Enhancing Your Dog's Diet: The Health Benefits of Supplementing Fresh Food
- Harlee Leineek
- 27 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Here’s something we care deeply about saying out loud:
“Fresh food doesn’t have to be all or nothing to be beneficial”
Not every family can afford a fresh food diet for their dog(s). Not having the funds to afford a full switch shouldn’t stop dogs from experiencing better nutrition. Research and veterinary consensus increasingly support what’s called a “mixed feeding” approach, where fresh food is added alongside existing diets.
Even replacing just 25% of a dog’s bowl with fresh food can make a meaningful difference.
Why 25% Fresh Still Helps?? When you add fresh food to a kibble-based diet, you’re not just adding calories – you’re changing the quality of the meal, and even partial fresh feeding can:
Increase moisture intake – supporting hydration and urinary health
Reduce the overall processing load of the diet
Add real, whole-food nutrients that are more bioavailable
Improve palatability – can help picky eaters or older dogs
Support digestion by introducing less processed ingredients
From a biological standpoint, the body doesn’t wait for perfection, it responds to improvement. If 100% fresh food shifts metabolism, hydration, and digestion, then 25% fresh food nudges those systems in a better direction too.
What the Science Tells Us (Without Overpromising)
While most controlled studies compare 100% fresh diets to 100% kibble, research consistently shows:
Moisture intake increases proportionally with wet or fresh food inclusion
Lower dietary processing reduces formation of compounds linked to aging
Nutrient density and digestibility improve as whole foods replace ultra-processed ingredients
That means every fresh bite matters, especially over a dog’s lifetime.
Veterinarians often recommend partial fresh feeding as a practical, sustainable way to improve diet quality without compromising affordability or balance.. Fresh Food is an Investment – Not a Luxury. At The Jersey Pawz, we believe improving a dog’s life should not be reserved for only those who can afford a full fresh diet. This is why we openly encourage:
Toppers
Partial meals
Fresh additions a few times a week
Because doing something is always better than doing nothing - and because love shows up in effort, not perfection.
A bowl that’s 75% kibble and 25% fresh is still:
more hydrating
less processed
more nourishing
more intentional
In the long-term, this adds up. Feeding with love looks different for every family. Fresh food is about care, intention, and giving dogs the best life we can - within our means. Whether you feed 100% fresh, 25% fresh, or just a scoop added on top you’re still choosing better, and that choice matters.
A Gentle Reminder
Any diet change, even partial, should be introduced gradually and thoughtfully. If your dog has health conditions or special dietary needs, your veterinarian can help you determine the best way to incorporate fresh food safely.
The Bottom Line
Fresh food isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about doing what you can, with love. If 25% fresh food helps a dog feel better, digest better, and live a little fuller life, then that’s a beautiful place to start. Our fur kids don’t need perfection, they just need us trying our best.
References
1. Li, Q. et al. A Fresh Diet Alters Metabolomic Profiles Associated with Healthy Aging in Senior Dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
2. Steiner, J.M. et al. Effect of Moisture-Rich Diets on Water Intake and Urinary Measures in Dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
3. Hoffman, A.R. et al. Dietary Influence on the Canine Skin Microbiome. Animals (MDPI).
4. Bermingham, E.N. et al. Dietary Processing and Canine Gut Microbiota. Journal of Animal Science.
5. Freeman, L.M. et al. Risks and Benefits of Alternative Diets for Dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).
6. Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.