Fresh & Prepared Meals for Dogs

Fresh & Prepared dog food is dog food made from real, whole food ingredients that are minimally processed to preserve taste and nutrition. Fresh & Prepared dog foods often resemble human foods, with recognizable chunks of meat and veggies and few to no artificial ingredients or fillers. Many are made with human-grade or organic ingredients, as well. The best Fresh & Prepared dog foods provide the superior taste and quality of home-cooked food, without the hassle and nutritional uncertainty of home preparation. 

The benefits of Fresh & Prepared dog food will vary based on your dog’s individual health concerns and which fresh dog food brand you choose. Feeding a fresh dog food diet can help improve digestion, increase energy levels, promote fresh breath and foster skin and coat health. Feeding a Fresh & Prepared diet may also give your dog smaller stools. Your vet can advise you on the potential health benefits of feeding your dog a fresh dog food diet and help you choose the right one for your dog’s needs. 

Chewy’s Fresh & Prepared dog food does meet AAFCO standards for nutritional adequacy. AAFCO standards are designed to let consumers know whether a food provides complete and balanced nutrition for a particular life stage. The fresh dog food diets we carry are designed to be fed on their own as complete meals—unless labeled otherwise. Dog food products like treats, toppers and supplements that do not meet these standards will be labeled “for intermittent or supplemental feeding only”.  

The ingredients in Fresh & Prepared dog food vary widely, but they are usually a combination of meats, vegetables, fruits and sometimes grains. Added vitamins, minerals and supplements like fish oil or omega fatty acids help ensure a complete and balanced nutrient profile. We include ingredient lists and nutritional information on all our dog food listings, so you can see exactly what goes into each recipe. 

Fresh & Prepared dog food does need to be refrigerated or frozen for safe storage. Read the label instructions for safe handling and storage and be sure to check your food for expiration dates. Most refrigerated or thawed frozen Fresh & Prepared dog food needs to be used within a week or so for optimum safety. 

Prepare Fresh & Prepared dog food by simply portioning it out and serving it. For frozen food, you will need to thaw it in the refrigerator first, usually for a day or so. The great thing about premade Fresh & Prepared dog food is that you don’t have to do a thing to serve your dog a delicious meal that’s the next best thing to homemade. 

Fresh & Prepared dog food is not usually raw. Fresh & Prepared dog foods are typically cooked just like homemade food for humans. They are often less processed than dry or canned dog foods and preserved by freezing or refrigeration. Every formula is different, however, so read product descriptions and product packaging to learn more about how each food is processed.

Fresh & Prepared dog food is made using natural ingredients that are minimally processed and cooked—much like homemade human food. While brand processing procedures vary, most are steamed or cooked at lower temperatures and then frozen or refrigerated to eliminate the need for preservatives. 

Fresh & Prepared dog food can last 6 months or more once it’s delivered if it is frozen. Refrigerated Fresh & Prepared dog food may last up to three months unopened, but consult the product packaging for detailed storage instructions and expiration dates. Once you open your Fresh & Prepared dog food, it will usually need to be used within 7 days, however, you may be able to freeze unused portions for later use. You can eliminate the need to store lots of extra dog food by signing up for Autoship Fresh & Prepared dog food delivery from Chewy. You can get your deliveries as often as you need them, and adjust them anytime if your needs happen to change!