Is freeze dried worth it?

I just went to their website and was shocked at the fat content... My boys have gallbladder and pancreatitis issues and need to keep their food fat content under 10.

Absolutely Rabbit

Ingredients - Rabbit with Ground Bone, Olive Oil, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Calorie Content - 4,860 kcal/kg (calculated); 70 kcal per patty

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 46.0%
Crude Fat (min) 32.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 5.0%

Chewy's Chicken

Ingredients - Chicken Ground with Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Monohydrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Calorie Content - 4,388 kcal/kg (calculated); 60 kcal per patty

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 42.0%
Crude Fat (min) 25.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 5.0%

Dandy Lamb

Ingredients - Lamb, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Liver, Lamb Bone, Lamb Heart, Lamb Kidney, Calcium Carbonate, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Monohydrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Calorie Content - 5,628 kcal/kg (calculated); 75 kcal per patty

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 37.0%
Crude Fat (min) 35.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 5.0%

Duck Duck Goose

Ingredients - Duck with Ground Bone, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Goose, Turkey Gizzard, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Monohydrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Calorie Content - 4,155 kcal/kg (calculated); 55 kcal per patty

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 40.0%
Crude Fat (min) 28.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 5.0%

Phenomenal Pheasant

Ingredients - African Pheasant With Ground Bone, Pheasant With Ground Bone, Pheasant Livers, Pheasant Gizzards, Olive Oil, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Calorie Content - 4,755 kcal/kg (calculated); 65 kcal per patty

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 45.0%
Crude Fat (min) 30.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 5.0%

Simply Venison

Ingredients - Venison, Venison Kidney, Venison Lung, Venison Bone, Olive Oil, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Calorie Content - 4,755 kcal/kg (calculated); 65 kcal per patty

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 45.0%
Crude Fat (min) 30.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 5.0%

Stella's Super Beef

Ingredients - Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Heart, Beef Tripe, Beef Bone, Calcium Carbonate, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Monohydrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Calorie Content - 5,292 kcal/kg (calculated); 70 kcal per patty

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 38.0%
Crude Fat (min) 30.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 5.0%

Surf 'N Turf

Ingredients - Beef, Whole Ground Salmon, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Turkey, Beef Bone, Turkey Liver, Calcium Carbonate, Pumpkin Seed, Potassium Chloride, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Sodium Phosphate Monobasic, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Apples, Organic Blueberries, Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Taurine, Tocopherols (Preservative), Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Monohydrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement

Calorie Content - 4,855 kcal/kg (calculated); 70 kcal per patty

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min) 38.0%
Crude Fat (min) 30.0%
Crude Fiber (max) 4.0%
Moisture (max) 5.0%

 

Notice that in all cases they are stating the minimum concentration. I do not think I have seen any state their maximum fat/protein content.

 

Very time appropriate thread for me personally and professionally. I've carried raw frozen. In my store for years. It's not for everyone, and definitely not for me.

I just brought in the full line if Stella And Cheweys. I'm not one to change up my dogs food.....it it ain't broke, don't fix, but I feel compelled that I should try it. But id love to be able to honestly recommend this pricier food, if it really is superior, which means, it guess trying it out.

For anyone feeding S&C, did you go all way? Or I you still mix with kibble and/or wet food?

 

Two months ago, I switched Zulu to Bravo Complete freeze dried. At first, I purchased one each of the trial bags, and very slowly mixed it with his kibble. Zulu is not a picky eater, and he had no issues eating both together. He is now on 100% Bravo, and he is doing great! He was 29.7 lbs when we started, and yesterday he weighed in at 26.5 lbs. Our target is 25 lbs, so he is looking good to reach the goal. Poops are better, coat is shiny, and by his excitement at feeding time, he loves it. It is expensive, but worth it. I do feel much better about what he is eating, and hopefully it will enhance his quality of life.

 

Reading this thread has peaked my interest a bit. How does freeze dried compare to raw in terms of safe handling issues? Both my immunologist and holistic vet have recommended against raw because I am immunocompromised. They both advocate raw in general and feed thier own dogs raw so I know they aren't against it ordinarily. Thier concern was about me and not Riley. So I do a mix of a holistic whole food kibble and home cooked diet. The cooking is a lot of work for me when I'm not well so Riley sometimes has to make do with kibble and added pumpkin for a few days between batches. The idea of just rehydrating is appealing in this regard. I wonder though how it compares to me handling a raw diet. Does anyone know?

 

Second question: if freeze dried is an option for us are any of the diets mentioned above free of potato and carrot (I asume they are free of Riley's other allergens: wheat and corn). I would also need a lower fat one as Riley has symptoms of chronic pancreatitis and feeding an appropriate diet for the condition helps tremendously with vomiting.