Freshpet Select Dog Food Review 2024

Since launching in 2006, Freshpet has grown into a major player in the dog food game, with roughly one million pet parents serving Freshpet products to their pups. Freshpet focuses on producing pet food with high-quality, locally sourced, fresh ingredients. All meat, fruits, and vegetables used in Freshpet's foods are grown in the USA and delivered fresh daily to Freshpet's kitchens in Bethlehem, PA.

Freshpet Select is the company's core line, which includes a range of refrigerated rolled and roasted dog foods made with all-natural, fresh ingredients. Scroll down for an in-depth review of Freshpet Select Dog Food.

The Freshpet Select range features 17 flavor varieties, including ten rolled and seven bagged varieties catering to small dogs, large dogs, and dogs with sensitive stomachs. 

All Freshpet Select dog food recipes are "complete and balanced," meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for maintenance (adults), growth (puppies), or all life stages. 

Let’s take a closer look at each product range.

Grain-free recipes

Freshpet Select's grain-free recipes may be a good choice for dogs who are allergic to grains or need less protein in their diet. The first ingredient in both recipes is US-farm raised chicken. Potato, pea protein, and spinach, act as are excellent secondary protein sources. 

Freshpet Select grain-free recipes contain an average of 45.5% protein as dry matter, which is above average for fresh dog food. 

Here's a quick look at the top five ingredients in each food:

• Grain Free Chicken Recipe: Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, spinach, potatoes
  
• Roasted Meals Grain Free Chicken Recipe: Chicken, chicken liver, eggs, pea protein, pea fiber
  

Fresh from the Kitchen

At the time of writing, Freshpet Select Home Cooked Chicken Recipe is the first and only flavor in the Fresh from the Kitchen Range. 

This fresh food is packed with texture and color, with shredded chicken, cranberries, and carrots making up the first three ingredients. Cranberries are rich in antioxidants, while carrots contain beta-carotene, which produces vitamin A. Pea protein and pea fiber round out the top five ingredients. 

Freshpet Select Home Cooked Chicken Recipe contains 51.5% protein as dry matter, which is above average for a fresh dog food.

Roasted Meals range

Freshpet Select's Roasted Meals range includes two chicken recipes, one of which is grain-free. Both foods are high in animal protein — chicken and chicken liver are the first two ingredients.

The Roasted Meals Grain Free Chicken Recipe contains pea protein and pea fiber as grain alternatives. Ground oats are listed as the third ingredient in the grain-inclusive recipe, with rice bran and eggs rounding out the top five ingredients. Oats are a great fiber source and are rich in zinc, iron, and B vitamins. 

Freshpet Select's Roasted Meals contain an average of 42.4% protein as dry matter, which is slightly above average for fresh dog food. 

Multi-Protein range

The Freshpet Select Multi-Protein recipes contain multiple meat sources that provide a variety of health benefits. All Multi-Protein products include salmon, which is rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and coat health. 

All recipes list a quality meat source as the top ingredient. As they contain multiple meat sources, Freshpet Select Multi-Protein may not be suitable for pups with food allergies or sensitivities. 

Freshpet Select Multi-Protein recipes contain an average of 44.8% protein as dry matter, which is above average for fresh dog food. 

Here's a quick look at the flavors available in this range and the top five ingredients of each:

• Chicken, Beef, Egg & Salmon Recipe: Chicken, beef, beef broth, eggs, beef liver
  
• Complete Meal: Chicken, Beef, Egg & Salmon Recipe: Chicken, beef, beef liver, egg, ground oats
  
• Small Dog Multi-Protein with Sweet Potatoes: Chicken, eggs, beef, beef broth, sweet potatoes
  
• Big Bites Multi-Protein Recipe: Chicken, eggs, beef, salmon, beef liver

Freshpet Select foods for small dogs

Freshpet Select's small dog range is formulated to have the correct levels of protein and fat for small dogs. It's also made with smaller pieces to reduce the risk of choking and help with digestion.

Freshpet Select's small dog recipes contain an average of 42.7% protein on average, which is above average for a fresh dog food. 

Here's a quick look at the recipes in this range and their top five ingredients:

• Bite Size Chicken Recipe: Chicken, chicken liver, carrots, pea protein, eggs
  
• Bite Size Beef Recipe: Beef, chicken, beef liver, eggs, lentils
  
• Chicken & Turkey with Cranberries & Spinach: Chicken, turkey, cranberries, turkey broth, spinach
  
• Small Dog Multi-Protein with Sweet Potatoes: Chicken, eggs, beef, beef broth, sweet potatoes

Other Freshpet Select variations

In addition to the product ranges above, Freshpet Select also includes other standalone products, like the Freshpet Select Puppy Recipe and the sensitive stomach and skin formula.

The Freshpet Select rolled puppy food consists of chicken, carrots, and brown rice. Freshpet adds EPA and DHA fatty acids to its puppy recipe to help pups grow up healthy and strong.

