For years, feeding my dog Cloud used to be an afterthought - pour a scoop of kibble in the bowl and let him pick at it throughout the evening. However, two months ago, as Cloud started losing weight (and energy), I took a closer look at his diet,  and learned that Cloud probably wasn’t getting all of the nutrients he needed. That’s when I tried out the top three fresh dog food brands – Nom Nom, The Farmer’s Dog, and Ollie – and found Nom Nom to be the clear winner.

Over the past 8 weeks, the results have been nothing short of astounding. I was a skeptic when I started Nom Nom’s freshly made food – would I really see a difference in Cloud’s behavior or health just from his diet? I’m glad to have been proven wrong, and wanted to know why switching to Nom Nom has been so beneficial for Cloud. I enlisted the help of Certified Pet Nutritionist Jennifer Baird* to break it down.

Keep reading to learn exactly what I found out, and to decide if Nom Nom is right for your dog.

The Benefits of Nom Nom

Supports Gut Health

One of the quickest benefits we noticed after switching Cloud to Nom Nom was his gut health. I used to dread the sound of Cloud throwing up on our bedroom carpet at night or having to pick up messy loose stools on a walk. After about 3 weeks on Nom Nom, I haven’t had to worry about either.

Baird explains why switching to freshly made dog food can help support digestion: “Fresh food provides necessary moisture and nutrients to provide maximum support to organs and the digestive system.  She adds, “Dogs on overly processed foods frequently have weight gain (or loss), dental problems, and digestive issues.”  Sounded familiar to Cloud and me.

Once Baird explained the difference between fresh dog food and processed kibble or canned food, it seemed pretty obvious. Surviving on only McDonalds and Pop Tarts would probably wreak havoc on my gut – why was I forcing Cloud to eat that way every day?

Stamina and Energy

We adopted Cloud at just a year old – it feels crazy that he’s about to turn five in just three months. With middle age, Cloud’s started to lose some of his puppyish energy and playfulness in favor of something more reserved. My wife even remarked that he doesn’t play fetch with his favorite Yeti toy as much as he used to. We chalked all this up to normal aging – but could his diet actually have been the culprit?

Within two weeks of our switching to 100% Nom Nom, Cloud’s energy was back. Lunchtime fetch returned to our daily routine and I found myself chasing him around the house much more frequently. My Zoom chats might be a bit more hectic, but I’m certainly glad to see those energy levels return.

“Kibble is prepared in high heat, and very little natural nutrition exists in the bag,” Baird told me. “Kibble manufacturers use up to 60% fillers, food coloring, by-products, and chemical preservatives, all potentially toxic ingredients.”

“It’s no surprise,” she adds “that dogs on kibble often exhibit signs of premature aging.”

Baird contrasts the typical kibble manufacturing process with Nom Nom. “Slowly cooking each ingredient separately and then combining just before freezing” – how Nom Nom prepares food— ”is ideal for maximum nutritional availability and protects the ingredients’ quality.”

After my conversation with Baird, I looked Cloud square in the eyes and said “sorry” for ever feeding him anything else. I like to think his face kisses meant he accepted my apology.

Overall Health

The main reason I switched Cloud to Nom Nom was for his longevity. Cloud is truly part of our family and it won’t be the same without him – which is why I want to make sure he sticks around.

Even though there’s no chance I’ll ever feed Cloud kibble again, I was still morbidly curious to learn more about the manufacturing process. Baird was happy to oblige: “Animal protein in kibble is actually weighed wet, even though 70% of the water weight is cooked away before being stored in the bag dry.  That means that for most of kibble, animal protein is not actually the most prominent ingredient in the bag,” Baird told me. Instead, kibble bags are mostly low-quality filler ingredients with no nutritional value.

With freshly made food like Nom Nom, Baird adds, “Animal protein is the first ingredient because food remains naturally moist from preparation to serving.”

Nom Nom’s quality ingredients go beyond protein though. “Eggs provide a lot of biologically appropriate nutrients for amino acid and protein requirements,” while fresh vegetables are important “for immune system support and digestive health,” said Baird. Few kibble recipes include egg,  and any vegetable nutrition is destroyed with high temperature cooking.

As Baird explained that Nom Nom retains so many vital nutrients, I became even more confident that I’m making the best decision for Cloud’s health.

Should All Dog Owners Feed Fresh?

I’ve seen amazing benefits from just two months on Nom Nom, but I wanted to know if all dog owners should make the switch. “Yes,” Baird said. “Once a puppy is weaned [from their mother’s milk], they’re ready to begin eating fresh foods.”

In particular, dogs who are experiencing low energy or other symptoms of illness can benefit. “Sickly dogs are often on a lower quality diet and would benefit by switching to a fresh food diet,” Baird said.  Just one caveat: “If a dog is in end stage illness, seek a veterinarian for advice before switching any foods,” advised Baird.

Baird recommended a gradual introduction of Nom Nom to your dog’s current diet: “Start with 25% new food, and 75% current food for several days.  If no digestive upsets, switch to 50%/50% for several days.  Increase to 75% new food then 100% new food as long as no digestive upsets.”

Baird also cautioned against pet owners cooking for their dogs at home, noting that Nom Nom is professionally balanced and portioned to meet your dog’s nutritional needs by veterinary nutritionists. “It is common for pet parents to omit important nutrients or even over feed nutrients which can create deficiencies or overdosing.”

How Does Nom Nom Compare to Other Fresh Food?

By the end of our conversation, I was confident that fresh dog food was the right choice for Cloud. But what about opting for Nom Nom over other brands like The Farmer’s Dog and Ollie?

Baird confirmed my decision, saying that both The Farmer’s Dog and Ollie process their ingredients to an almost-puree—which can be harmful to the nutritional content. “Damage to ingredients and more loss of nutrients happens when food is cooked too long, mixed too much, or processed too finely,” she says.

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It’s Time to Make the Switch

Whether you’ve been feeding your dog highly-processed kibble or canned food, freeze-dried raw food, or other brands of fresh, consider making the switch to Nom Nom. After consulting with Baird, I’m even more confident that Nom Nom is the right choice for most dogs. It provides a balanced, nutritionally-dense diet and a host of benefits from healthy digestion to lots of energy.

The conversation with Certified Pet Nutritionist Jennifer Baird confirmed what I had seen in Cloud’s behavior and my decision to make Nom Nom Cloud’s permanent diet.

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^{*Certified Pet Nutritionist Jennifer Baird is not directly affiliated with Nom Nom}