We Feed Raw vs. Dr. Marty’s: Which Is the Best Raw Diet for Your Dog?

We Feed Raw and Dr. Marty’s both offer high-quality, shelf-stable, freeze-dried convenience, but We Feed Raw is the best choice for owners seeking a more meat-dense, legume-free diet.

While Dr. Marty’s utilizes a produce-heavy blend that includes seeds and pea protein, We Feed Raw provides a superior answer for safety-conscious owners by using high-pressure processing (HPP) on all of its recipes.

When deciding on the best raw dog food for your pet, selecting a brand that avoids plant-based protein isolates is key for long-term health.

What Is the Difference Between We Feed Raw and Dr. Marty’s?

The primary distinction between these two brands lies in the variety of food forms and the nutritional ratios they offer:

• •We Feed Raw provides a versatile range of products that includes frozen patties for dogs of all life stages and freeze-dried options for adult dogs.

• •Dr. Marty’s is strictly a freeze-dried raw food company, meaning all their meals are shelf-stable and do not require freezer space or thawing.

When choosing between them, you must consider your storage capacity and how much time you want to spend on meal preparation.

Frozen raw food is often considered the "gold standard" for moisture content, which is vital for kidney health. However, freeze-dried food offers unparalleled convenience for travel or for pet parents who prefer a shelf-stable alternative to the freezer.

Does We Feed Raw Offer Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food?

Yes, We Feed Raw offers a premium line of freeze-dried raw dog food designed specifically for adult dogs. This often comes as a surprise to those who only know us for our frozen subscription service.

Our freeze-dried recipes use the same high-quality, USDA-certified meats as our frozen line, but are processed to remove moisture while preserving nutrients.

This option is perfect for owners who want the nutritional power of raw food without the need to thaw patties daily. It can be served dry, but some pet parents choose to rehydrate it with a bit of warm water or bone broth to increase their dog’s hydration levels.

Is Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Blend Shelf-Stable?

Yes, Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Blend is a completely shelf-stable, freeze-dried raw food. Because the moisture has been removed through a gentle freeze-drying process, the food can be stored in your pantry for months without spoiling.

This eliminates the need for bulky freezer storage, making it a popular choice for people living in apartments or those who travel frequently with their pets.

Because it is shelf-stable, it is also very lightweight. This makes it easy to portion out and serve at a moment’s notice. Like We Feed Raw’s freeze-dried line, it can be served as a complete meal or used as a high-value topper for picky eaters who need a boost of real meat flavor.

Which Brand Has Better Nutritional Ratios for Your Dog?

Nutritional ratios are where these two brands truly diverge:

• •We Feed Raw offers two distinct nutritional profiles depending on the product line you choose.

• •Dr. Marty’s uses a single philosophy across its Nature’s Blend recipes.

Understanding these differences is key to ensuring your dog gets the right balance of protein, fat, and fiber.

It is important to note that dogs are facultative carnivores. While they can digest plant matter, their bodies are primarily designed to process animal-based proteins and fats.

The closer a food stays to an "ancestral" ratio, the more bioavailable the nutrients usually are for the dog.

Why Is the 80/10/10 Ancestral Ratio Important?

The 80/10/10 ratio used in We Feed Raw’s frozen patties consists of approximately 80% muscle meat, 10% secreting organs, and 10% finely ground bone. This specific ratio is designed to mimic what a canine would eat in the wild.

By focusing almost entirely on animal components, this diet provides the precise levels of calcium, phosphorus, and taurine that dogs need for heart and bone health.

This ratio is particularly beneficial for dogs with weight issues or severe grain sensitivities.

Since there are no added vegetables or starches in the frozen patties, the glycemic load is virtually zero. This helps maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevents the insulin spikes that lead to fat storage.

Does Dr. Marty’s Use Plant-Based Fillers or Fruits and Vegetables?

Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Blend includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, spinach, and carrots.

While these are not "fillers" in the traditional sense like corn or wheat, they do add fiber and plant-based antioxidants to the diet. For owners who prefer a "whole food" approach that includes produce, this is an appealing feature.

In comparison, We Feed Raw’s freeze-dried line follows a similar path but with a specific focus on quality.

The We Feed Raw freeze-dried recipes contain 85% muscle meat and organ meat, with the remaining 15% consisting of non-GMO fruits and vegetables. This provides a balance of high-protein density with the added benefit of plant-based phytonutrients.

Is Freeze-Dried Raw Safer Than Frozen Raw Food?

Safety is a common concern for pet parents exploring raw diets, but both freeze-dried and frozen raw foods are incredibly safe when handled correctly.

The freeze-drying process itself acts as a preservation method, while frozen food relies on temperature and specific safety protocols to remain pathogen-free.

The risk of Salmonella and E. coli is something that every reputable raw food company takes seriously. Modern technology has allowed these brands to provide a raw product that is just as safe for your kitchen as the meat you buy for your own dinner.

Does We Feed Raw Use a Kill Step for Safety?

We Feed Raw utilizes a cold-water pasteurization step known as high-pressure processing (HPP) for all of its recipes. This process uses extreme water pressure to neutralize harmful bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli without using heat.

