How Much Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food to Feed (and Why Less Is Enough)
by The Get Joy Food Team ・ 19 min readLast Updated: July 7, 2026 · Reviewed against Get Joy nutrient profiles & published canine digestibility research · See our vet & nutrition experts
Switching to Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw? One of the first things you'll notice is that the serving looks small — a light, airy scoop instead of a heaping bowl. That can feel counterintuitive: is that really enough? Here's exactly how much to feed by your dog's weight, how to serve it (dry or rehydrated), and the food science behind why a smaller amount does the job.
🔧 Quick feeding guide
As a full meal, Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw starts at about 1/2–1 cup/day for dogs up to 10 lb, 1–2 cups for 10–25 lb, 2–3.5 cups for 25–50 lb, 3.5–5 cups for 50–75 lb, and 5+ cups for dogs over 75 lb. Feeding it as a topper? Use about half. Serve dry or add water/bone broth. Always adjust to your dog's activity and ideal body condition.
How Much Freeze Dried Raw to Feed (by Dog Weight)
Use this as a daily starting point for a full meal, then fine-tune to your dog's activity level and ideal weight.
| Dog weight | Daily amount (full meal) | As a topper (about half) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 lb | 1/2 – 1 cup | ~1/4 – 1/2 cup |
| 10 – 25 lb | 1 – 2 cups | ~1/2 – 1 cup |
| 25 – 50 lb | 2 – 3.5 cups | ~1 – 1.75 cups |
| 50 – 75 lb | 3.5 – 5 cups | ~1.75 – 2.5 cups |
| 75+ lb | 5+ cups | ~2.5+ cups |
Starting points only. Puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, and very active or working dogs typically need more; less-active or overweight dogs need less. Your vet can help set a precise calorie target.
🐾 Key Takeaways
- Feed to calories and body condition, not bowl volume. The scoop looks small because the food is concentrated — use the weight-based guide as a starting point.
- The water is gone. Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw is about 5% moisture and roughly 4,000+ kcal/kg, versus a fresh, high-moisture meal at ~1,500–1,600.
- More of each bite may be used. Research finds fresh and raw diets tend to be more digestible than extruded kibble — and produce roughly 30% less stool.
- No fillers. Get Joy is whole-food nutrition with no fillers, by-products, or seed oils — so you're not feeding extra volume just to hit the numbers.
Table of Contents
- How much to feed (by dog weight)
- Do you add water to freeze dried dog food?
- Meal vs. topper: how to feed
- Why the serving is smaller (the science)
- Why the bag lasts longer than it looks
- How to tell if the serving size is right
- Is smaller stool normal on freeze dried raw?
- Handling freeze dried raw safely
- What about other freeze dried raw brands?
- How to feed freeze dried raw, step by step
- Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Add Water to Freeze Dried Dog Food?
You can serve Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw dry or rehydrated — both are fine. Many dogs happily crunch it straight from the scoop; others love it softened. Rehydrating adds moisture and brings out the aroma, which can help picky eaters and dogs who don't drink much water.
To rehydrate: add a splash of warm water or bone broth (start with roughly equal parts food and liquid), let it soften for a few minutes, then serve. Refrigerate any rehydrated leftovers and use them within a day, and always keep fresh drinking water available. Because freeze dried raw expands as it takes water back on, a modest dry scoop becomes a fuller bowl once it's rehydrated.
Meal vs. Topper: How to Feed
Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw works as a complete meal or as a gut-first upgrade over your dog's current food. Here's how to choose:
| Use case | How to feed | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Full meal | Use the full weight-based daily amount | Switching fully to freeze dried raw |
| Topper / mix-in | Use about half the daily amount over current food | Upgrading kibble or fresh meals, or an easy first step |
| Rehydrated | Add warm water or bone broth before serving | Picky eaters, extra hydration, softer texture |
| Dry | Serve as-is with fresh water available | Convenience, travel, easy scooping |
The meal is the front door; the topper is the lower-commitment way in. Either way, your dog gets the same whole-food nutrition and built-in Belly Biotics™.
