Best Fresh Food for Puppies (2026): Complete Guide & Comparison

A dog's future health is built during their first months of life. Diet plays a decisive role: unbalanced nutrition can lead to overweight, deficiencies, digestive troubles, or joint fragility.

More and more owners are therefore looking to offer their puppy a fresh, natural meal adapted to their growth. But how do you choose the best fresh food for a puppy? And above all, how do you avoid the most frequent mistakes that can compromise their health?

"At Pawy, we believe that every puppy deserves a solid start in life. That is why our recipes are prepared fresh, gently steam-cooked, and adapted to the growth of young dogs."

Why choose fresh food for a puppy?

Harmonious growth and development

A puppy grows fast. They need quality proteins, calcium, Omega 3, and digestible fibers. Fresh food provides a complete and natural diet, without excess additives.

Easier digestion (+90% digestibility)

Gently steam-cooked foods are 90% more digestible than industrial kibble. Result: less diarrhea, less bloating, and smaller, more regular stools.

Prevention of obesity and better longevity

Maintaining a puppy at their ideal weight is crucial: studies show that a dog that stays lean lives on average ~3 years longer than an overweight dog.

What criteria define the best fresh food for puppies?

Ingredient quality

• Lean meats (chicken, turkey, beef).

• Digestible vegetables (carrots, zucchini, sweet potato).

• Omega 3 (fish oil, flaxseeds).

Cooking method

Gentle steam cooking preserves nutrients and guarantees food safety, unlike kibble heated at very high temperatures.

Absence of preservatives

"At Pawy, zero artificial preservatives, zero colorants. We believe in the power of real pet food."

Portions adapted to growth

A Labrador puppy does not have the same needs as a Chihuahua puppy. Portions must be custom-calculated according to breed, weight, and age.

Comparison – Homemade Fresh Food vs. Delivered Fresh Food

Criterion	Homemade Food	Delivered Food (Pawy)
Nutritional Quality	Variable depending on owner's recipes	Validated by nutritionists
Balance	Risk of deficiencies (calcium, proteins)	Custom-calculated portions
Preparation Time	Long shopping + cooking	Ready to serve
Food Safety	Bacterial risk	Controlled steam cooking
Practicality	Restrictive	Flexible delivery, adapted portions

Why is Pawy considered the best fresh food for puppies?

✅ +90% digestibility.

✅ Zero artificial preservatives.

✅ 100% prepared fresh to order.

✅ Recipes designed for puppy growth.

✅ Local ingredients from responsible agriculture.

"We designed our meals so that every puppy benefits from a perfect balance of proteins, fibers, vitamins, and minerals essential for their growth." – Pawy

Comparison of the best fresh food options for puppies (2026)

Criterion	Pawy (Switzerland)	Homemade fresh food	"Puppy premium" Kibble	BARF (Raw feeding)
Digestibility	✅ +90% (gentle steam cooking)	Variable depending on recipe	❌ 60–70% on average	❌ High bacterial risk
Nutritional Balance	✅ Custom portions, validated by nutritionists	❌ Risk of frequent deficiencies	❌ Excess starch, low hydration	❌ Possible imbalances if poorly prepared
Food Safety	✅ Steam cooking = bacteria eliminated	❌ Depends on owner hygiene	✅ Controlled industrial process	❌ Sanitary risks (salmonella, parasites)
Palatability	✅ Tender texture and natural smell	Variable	❌ Dry kibble rarely attractive	✅ Very palatable but sometimes too rich
Ingredients	✅ Local, fresh, without preservatives	Depends on purchases	❌ Animal meals, additives	✅ Raw meat but not always traceable
Practicality	✅ Ready-to-serve delivery, adapted portions	❌ Long shopping + cooking	✅ Easy to store	❌ Restrictive, risk of errors
Long-term Health Impact	✅ Ideal weight, ~3 years life gained, protected joints	❌ Depends on owner rigor	❌ Overweight, digestive troubles	❌ Digestive/joint risks if unbalanced

"We designed Pawy so that no owner has to choose between practicality and health. Our meals are prepared fresh, steam-cooked, and delivered ready to serve." – Pawy

FAQ – Best Fresh Food for Puppies (2026)

Do I risk causing deficiencies if I switch my puppy to fresh food?

This is the biggest fear of owners. Yes, a poorly balanced homemade ration can cause deficiencies. But with Pawy, portions are calculated and validated by nutritionists → no risk of imbalance.

My puppy already digests kibble poorly, will fresh food worsen their diarrhea?

No ✅. Thanks to gentle steam cooking, Pawy meals are highly digestible. On the contrary, digestive troubles decrease in the majority of cases.

Is fresh food rich enough for my puppy's rapid growth?

Yes. Pawy includes lean meats, digestible vegetables, and Omega 3 to support the development of bones, muscles, and the brain.

How do I know if I am giving the right quantity to my puppy?

It is a legitimate concern: too much = overweight, not enough = deficiencies. 👉 Pawy automatically calculates portions according to breed, weight, and age.

What if my puppy refuses fresh food because they are used to kibble?

Very rare ✅. The tender texture and natural smell of fresh meals restore the desire to eat, even in picky puppies.

Is fresh food really safe for a puppy?

Yes. Unlike raw (BARF) which exposes to bacteria, Pawy fresh food is steam-cooked → food safety guaranteed.

Can I start fresh food from 2 months old?

Yes. The earlier you start, the more the puppy develops good eating habits.

What happens if I give too much fresh food to my puppy?

An overweight puppy develops joint and heart problems very early. Pawy adjusts portions to prevent these mistakes.

Is fresh food suitable for allergic or sensitive puppies?

Yes ✅. Pawy recipes avoid preservatives, additives, and irritating ingredients. 👉 See Fresh food for allergic dogs.

Is fresh food better than "premium puppy" kibble?

Yes. Kibble = starches, industrial cooking. Fresh = visible ingredients, digestible, rich in nutrients.

Will my puppy have long-term benefits with fresh food?

Yes. Better digestion, strengthened immunity, harmonious growth, and prolonged life expectancy.

Conclusion

Choosing the best fresh food for a puppy is a decisive decision for their future health. Pawy offers a natural diet, balanced and validated by experts, to accompany your puppy from their first months.