at one temperature. At Tom&Sawyer, we treat each ingredient individually.

That means every ingredient is carefully considered and cooked at its own optimal temperature and method – then our ingredients are mixed together. This is to ensure your pup is getting the MOST out of each ingredient.

Gently-cooked dog food

Benefits of Gently-Cooked Dog Food

  1. High Nutritional Value: By cooking each ingredient at its own optimal method and temperature, we can highlight nutrient retention. This means ensuring more availability of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes compared to other methods of cooking.
  2. Digestibility: The gentle cooking process can make the food easier to digest as shown in previous studies compared to kibbles. This could be particularly beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues.
  3. Skin and Coat Health: High-quality ingredients and the preservation of essential fatty acids, as well as the high moisture content can all contribute to healthier skin and a shinier coat. A recent publication also highlighted the potential benefits of fresh, cooked food on the skin microbiome of dogs.
  4. Enhanced Flavour and Taste: We find that our loyal companions find our gently cooked food highly palatable due to its natural flavours and textures. This can be especially helpful for picky eaters.
  5. Gut Health: As shown in previous studies, gently cooked food fed to dogs alters the gut microbiome when compared to dogs eating kibbles. A healthy gut microbiome is crucial for your dog’s overall well-being!
Dog eating gently-cooked dog food

Why Choose Gently-Cooked Food?

Choosing gently-cooked food for your dog means opting for a diet that prioritizes quality, nutrition, and safety. Here are a few more reasons why it might be the right choice for your pet:

  • Wholesome Ingredients: Our gently cooked foods use fresh, high-quality ingredients without artificial additives.
  • Balanced Nutrition: Our recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the National Research Council (NRC), ensuring your dog gets a complete and balanced diet.
  • Convenience: We offer home delivery and subscription, making it easy to provide your dog with nutritious meals!
Gently-cooked dog food subscription

Gently-cooked dog food offers a nutritious, delicious, and safe option for feeding your dog. With its high nutritional value and digestibility, it’s no wonder more pet owners are making the switch. By choosing gently-cooked food, you’re giving your dog the best chance at a healthy and happy life.

P.S. Dogs aren't the only pets that can benefit from gently-cooked food! Check out our gently-cooked meals for cats here. 

Gently cooked meals for cats and dogs


Written by: Hannah Godfrey
Animal Nutritionist
BSc.H. | MSc. Animal Nutrition
www.tomandsawyer.com

REFERENCES:

Geary, E. L., et al. 2022. Effects of a mildly cooked human-grade dog diet on gene expression, skin and coat health measures, and fecal microbiota of healthy adult dogs. Journal of Animal Science, 100:1-15. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac265

Oba, P. M. et al. 2020. True nutrient and amino acid digestibility of dog foods made with human-grade ingredients using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay. Translational Animal Science, 4:442-451. doi: 10.1093/tas/txz175

Leverett et al. 2022. Fresh Food Consumption Increases Microbiome Diversity and Promotes Changes in Bacteria Composition on the Skin of Pet Dogs Compared to Dry Foods. Animals, 12(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151881

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