Why the Serving Is Smaller (The Science)
"Feed less" isn't a gimmick — it comes down to three things: the water is gone, more of each bite may be used, and there are no fillers taking up space.
1. The water is gone (calorie density)
Fresh and raw ingredients are mostly water — often 65–75% by weight. Freeze drying gently removes almost all of it at low temperature, leaving a light, shelf-stable food that's packed with nutrition per gram. The nutrition stays; the water leaves.
| Format | Typical moisture | Calorie density (as fed) | What it means for the bowl |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional kibble | ~10% | ~350–450 kcal per cup | Often bulked out with starchy ingredients |
| Fresh / gently cooked | ~65–75% | ~1,500–1,600 kcal/kg | Larger portions by weight (mostly water) |
| Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw | ~5% | ~4,081 kcal/kg (Beef) | Small, light, concentrated — water removed, nutrition kept |
Get Joy figures from published nutrient profiles (Freeze Dried Raw Beef: 4,081 kcal/kg, 5.0% moisture; Fresh recipes ~1,500–1,619 kcal/kg). Kibble ranges are category averages.
2. A higher share of each bite may be used (digestibility)
Calorie density is only half the story. The other half is how much of the food a dog's body can actually use. Published digestibility research comparing fresh and raw diets to extruded kibble has found higher nutrient digestibility for the fresh/raw side — and notably less waste coming out the other end.
| Measure | Extruded kibble | Fresh / raw diets |
|---|---|---|
| Dry-matter digestibility | ~78–82% | ~85–88% |
| Fat digestibility | ~81–85% | ~91–93% |
| Stool volume | Baseline | ~30% less |
Ranges from apparent-total-tract digestibility studies comparing commercial fresh and extruded diets (see research note below). Findings describe diet categories, not guarantees for an individual dog.
When more of a serving is digested and used, less passes through as stool — which is the practical meaning of "you feed less." Get Joy is built to support this: recipes are gently freeze dried at a maximum product temperature around 125°F (versus the 150–160°F typical of high-heat processing), supporting about 97% nutrient retention, and reach 95%+ starch gelatinization — a texture-science measure associated with easier digestion.
3. No fillers taking up space
Some conventional foods use ingredients that add bulk without the same nutrient density — which can mean feeding more volume to hit your dog's protein, fat, and micronutrient targets. Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw takes the opposite approach: 100% USDA-sourced meat and organs plus whole foods, with no fillers, by-products, or seed oils. The beef recipe runs about 38% protein and 24% fat (as fed). When nearly everything in the scoop is doing a job, you don't need as much of it.
Why the Bag Lasts Longer Than It Looks
A bag of freeze dried raw can look small for the price — until you remember what's not in it: water. Roughly 1 lb of freeze dried raw equals about 4 lbs of fresh food once you account for the moisture that's been removed. Combined with higher digestibility and no fillers, that's why servings are modest and a bag stretches further than its weight suggests. The fairest way to compare foods isn't bowl volume or bag weight — it's calories and servings per bag.
How to Tell If the Serving Size Is Right
The chart is a starting point; your dog is the real guide. Signs the amount is dialed in:
- They're holding a healthy, stable weight with a visible waist and ribs you can feel but not see.
- Energy is steady through the day.
- Stools are smaller but well-formed.
- Skin and coat look healthy.
Adjust up for high-activity or working dogs, puppies, and pregnant or nursing dogs, or if your dog is losing weight. Adjust down for lower-activity dogs or if weight is creeping up. For any medical condition, check with your veterinarian.
Is Smaller Stool Normal on Freeze Dried Raw?
Yes — smaller, firmer stools are a common and welcome sign that more of the food is being digested and used. What's not a normal "transition sign": persistent diarrhea, straining, blood in the stool, vomiting, lethargy, or appetite changes. If you see any of those, slow the transition down and contact your vet if it continues.
Handling Freeze Dried Raw Safely
Freeze dried raw is shelf-stable and much easier to handle than fresh or frozen raw. Get Joy uses a gentle, low-temperature process plus a natural, FDA-approved competitive-inhibition kill step — no HPP, irradiation, or acidifiers — and is made in a Safe Quality Food (SQF) certified facility with third-party testing. Sensible everyday habits still apply: store the bag sealed in a cool, dry place, wash your hands and your dog's bowl after meals, refrigerate any rehydrated leftovers, and keep fresh water available.
