What Makes a Food Palatable?

The basic drivers of palatability in dogs are remarkably similar to those in people: meaty, fatty, salty, and sweet foods are all hits. But flavor is only part of the story. The macronutrient profile (more protein and fat are tasty!), texture and moisture content (chewable “meaty” pieces are preferred), aroma (the dog’s nose knows), and temperature (to bring out those pleasant aromas) all influence a dog’s willingness to eat.

Ingredients and Freshness

The quality and type of ingredients play a major role in food acceptance. Fresher, less processed ingredients retain more of the positive food traits that dogs love. At Freshpet, we use fresh muscle and organs meats rather than “meat meals” (dehydrated, defatted animal protein powers), “meat by-products” (a mixture of internal organs from different animals), or “digest” (rendered animal proteins that help add the flavor back into the processed “meat meals”). This commitment to fresh, minimally processed ingredients gives our recipes their rich flavor and aroma naturally.

Texture and Mealtime Enjoyment

Texture is another important element of palatability. “Freshpet has a unique texture that is meaty and delicious, which is why pets love eating it,” says Gerardo Pérez-Camargo, DVM, PhD, Freshpet Senior Vice President of Research & Development. We don’t dehydrate or alter the normal moisture content of the meats we use. Since our recipes are not overcooked in a can for long periods of time, the vegetables aren’t soggy as one might find in traditional “wet food” canned options, Dr. Pérez-Camargo says. And for those senior dogs or those with dental issues, the soft, moist texture of Freshpet foods can make eating easier and more enjoyable than dry kibble.

Testing for Taste

Once we feel confident that your companion dog will enjoy a fresh, meaty new Freshpet recipe, and before it reaches your store, it goes through a two-bowl palatability test. In this test, a group of lucky canine taste testers are each offered two foods, one control and one test recipe, in identical bowls at the same time. The position of each bowl is switched between meals at each of four consecutive feedings to avoid “side bias” (a tendency of some dogs to preferentially eat from one side over the other no matter the diet offered). Observers note which of the diets was approached first, how often, and how much of each recipe was eaten. These results provide valuable insights into flavor preferences and ensure only the most palatable, nutritionally complete recipes reach our pet parents.

Putting Palatability into Practice

While all commercial pet foods must meet the AAFCO nutrient standards, they are not created equal. The differences of ingredients and processing methods across brands produce a wide variety of textures, tastes, and aromas of pet foods. “For example, kibble might use protein meals, and other plant-based ingredients that have a very different aroma and taste than fresh foods that are meat-based,” explains Renan Antunes Donadelli, PhD, Product Development Scientist at Freshpet. (Meet the experts behind Freshpet’s pet food.) Understanding these differences, as well as what drives palatability for individual dogs, helps veterinary healthcare teams and caregivers find the right match for each individual dog.

For caregivers interested in home cooking, or for patients that refuse the more traditional dry and canned foods, it’s important to ensure that all essential nutrients are still being provided. Unfortunately, home-prepared diet recipes found in books or online are often incomplete and unbalanced. And even when a recipe starts out as complete and balanced, it is rarely made consistently from batch to batch and “diet drift” can happen, which leads to nutrient deficiencies and worse health outcomes over time.

Freshpet diets offer an excellent alternative to those that choose to home cook: they are complete and balanced, highly palatable, consistent batch to batch (with 20+ quality checks), and easy to serve (little to no meal prep required!). At Freshpet, we have received countless testimonials from veterinarians who have had great success with our foods as safe and healthy alternatives to home cooking. (See our testimonial video to listen to their stories)

Learn More

For more information about our recipes, including full nutrient profiles, please visit our website here or contact our team directly.

Fresh Takeaways:

1.   The basic drivers of palatability for dogs are protein, fat, salt, and sweet. Dogs also prefer foods that are meaty and fresh with a good aroma.

2.   Fresh, high-quality ingredients and gentle cooking techniques give Freshpet diets the meaty texture dogs love.

3.   Freshpet diets are a great alternative to home cooking, but without the hassle of daily meal preparation and with the assurance that all of our complete recipes are balanced for optimal canine nutrition.