The One Air Dried Dog Food We Recommend

The shift toward healthier options in dog food is more than a hot trend–it’s a movement to help our dogs live longer, happier lives. One of those healthier options is air-dried dog food, but they aren’t all created the same way. Elevate Pet Provisions delivers exactly that for pet parents like me, who demand transparency and truth in what they feed their dogs.

I’ve worked in the pet industry for close to 20 years. In that time, my dogs have been offered hundreds of dog food samples. I’ve researched and been pitched by pet food brands who beg us to consider feeding their food. My Cocker Spaniels have sensitive stomachs, so I am extra cautious about what goes in their bowls.

I’ve been looking for a dog food and dog food topper to rotate with Sir Alvin’s current diet, which I will discuss momentarily. When Elevate Pet Provisions reached out to me about trying Alvin on their products, I happily accepted. Here’s our honest review of our experience with their air-dried dog food and topper. (with a bonus giveaway at the end)

Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I am also an Etsy and Chewy affiliate.

What Is Air-Dried Dog Food?

Air-dried dog food is everything that kibble is not. It is gently dried at low temperatures and is lightweight and shelf-stable. The moisture is removed but the nutritional content is retained, and it contains zero preservatives or additives.

The food is shelf stable, so you don’t have to refrigerate or freeze it. The air-drying process involves slowly removing moisture from the ingredients at low temperatures over a longer period of time. This method helps preserve the nutrients and flavors while inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

Unlike freeze-dried food, air-dried food has a softer texture that most dogs find more palatable and enjoyable. Of course, not all air-dried foods are made the same way.

Unlike dehydrated food, air drying exposes the food to a steady stream of warm air for a shorter period than dehydration. The moisture evaporates, resulting in drier, lighter food.

Who is Elevate Pet Provisions?

Elevate Pet Provisions (EPP) is an American company headquartered in Montana. They are the pet food brand in the Yellowstone Natural Holdings company. EPP owns the supply chain, including a state-of-the-art USDA-certified production facility in Lincoln, Montana.

EPP supports local producers and practices sustainability through its whole cow philosophy. This means that while their pet food is premium, it costs almost 62 percent less than other premium foods on the market. All the produce is organic and secured from local American farms.

Unlike other air-dried foods for dogs, EPP’s air drying process kills harmful bacteria while retaining 93 percent of essential nutrients and enzymes compared to raw. Some other things I like about Elevate Pet Provisions:

• Each batch of food is sent to a third-party lab for testing.
• They use no corn, soy, wheat, or artificial ingredients in their products.
• Their air-dried food is easier to digest, which is helpful for dogs with sensitive tummies.
• It is human-grade, so if I wanted to eat it, I could (and their founder has).
• It is rich in nutrients and free of any unnecessary ingredients.
• They are American-made and they own the supply chain.
• All ingredients are all grown in the United States by families practicing high standards of animal husbandry and sustainable farming practices.

By ‘owning the supply chain,’ they mean they own their own cattle or buy exclusively from small local ranchers in the Rocky Mountain West. From there, they own a processing facility, manufacturing facility, packaging equipment, and finally, a warehouse for shipping their products directly to pet parents or store shelves.

Why Am I Adding a New Food to My Dog’s Diet?

Now that my Cocker Spaniel is no longer a puppy, I have a few reasons for changing his diet up. These include:

• Preventing Food Sensitivities or Allergies: By rotating between different proteins or ingredients, this may minimize developing intolerances (which happened with my first Cocker Spaniel);
• Keeping Meals Interesting: I wouldn’t want to eat the same food day in, day out. Dogs are the same way. We know better, so we do better these days.
• Avoiding Picky Eating: Dogs who eat the same food over and over may become picky. Rotating food or introducing different flavors and textures may help.
• Digestive Health: To help improve my dog’s gut flora diversity and contribute to a healthy digestive system.
• Travel Solutions: For road trips, weekend adventures, and day excursions with our dog, I’d like to have an easy food to serve that isn’t kibble.

Our Test of Elevate Pet Provisions Air Dried Dog Food

Rather than slowly wean Alvin off his current food and replace it with Elevate, I sprinkled the Elevate Pet Provisions Dog Food Topper into his meals for a week.