What About Other Freeze Dried Raw Brands?
Serving sizes vary across freeze dried raw brands because they depend on each recipe's calorie density and ingredient mix — so always start with the guide on the bag. What sets Get Joy apart isn't a race to the smallest scoop; it's how much of each scoop is usable. The low-temperature process (about 125°F), roughly 97% nutrient retention, 95%+ gelatinization, and no HPP, irradiation, or acidifiers are all aimed at preserving whole-food nutrition your dog can absorb.
How to Feed Freeze Dried Raw, Step by Step
- Scoop the recommended daily amount for your dog's weight (split across meals).
- Serve dry, or add warm water or bone broth to rehydrate.
- If rehydrating, let it soften for a few minutes.
- Serve, with fresh drinking water alongside.
- Store the bag sealed in a cool, dry place; refrigerate rehydrated leftovers.
- Transition gradually over about 7 days when switching foods, and adjust the amount to your dog's body condition.
A Little Goes a Long Way
Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw is concentrated, highly digestible, filler-free whole food with Belly Biotics™ built into every bite — so a smaller serving does more. Feed it as a full meal or a gut-first topper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much freeze dried raw should I feed my dog?
As a starting point for a full meal: about 1/2–1 cup for dogs up to 10 lb, 1–2 cups for 10–25 lb, 2–3.5 cups for 25–50 lb, 3.5–5 cups for 50–75 lb, and 5+ cups for 75+ lb. Use about half if feeding as a topper. Adjust to your dog's activity and ideal weight, and ask your vet for a precise calorie target.
Do you add water to freeze dried dog food?
You don't have to — it's safe and complete served dry. Many dog parents do add a splash of warm water or bone broth to rehydrate it, which adds moisture and aroma and can help picky eaters. Let it soften for a few minutes before serving, and refrigerate any leftovers.
Why do you feed less freeze dried raw dog food?
Because it's concentrated and highly usable. Freeze drying removes almost all the moisture (Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw is about 5% moisture), so a small, light serving carries a lot of nutrition. Whole-food raw diets also tend to be more digestible than kibble, so a higher share of each bite is used and less passes through as stool, and there are no fillers padding the portion.
Is a small serving really enough calories for my dog?
Yes — freeze dried raw is calorie-dense because the water is removed, so a small serving by weight delivers plenty of energy (Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw Beef is about 4,081 kcal/kg). Feed to your dog's calorie needs and body condition rather than matching the visual size of their old bowl. If your dog is losing weight, increase the amount.
Do you feed less freeze dried raw than kibble?
By weight, generally yes — freeze dried raw is more concentrated and more digestible with no fillers. Volume (cups) can look similar because freeze dried food is very light and airy. The most reliable comparison is calories: feed to your dog's daily calorie needs rather than by the scoop.
Does freeze dried raw expand when you rehydrate it?
Yes. Adding water back roughly restores the volume of the original fresh food, which is why a modest dry scoop becomes a more substantial meal. You can serve it dry or rehydrated.
Why is my dog's stool smaller on freeze dried raw?
Smaller, firmer stools are a common sign of higher digestibility — more of the food is used rather than passed through. Research on fresh and raw diets has found roughly 30% less stool output than extruded kibble. Persistent diarrhea, straining, or blood are not normal transition signs; check with your vet if they occur.
Research & sources referenced: Get Joy published nutrient profiles (Freeze Dried Raw Beef 4,081 kcal/kg, 5.0% moisture; 95%+ gelatinization; ~97% nutrient retention). Apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of commercial fresh vs. extruded kibble diets (peer-reviewed, PMC / Journal of Animal Science); studies on raw vs. extruded diet digestibility and reduced fecal output. Kibble calorie-per-cup figures are category averages. Digestibility findings are associational and describe diet categories, not guarantees for an individual dog. Feed to your dog's body condition and consult your veterinarian for a precise calorie target.
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How Much Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food to Feed (and Why Less Is Enough)