The Sensitive Stomach & Skin: Steam Cooked Chicken Recipe is rich in fiber, containing chicken, pumpkin, and brown rice for easy digestion. Vitamin A and omega fatty acids are added to improve skin and coat health.

Freshpet Select Complete Nutrition is grain-inclusive rolled recipe designed to support digestion and marketed as being as close as possible to a homemade meal. 

Here's a quick look at the other products available in the Freshpet Select range:

• Freshpet Select Puppy Recipe
• Tender Chicken Recipe
• Chunky Beef Recipe
• Chunky Chicken and Turkey Recipe
• Sensitive Stomach & Skin: Steam Cooked Chicken Recipe
• Complete Nutrition Chicken Recipe with Wholesome Grains
  

Here are a few reasons why Freshpet Select might be the right choice for your mutt.

Recommended by our vet team (with one catch...)

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, member of Wag!’s licensed veterinary team, recommends Freshpet Select to her clients — but there's just one catch. "This food is very high in fat," says Dr. Jeremiah. So if your woofer needs to watch their weight, you may want to look elsewhere or feed smaller portions according to your vet's recommendations.

Despite the high fat content, Dr. Jeremiah says Freshpet's minimally processed foods "may be a good option for dogs with certain health conditions, such as food allergies or digestive issues."

No meat meal or fillers

One of the top reasons Wag! likes Freshpet Select is its dog foods contain no meat meal — all meat in Freshpet Select's recipes is all-natural and high-quality. A lack of fillers and meat meal means Freshpet Select may be better for dogs with sensitive stomachs than other dog food brands.

Steam-cooked

All Freshpet Select products are steam-cooked to retain as much nutritious goodness as possible. All foods are cooked to FDA and USDA standards and go through 20 quality and safety checks before shipping.

Locally sourced ingredients

Another reason we like Freshpet is for its transparency about where its ingredients are sourced. Freshpet states on its website that the brand sources all its vegetables, fruits, and meat from the USA. All Freshpet Select's food is refrigerated rather than canned or frozen, adding to its overall quality.

Now that we've covered some of the pros of Freshpet Select dog food, let's take a closer look at things to consider before purchasing.

Some controversial ingredients

The ingredients lists of many Freshpet Select dog foods include "natural flavors", which usually consists of low-quality ingredients used to enhance flavor. A lack of transparency about these natural flavors may concern some pet parents.

Freshpet Select dog foods also contain carrageenan, a thickening agent made from edible seaweed, which has caused controversy. Some studies suggest carrageenan is toxic to the digestive tract and can contribute to IBS and even colon cancer in dogs.

Sodium selenite is another controversial ingredient in Freshpet Select dog food. It's an essential mineral but is toxic in high doses and is potentially more harmful than other chemical forms of selenium.

More expensive than traditional kibble

Like most fresh and refrigerated pet foods made with high-quality ingredients, Freshpet Select dog food is pricier than other dog foods on the market.

Shorter shelf life than other dog foods

Because it's refrigerated, Freshpet Select has a shorter shelf life than most dog foods. Opened bags and rolls of Freshpet Select food will stay good for up to 7 days in the fridge.

"My dog has a very sensitive stomach. I chose Freshpet grain free and it's been amazing. To serve her fresh food every day and not have to cook it for her it's a real blessing. She eats it immediately and we never have tummy issues. She's a 15 pound Pomeranian so I get the package of grain-free chicken."

"My French bulldog, Leo, had environmental and food allergies that were leading to rashes and gastrointestinal issues for over a year. I researched raw food diets and decided to try him on your food. Since transitioning to your food, he hasn’t had problems with either. We even buy the turkey treats, he loves them! We are so grateful we found your product. Thank you!"

"I have been feeding my dog Freshpet chicken dog food for approximately six months. I have had a repeated 15 minutes situation where the food spoils within 24 hours of the bag being opened. Our latest experience is that this food has made our dog very very sick. I suggest know when use this product. We will never use it again."

Read more reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com.

Freshpet Select has been recalled twice in its history.

2021 recall

The brand's first recall was on June 13, 2021, due to potential salmonella contamination. The recall was explicitly for one batch of Freshpet Select Small Dog Bite Size Beef & Egg Recipe Dog Food with a sell-by date of 10/30/2021. The lot was due to be destroyed but was shipped to customers.

Pet parents were advised to stop feeding this food to their dogs immediately and contact Freshpet for a refund. There were no reports of illness or injury due to this recall.

2022 recall

Freshpet Select's second recall was on June 17, 2022, again for potential salmonella contamination. The recall was for a single batch of Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe (4.5-pound bag) with a sell-by date of 10/29/2022.

Pet parents with this product were advised to stop feeding it to their dogs and dispose of the food. They were also advised to contact Freshpet with the item's sell-by date and UPC code. There were no reports of illness as a result of this recall.

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Product images sourced from Amazon. Copyright freshpet.