He did incredibly well with it, no issues, poops were fine, and so we graduated to small replacement meals. In the morning, he ate EPP and for supper, he ate his other food.

You can serve the food as is or with a bit of (warm) water mixed it to bring the consistency back. I posted a thorough video on YouTube to show you, which you can view here: (click the image)

I have zero doubt that Alvin loves Elevate Pet Provisions air-dried dog food and that it is good for him.

What to Look For Dog Food That Is Air Dried

There are many brands of air-dried dog food on the market, but they are not all the same. This is what to look for when considering for air-dried food for your dog:

Ingredient Check: What are the ingredients and where are they sourced? Any animal by-products? Are ingredients human grade? Organic?

Healthy Fat Check: Do you see things like cod liver oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids on the label? DHA and EPA, which are omega-3s, offer many canine healthy benefits.

Reviews: What are other pet parents saying about the food online? Read reviews.

AAFCO: Does the food meet Association of American Feed Control standards?

Sensitive stomach formula? Is there a formula for dogs who need a sensitive version?

Elevate Pet Provisions Overall Verdict

We have incorporated Elevate Pet Provisions into Alvin’s regular diet. He receives the sensitive stomach formula in the mornings and gets the topper with his dinner later in the day.

We changed to the Sensitive Stomach formula because, after about a month, Alvin’s poops were a bit looser. EPP’s Sensitive Stomach air-dried food contains white rice and pumpkin, and that made a big difference in Alvin’s poop consistency.

Things We Love

Easy to serve, store, and travel with. It doesn’t get better than a 12-month shelf life, 60 days once opened, and easy to pack and travel with. We love EPP for road trips and vacations, too.

Nicely priced for a premium dog food. EPP is by no means a cheap dog food that you can purchase on a local supermarket shelf. It isn’t made for that purpose or placement. With premium food comes a price tag, but EPP is much more affordable than others.

My dog devours it. Sir Alvin now smells his bowl first before he eats. He wants to be sure I didn’t forget his Elevate or topper. I love making my dog happy.  

Even picky lovers enjoy it. I have talked to many pet parents who tried Elevate with their dogs on social media. The consensus seems to be even the pickiest eaters love it.

Availability. Elevate Pet Provisions air-dried food or toppers are available on Amazon, the Elevate Pet Provisions website, and a few retailers in the West.

Our veterinarian approved it. I showed Elevate Pet Provisions to Alvin’s veterinarian and she gave it thumbs up!

Things to Consider

One protein option (for now). Elevate Pet Provisions plans to bring chicken, chicken and beef, lamb, and other formulas to your dog’s bowl soon.

Premium food price point. Premium food tends to be pricier. I firmly believe a healthy gut leads to a healthy life. Sometimes, that costs more.

Caloric dense. One cup of EPP is 615.81 calories. I asked Elevate about this. They replied, “Because our premium dog food is air dried, it’s been reduced in size and weight by a factor of 70% through the air-drying process. Our process removes water weight and volume while maintaining 92% + of the raw nutrient quality. As a result, you feed roughly 1/3 of the volume amount you normally feed your canine friend with conventional kibble dog foods. Once you decide upon amounts to feed based on the chart below, you simply pour warm water over the food, give it a few minutes to rehydrate and then serve!”

Pro Tip: Discover your dog’s appropriate caloric intake with WSAVA.

Shelf life of opened bag. An unopened bag of EPP can last up to 12 months. Once opened, it is recommended to feed your dog the contents within 60 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Elevate Pet Provisions Giveaway CLOSED

The WINNER selected at random is Karen Blom. Congratulations!

Your dog is still a winner, however, as you can save 15% on your Elevate Pet Provisions order by using code FIDOSE at this link: https://www.elevatepet.com/FIDOSE

Elevate Pet Provisions is awarding one Fidose of Reality fan with box of goodness valued at over $200, some of which is pictured here:

How to Enter:

Follow the form below.

Of note: You must be 18 or older and reside in the USA. Read all rules and regulations. Randomly selected winner will be notified by email provided. Must respond in five business days or a backup winner will be drawn.

Giveaway closes October 2, 2024 at 11:59 am ET. Winner notified within 24 hours of giveaway closing.

One entry per person/email. Good luck!

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