How to Rehydrate Freeze-dried Raw Meals for Dogs & Cats

At Furchild, our Freeze-dried Raw Meals for Dogs and Cats are designed to deliver the benefits of fresh raw feeding in a more convenient, shelf-stable format. By gently removing moisture at low temperatures, freeze-drying helps preserve the natural nutrition, flavour, and texture of real raw ingredients.

One of the biggest advantages of freeze-dried feeding is flexibility. Meals can be served dry, lightly hydrated, or fully rehydrated, depending on your pet’s preference and feeding style.

However, hydration is recommended for optimal digestion, moisture intake, and palatability.

Why Rehydrating Freeze-Dried Raw Food Matters

Freeze-dried meals have had their moisture removed, so adding water or bone broth helps restore hydration back into the meal.

Many pet parents choose to rehydrate because it may help:

• Enhance flavour and aroma

• Improve palatability for picky eaters

• Support healthy hydration

• Create a softer texture for puppies, senior pets, or cats

• Bring the meal closer to a fresh raw feeding experience

For pets transitioning from fresh raw, canned food, or gently cooked diets, rehydration can also help make the texture feel more familiar.

How to Rehydrate Furchild Freeze-dried Meals for Dogs & Cats

Rehydrating your pet’s meal is simple.

Step 1: Portion the Meal

Measure the recommended amount of discs or nibbles according to your pet’s feeding guide.

Furchild Freeze-dried Meals are available in:

• Nibbles

• Discs

Each format can be fed as a complete and balanced meal, topper, or training reward depending on the product and serving amount.

Step 2: Add Warm Water or Bone Broth

Hydration is recommended by adding warm water or pet-safe bone broth at a 1:1 ratio.

This means:

• 1 part freeze-dried food

• 1 part liquid

Warm water is preferred over cold water because it helps soften the food more quickly and enhances aroma naturally.

Avoid boiling or extremely hot water, as excessive heat may impact delicate nutrients.

Suggested Hydration Guide for Pets

While every pet prefers a slightly different texture, here is a simple starting point:

Simply, it's a 1:1 ratio with warm water or bone broth.

You can always adjust the consistency depending on your pet’s preference.

Some pets enjoy lightly softened meals, while others prefer a fully hydrated, fresh-style texture. Cats can be especially particular with texture and moisture levels, so experiment and find a ratio that your pet enjoys.

How Long Should You Let It Soak?

Most Furchild Freeze-dried Meals absorb moisture quickly.

As a general guide:

• Light hydration: 1–3 minutes

• Softer texture: 5 minutes

Note, Nibbles usually soften faster than discs. And discs will hydrate faster if you break them into smaller pieces.

Can You Use Bone Broth for Rehydration?

Absolutely! Bone broth can:

• Increase flavour

• Encourage picky eaters

• Support hydration

• Add excitement to mealtime

Many Furchild pet parents enjoy using bone broth to create a richer, more aromatic feeding experience.

Always ensure any broth used is pet-safe and free from onion, garlic, or excessive salt.

Can Furchild Freeze-dried Meals Be Fed Dry?

Yes. Furchild Freeze-dried Meals can be fed dry as:

• a complete meal

• a topper

• a high-value reward

• a travel-friendly feeding option

However, hydration is still recommended whenever possible, especially for:

• cats

• pets with low thirst drive

• puppies

• senior pets

• pets transitioning from fresh raw meals

• summer months when the temperature is hot

Ensure fresh water is always available.

Feeding Tips for Picky Eaters

Some pets need a little encouragement when transitioning to freeze-dried feeding.

You can try:

• adding warm water instead of cold

• using bone broth or raw goat milk

• crumbling discs into smaller pieces

• mixing freeze-dried meals with their existing food

• serving meals at room temperature

Enhancing aroma often helps improve acceptance, especially for cats and selective eaters.

Storage & Handling

Once opened:

• Keep sealed in the original bag

• Store in a cool, dry place

• Best fed within 30 days for maximum freshness

Once rehydrated:

• Refrigerate leftovers immediately

• Use within 48 hours or discard

As with all raw feeding, wash bowls, utensils, and surfaces after handling meals.

Raw Nutrition. No Freezer Needed.

Furchild Freeze-dried Meals were created to make biologically appropriate raw feeding simpler for modern pet parents here in the UAE.

Whether you serve them dry on the go, lightly hydrated at home, or fully rehydrated into a fresh-style meal, you’re still feeding premium raw nutrition made with high-quality ingredients and gently preserved through freeze-drying.