Cold Pressed Dog Food: What It Is and Why It’s Not Just Another Kibble
, by Georgia Huyton, 4 min reading time
Cold Pressed Dog Food: What It Is and Why It’s Not Just Another Kibble
Clean feeding made simple – no freezer needed.
If you’re trying to feed your dog a natural diet but raw just isn’t working for your lifestyle, cold-pressed food might be the solution you didn’t know existed.
It looks like kibble. It stores like kibble. But it’s not kibble.
Let’s break down what cold-pressed food actually is, how it’s made, and why it’s one of the best dry alternatives to raw.
❄️ What Is Cold Pressed Dog Food?
Cold pressed food is made by gently pressing raw ingredients together at low temperatures (usually under 50–60°C). This process locks ingredients into small pellets without the extreme heat used in traditional kibble.
The result?
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Nutrients stay intact
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Ingredients aren’t denatured or burnt
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The food breaks down easily in your dog’s stomach
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No heavy processing, no junk fillers
It’s dry food, but not dead food.
🔥 How It Differs From Kibble
Here’s the problem with most kibble: it’s made using a method called extrusion. This involves blasting ingredients at high heat and pressure — often around 120–150°C — to form uniform biscuits.
That heat destroys natural nutrients, changes proteins, and usually requires the use of fillers, preservatives, and coatings just to make the food palatable again.
Cold pressed doesn’t do any of that.
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No extrusion
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No artificial flavours or meat digest sprays
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No greasy coating
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No starchy, sticky mess in the gut
It’s cleaner, simpler, and far more natural.
🌱 What Makes a Good Cold Pressed Food?
Not all cold-pressed foods are equal. Some companies still sneak in bulkers like rice or maize and add vague animal by-products.
When choosing a cold pressed food, look for:
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High meat content (not “animal derivatives”)
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Named proteins (e.g. chicken, beef, white fish)
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No grains, glycerine, or beet pulp
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Cold-pressed at low temperatures — not steam blasted
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Clear, honest labelling
✅ Our Top Pick: Wild Cold Pressed
We stock Wild Cold Pressed because it ticks all the boxes:
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Based on the raw 80:20 model
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Grain-free, no fillers, no nasties
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Full of natural superfoods
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Breaks down in the stomach in just 15 minutes
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Rehydrates easily with warm water or bone broth
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Great for fussy eaters or older dogs
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Works as a complete meal or topper
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Rated 89% on All About Dog Food (AADF) — the highest-rated cold pressed food in the UK
Even better, the 6kg and 10kg bags qualify for free UK delivery.
🦴 Tips for Feeding Cold Pressed
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You can feed it dry, but rehydrating it with warm water or bone broth makes it even better — especially for sensitive dogs
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It makes a brilliant travel-friendly raw alternative
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If your dog eats too fast, it works well in slow feeders and puzzle toys
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Cold pressed food is dense — feed less by volume than you would kibble
🧠 Final Word: Not All Dry Food Is Rubbish
Cold-pressed food is dry — but it’s not the same old processed junk. It’s a smart, clean alternative for anyone who wants to feed naturally without needing a chest freezer and a meal-prep schedule.
It’s the middle ground between raw and rubbish — and for a lot of dogs, it’s the sweet spot.
👉 Got questions about how to switch or whether Wild is right for your dog? Message us — we’re happy to help you find a setup that works.