Freezy Paws is an Australian brand that freeze dries single-ingredient raw meat, offal and seafood into treats suitable for both cats and dogs. The range runs from everyday chicken breast, necks and wings through to organ cuts like beef and lamb liver, seafood such as salmon bellies, whole sardines and green lipped mussels, and novel proteins including crocodile, kangaroo, venison and wild boar. The core lines are made in Australia in small batches with no preservatives, no fillers and no artificial colours or flavours.
Freeze drying is not the same as dehydrating. The meat is frozen and the water is drawn off under vacuum, so it is never cooked. The texture comes out light and brittle rather than chewy like jerky, which surprises some owners the first time. It also explains the pack sizes: freeze dried meat has shed most of its original weight as water, so an 80g bag holds far more actual meat than the number on the front suggests. Comparing these against fresh or semi-moist treats gram for gram is not comparing like with like.
A few things worth knowing before you choose:
- These are treats and toppers, not meals. Single-ingredient meat is not a balanced diet on its own, so feed it alongside a complete food rather than in place of one.
- Organ cuts are rich. Beef liver, lamb liver and the heart varieties are concentrated sources of vitamins and minerals, so a small amount goes a long way. Introduce them gradually if your pet has a sensitive stomach.
- Bone-in pieces are raw bone that has been freeze dried, not cooked bone. Chicken necks, wings, drumettes and whole quail should still be given under supervision, and the piece should suit the size of the animal eating it.
- Novel proteins have a purpose. Crocodile, kangaroo, venison and wild boar are useful when you are trying to work out whether chicken or beef sits behind an itch or an unsettled gut.
- Reseal the bag. Freeze dried meat pulls moisture back out of the air and goes soft. Kept sealed and dry it stays crisp; you can also crumble it over a meal or add a little warm water to rehydrate it.
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