My dog, Buttons, has always been a lover rather than a fighter. Historically she’s been almost ridiculously enthusiastic about life, happy to lick the faces of strangers, prance about at the prospect of a walk, and come running at the prospect of any potential snack. Until recently, that is. 

I’ve been noticing that Buttons seemed less happy than usual. Less energetic on walks, a dull coat, and slower to get up off the couch. Most of all, she started getting grumpy. It wasn’t like her. It made me realize she’s aging, and it made me want to do better by Buttons. 

I started looking into options for how to help improve your dog’s quality of life and long-term health, to make her time with me as sweet as possible. That’s what led me to Freshpet.

Freshpet has ingredients I can see

The more I researched pet food and longevity in dogs, the more I realized how much I’d been choosing Buttons’ meals based on whatever was most convenient for me, rather than what was best for Buttons. 

After a ton of research, I realized that fresh dog food felt like the right option for her. It’s made from whole food ingredients, with real, recognizable components you can see. So, I turned to the market leader: Freshpet. 

Freshpet makes fresh dog food using real ingredients.Their gently steam-cooked recipes are made with ingredients such as chicken, beef, turkey, carrots, spinach, cranberries, and eggs. They’re upfront about how their dog food is made - it’s developed with input from veterinarians, veterinary nutritionists, and food scientists. My personal favorite feature is how it’s made without artificial preservatives and tested for contaminants before leaving the kitchen, plus how it stays cold from the time it’s made until it reaches stores or is delivered to your front door.

Signing my dog up for Freshpet Custom Meals®

As someone who was worried about their dog’s health, I appreciated Freshpet’s simple signup process. There are different recipes depending on your dog’s size, health goals, and preferences, so I spent some time comparing options before choosing a few I thought Buttons would like most. 

I found introducing her to her new fresh diet to be surprisingly easy. Freshpet recommends transitioning gradually by mixing the new food with your dog’s current food over several days, which makes the switch feel manageable and low stress. I added it into her regular food, and the transition went smoothly.

The Freshpet difference

The biggest immediate change was how excited Buttons became about eating again. The second I opened the refrigerator, she’d come sprinting into the kitchen, just like she used to. Buttons was genuinely excited for each meal again. 

Over the course of a few weeks, her energy levels felt more consistent. She was more enthusiastic about playing with her toys, and her coat even started to look shinier. 

But best of all? She lost her grumpy vibe that had been so pervasive. She was down to cuddle, to play fetch, to hang out on the sofa while I worked from home. She was back to her old self again. 

Freshpet says many pet parents notice benefits like healthy skin and coat support, improved digestion, brighter eyes, and fresher breath after switching to fresh food. While every dog is different, I can absolutely say Buttons thrives when she’s eating Freshpet.

Make the switch to fresh dog food

Buttons has been with me through house moves, stressful jobs, heartbreaks, and every chaotic phase of adulthood. Feeding her better felt like one small way to return the favor, and ensure she lives as long and as healthy a life as possible. 

When you really love your dog, you start realizing that the small everyday choices matter more than you thought they would. It’s simply a bonus that I’m back to being my dog’s favorite human again.