Cold-pressed dog food is a natural form of nutrition. Here we would like to introduce you to one of them: the most important advantages of cold-pressed dog food .
|
About the author: Dr. Julia Lettow
Julia holds a PhD in biology, is a certified dog trainer, a dog nutrition expert, and an Alpenwuff ambassador. With her in-depth scientific training and years of experience, she shares her knowledge in our Alpenwuff blog.
Contents
Higher natural nutrient content brings main cold-pressed dog food and its benefits
The most important advantage of cold-pressed dog food is that the low temperatures preserve more natural nutrients . This is why cold-pressed dog food is considered a natural dog food . Similar to a steamer in the kitchen, the low temperature ensures that more natural vitamin structures are preserved and fewer artificial additives need to be added. Secondary plant substances , which are found in apples, berries, herbs, and carrots, for example, are also preserved at low temperatures and are not destroyed by heat. This means that dogs benefit more from the antioxidants contained in vitamins, which protect essential fatty acids from oxidation. At the same time, the higher proportion of natural nutrients promotes the digestibility of the food.
Tolerance and digestibility: Cold-pressed dog food does not swell
Another key advantage of cold-pressed dog food is its wholesomeness, tolerability, and digestibility . Most conventional, extruded foods swell considerably when they come into contact with water. This is not generally the case with cold-pressed dry foods due to their high density. Cold-pressed food sinks to the bottom and dissolves into its powder-like components. This allows intestinal enzymes to absorb and process the nutrients in the food relatively quickly. According to various veterinarians , this reduces the risk of gastric torsion with high-quality cold-pressed food. However, we are not currently aware of any studies that compare the risk of gastric torsion with cold-pressed or extruded dry food. However, it has been scientifically proven that the risk of gastric torsion is significantly higher if oils or fats are listed among the first four ingredients of a dry food ( link to study ).
At the same time, the proportion of fiber and crude fiber tends to be slightly higher in cold-pressed dog food. These substances stimulate intestinal activity , the intestinal walls, and the growth of your pet's intestinal cells. This stimulates digestion, strengthens the immune system, and ensures good digestibility.
Test which variety your dog likes best with a sample pack:
Natural dog food – no colorings, flavorings or preservatives
Cold-pressed dry dog food also largely shares the commonality of providing natural dog nutrition without artificial preservatives . The goal of many providers is to offer dog owners a healthy and natural dry food alternative to BARF. For this reason, most cold-pressed dog food providers avoid adding artificial additives such as colorings, flavorings, or preservatives.
Dry food with a high meat content
Another advantage is that cold-pressed products are mostly dog foods with a high meat content . Most high-quality cold-pressed dog foods have a fresh meat content of at least 60% . Due to the drying process, the effective mass of the meat is reduced, resulting in values of around 30% dried meat.
Natural dental hygiene through cold-pressed dog food
Finally, it's worth noting that cold-pressing results in relatively firm and hard food pellets. This means your four-legged friend has a bit more to chew on and increases the abrasion of plaque and tartar. Thus, cold-pressed dry food also enables natural dental care, can reduce bad breath in dogs, and supports oral hygiene.
Conclusion: Cold-pressed dry food offers many advantages
Advantages of cold-pressed dog food
✅ Minimally processed dog food with higher natural nutrient density
- Vital substances such as vitamins, secondary plant substances and enzymes are retained
✅ 6% higher protein digestibility - STROUCKEN et al. (1996)1
✅ Better starch digestibility due to starch pre-digestion
✅ Faster digestion in the dog's stomach and no swelling (water test)
✅ Does not leave a greasy residue in the holder's hand (pocket test)
Disadvantages of extruded dog food
❌ Highly processed dog food with relatively lower natural nutrient density due to high temperatures: Fewer vital substances such as vitamins, secondary plant substances and enzymes
❌ Lower digestibility
❌ Tends to require higher feed quantities compared to cold-pressed feed
❌ Larger volume and strong swelling (water test)
❌ Greases in the holder's hand (trouser pocket test)
The two types of dog food differ in four key aspects: shelf life, consistency, nutrient content , and manufacturing process. The big question of whether you should feed your furry friend cold-pressed or extruded dog food depends on your dog's individual characteristics and food conversion rate and cannot be answered in a general way. If you would like to learn more about cold-pressed dog food, please browse our guide or simply order our sample pack!
The advantages of cold-pressed dry dog food are numerous. But for a more holistic view, be sure to also consider the disadvantages of cold-pressed dog food .
Or would you just like to try it?
"Food without compromise" - We want more dogs to have a healthy diet!
What does "open declaration" mean?
The " open declaration " in the context of dog food refers to the transparent disclosure of information about the composition of the food in terms of the individual ingredients and their processed quantities.
"Open declaration" means that we transparently list all ingredients and their exact percentages in Alpenwuff food. So you always know exactly what's in every bag of Alpenwuff.
An open declaration serves to give pet owners clear information about the food so they can make informed decisions about their daily diet. By reading the declaration, pet owners can determine which main ingredients are contained in the food. This helps to rule out allergens, evaluate the quality of a food, and develop an understanding of a dog's behavior. For example, if a food consists primarily of corn, this is often reflected in its behavior. An open declaration therefore makes it possible to ensure that the food meets the dog's individual needs and promotes its health. In addition, the declaration ideally includes information about the manufacturer and the manufacturing process, which creates confidence in the product quality and traceability of the raw materials.
Why should cold-pressed food be better?
The comparison between extruded and cold-pressed dog food can be shown using several aspects that illustrate the advantages of cold-pressed food:
- Gentle manufacturing process: Cold-pressed feed is produced at lower temperatures (60°C). In contrast, extruded feed is produced at high temperatures (up to 200°C), resulting in a greater loss of natural nutrients.
- Better nutrient preservation: The gentle manufacturing process helps to better preserve the natural nutrients of the ingredients, similar to steam cooking. Due to the gentle temperatures, natural vitamins and nutrients in cold-pressed food remain largely intact.
- Better digestibility: Cold-pressed food breaks down quickly into its components in the dog's stomach and doesn't bloat when exposed to liquid like most extruded food briquettes. This means the nutrients are quickly accessible and digestible. The easier digestibility of cold-pressed food can help dogs experience fewer digestive problems. This leads to less bloating and an overall happier dog.
To what temperature is the food heated?
Our feed is gently cold-pressed at low temperatures to preserve nutrients. The cold press reaches a maximum temperature of approximately 60°C.
Discover your variety:
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.