Because no heat is involved, the food remains raw, and the delicate enzymes and vitamins stay fully intact.

This is a critical distinction because it provides the safety of a "cooked" product without the nutritional degradation that comes with high temperatures. Every batch is tested to ensure it meets strict safety standards before it ever reaches your doorstep.

How Does Dr. Marty’s Handle Salmonella and E. coli Risks?

Dr. Marty’s relies on the freeze-drying process and rigorous ingredient sourcing to manage the risk of pathogens. By removing the moisture from the food, they create an environment where bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli struggle to survive or replicate.

They also perform quality checks on their ingredients to ensure they meet high safety standards. While they do not use the same high-pressure processing method as We Feed Raw, their freeze-drying standards are designed to provide a safe, shelf-stable product that owners can feel confident serving.

Which Food Is Better for Picky Eaters and Allergies?

Both brands excel at enticing picky eaters because the smell and taste of real raw meat are much more appealing to dogs than the scorched flavor of kibble. However, for dogs with severe allergies, the ingredient list becomes the most important factor.

If your dog has "itchy skin" or chronic ear infections, they may be reacting to specific plant-based ingredients or the high starch content in processed foods. In these cases, a simpler, meat-focused ingredient list is usually the best path to relief.

Why Is a Zero-Carb Diet Best for Itchy Skin and Weight Loss?

A zero-carb diet, like the one found in We Feed Raw’s frozen patties, is often the most effective solution for dogs struggling with yeast-based allergies and obesity.

Yeast thrives on sugar, and since carbohydrates break down into sugar, a high-carb diet can fuel the very inflammation that makes a dog itchy.

By removing all fruits, vegetables, and starches, you deprive yeast of its fuel source. This often leads to a drastic reduction in skin redness and scratching. In fact, studies show that puppies fed a raw diet are less likely to develop skin allergies as adults.

Furthermore, a high-protein, zero-carb diet helps dogs maintain lean muscle mass while burning body fat, making it the ideal choice for weight management.

Comparing the Cost of We Feed Raw and Dr. Marty’s

When looking at the cost, it is essential to look at the price per calorie rather than just the price per bag.

Because raw food is so nutrient-dense, you generally feed much less of it than you would a traditional kibble. However, freeze-dried food can be more expensive than frozen raw food because of the additional processing involved.

Dr. Marty’s is often noted for being on the higher end of the price spectrum, especially for larger dogs. We Feed Raw’s subscription model for frozen food typically offers a more economical way to feed a large breed, as the bulk shipping and frozen format reduce the cost per pound.

Is We Feed Raw More Cost-Effective for Large Dogs?

We Feed Raw is generally more cost-effective for large dogs because the frozen patties are sold in larger quantities and have a higher caloric density.

Feeding a 70-pound German Shepherd exclusively on freeze-dried nuggets from Dr. Marty’s can quickly become prohibitively expensive for the average household.

By using a subscription service, you can lower the daily cost of feeding a large dog. Many owners also choose to use We Feed Raw as a topper to make their budget go further while still providing the immense health benefits of raw nutrition.

Final Verdict: Should You Choose We Feed Raw or Dr. Marty’s?

The final verdict depends on your dog’s specific health goals and your lifestyle preferences.

Both brands offer a superior alternative to kibble, but they serve different roles in the pet health landscape.

Choose We Feed Raw if:

• •You want the most ancestral, zero-carb diet possible (frozen patties).

• •You have a large dog and need a more cost-effective way to feed raw.

• •You want a brand that uses high-pressure processing for maximum safety.

• •You want the choice between frozen 80/10/10 ratios and produce-inclusive freeze-dried recipes.

Choose Dr. Marty’s if:

• •You want to feed a freeze-dried raw diet, and you have a puppy.

• •You prefer a diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables in every bite.

Frequently Asked Questions About We Feed Raw and Dr. Marty’s

Does We Feed Raw have a freeze-dried option?

Yes, We Feed Raw offers a freeze-dried line specifically for adult dogs. It contains 85% meat and organs and 15% non-GMO produce, providing a convenient, shelf-stable way to feed raw.

Is Dr. Marty’s dog food actually raw?

Yes, Dr. Marty’s is raw food that has been freeze-dried. Because it is not exposed to high heat, the proteins and enzymes remain in a raw state, though the moisture has been removed.

Do you have to rehydrate Dr. Marty’s dog food?

You do not have to rehydrate it, but it is highly recommended. Adding water helps with your dog’s digestion and ensures they stay properly hydrated, which is important when feeding a dry, freeze-dried product.

Is We Feed Raw safer than Dr. Marty’s?

Both brands are safe, but We Feed Raw utilizes high-pressure processing, which is a scientifically validated kill step for pathogens. This provides an additional layer of safety that many pet parents appreciate.

Which brand is better for German Shepherds and other large breeds?

We Feed Raw is generally better for large breeds because the frozen subscription model is more affordable for high-volume feeding. Additionally, the zero-carb frozen patties help large breeds maintain the lean weight necessary to protect their joints.