The Loved by Loyal Saints Blog comparison

Freeze-Dried vs. Kibble: Which Is Better for Dogs?

2 min read By Loyal Saints
🐾 Shop the food behind this article

Loyal Saints is woman-owned, 100% freeze-dried raw — complete nutrition from whole food, no fillers, no synthetic premix. Find the right formula for your dog in 60 seconds.

If you've ever stood in the pet-food aisle wondering whether kibble is really good enough for your dog, you're not alone. Here's an honest comparison of freeze-dried raw versus traditional kibble—so you can decide what's best for your dog.

How they're made

Kibble is cooked at very high temperatures (extrusion), which can destroy delicate nutrients and enzymes and often requires synthetic additives to put nutrition back in. Freeze-drying simply removes moisture at low temperatures—no high heat, no irradiation—so the proteins, enzymes, and nutrients in real food stay intact.

Nutrition & digestibility

  • Freeze-dried raw: whole-food ingredients, highly bioavailable protein, easy to digest—often meaning smaller stools and less gas.
  • Kibble: frequently built on corn, wheat, soy, and grain fillers, with lower digestibility and more processing.

Ingredients that matter

Loyal Saints is made with human-grade meat and whole-food ingredients—no corn, no soy, no wheat, no GMOs, no artificial preservatives—and it's AAFCO complete and balanced. Many kibbles can't say the same.

Convenience

Here's the best part: freeze-dried gives you the benefits of raw without the freezer, thawing, or mess. It's shelf-stable for up to 24 months. Just open the bag, pour, add a little warm water, and serve.

Freeze-Dried (Loyal Saints) Kibble
Nutrients preserved Yes Often heat-destroyed
Fillers (corn/soy/wheat) None Common
Digestibility High Lower
Shelf-stable Yes (up to 24 mo) Yes
Refrigeration Not needed Not needed

Curious about the science? Read Why Freeze-Dried? and see how easy it is to make the switch.

Frequently asked questions

Is freeze-dried dog food better than kibble?

For most dogs, yes—freeze-dried raw preserves more nutrition, uses whole-food ingredients, and is more digestible than highly processed kibble.

Is freeze-dried more expensive than kibble?

Per bag it can cost more, but it's nutrient-dense and can be used as a topper. Many dog parents start small and see results that make it worth it.

Can I mix freeze-dried with kibble?

Yes. Using Loyal Saints as a topper over kibble is a great, budget-friendly way to upgrade your dog's bowl.

Upgrade her bowl today. Use code KING40 for 40% off your first order. Shop all formulas →

More from the Loyal Saints blog

Live Longer Together

At Loyal Saints, we believe clean, whole-food nutrition is the foundation of more healthy years together. Every formula is freeze-dried raw, complete and balanced, and made with human-grade ingredients — no fillers, no synthetic premix. It's the food a dog mom built to heal her own dog, King.

Not sure which formula is right?

Take the 60-second feeding quiz

Answer a few questions about your dog and get a personalized formula recommendation — built around their breed, age, and needs.

Find Your Dog's Formula →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is freeze-dried raw better than kibble?

Freeze-dried raw uses no heat, preserving enzymes, heat-sensitive vitamins, and protein bioavailability that high-heat kibble extrusion degrades. It's also free of fillers and synthetic premixes. Kibble is cheaper per day; freeze-dried raw is the less-processed, more bioavailable choice.

What makes Loyal Saints different from other brands?

Loyal Saints is a 100% freeze-dried raw specialist that achieves AAFCO completeness through whole foods — no synthetic vitamin premix — and is woman-owned, founded on a real dog's transformation. Every product is a complete, balanced meal.

How much does Loyal Saints cost per day?

About $2–3 per day for a medium 35-lb dog — less than fresh-delivery brands like The Farmer's Dog ($5–8/day) and Ollie ($4–7/day), and even lower with the Halo Club.

Real food. Real proof. ~$2–3/day.

Complete, balanced freeze-dried raw — no fillers, no synthetic premix. Start with the Halo Club, 20% off every order.

Loyal Saints

The Loyal Saints team is passionate about canine nutrition, real food, and helping dog parents make the best choices for their pups.

Reviewed against the Loyal Saints nutrition standard — founded by Kristina Voltin, who created our freeze-dried raw food to heal her own dog, King. Meet the founder →

Share this article
Ready to make the switch?

Ready to Feed Real Food?

Human-grade. Freeze-dried raw. No soy, no corn, no GMOs. AAFCO-complete. Made in the USA.