Is nulo freeze dried dog food healthy for dogs? Learn about its nutritional benefits.

Alright, let's talk about this Nulo freeze-dried stuff I tried for my dog. My furry buddy, Buster, he's not exactly a puppy anymore, and sometimes he just looks at his regular kibble like, "Really? This again?" I wanted to find something to jazz up his meals, maybe add a bit more protein punch without switching his whole diet, you know?

So, I started looking into toppers and treats. Heard a lot about freeze-dried food being good quality, basically raw goodness but shelf-stable. Saw the Nulo brand pop up a few times, seemed to have decent ingredients, not a lot of filler junk. Decided to grab a bag – I think it was the duck recipe first.

Getting Started with It

When the bag arrived, I opened it up. First thing I noticed was the smell – it actually smelled like duck, not like cardboard or chemicals. That was a good sign. The pieces themselves were lightweight, kinda like little airy nuggets. Easy to crumble, which I liked.

My plan wasn't to use it as a full meal, mostly because that'd cost a fortune. I figured I'd use it as a meal mixer. The first night, I took a few pieces, maybe crumbled up half a dozen of them, and sprinkled them right over his usual kibble. Didn't add water or anything the first time, just used it dry.

Buster's Verdict

Well, Buster usually takes his sweet time investigating new things in his bowl. This time? He went straight for it. Sniffed around, picked out the Nulo bits first, chomped them down, and then finished his kibble. Okay, point Nulo. He definitely liked the taste.

Over the next few weeks, I kept using it as a topper. Sometimes I'd add a tiny splash of warm water to the freeze-dried pieces before mixing them in, just to see if he preferred it rehydrated. He ate it both ways, didn't seem to have a strong preference. The rehydrated stuff looked a bit more like actual meat, I guess.

What I Noticed

• Excitement for Meals: Buster definitely got more interested in mealtime again. Less sighing, more tail wags when the bowl came out.
• Digestion: No issues here. His poops stayed solid, no upset stomach or anything. That was important.
• Coat?: Hard to say definitively if it was just the Nulo, but his coat seemed maybe a little softer? Could be wishful thinking, but it certainly didn't get worse.
• Treat Potential: The pieces are great as high-value training treats too. Because they're so light and smelly (in a good way for dogs), they really got his attention.

Downsides and Realities

Let's be real, this stuff isn't cheap. Using it as a full meal replacement would break the bank for a dog Buster's size (he's about 50 lbs). So, as a topper or a special treat, it works. As a primary food source? Not practical for my wallet.

Storage is easy, though. It's shelf-stable, just gotta seal the bag properly after opening. Way easier than dealing with raw or frozen.

So, overall? Yeah, I liked it. More importantly, Buster liked it. It served its purpose – made his meals more appealing and gave me a healthy treat option. I've bought it again since, switching up the flavors sometimes. If you're looking for a way to boost your dog's current food or for some really motivating treats, I'd say give the Nulo freeze-dried a try based on my experience. Just manage your expectations on the cost if you plan to use a lot of it.