If you’re wondering whether a fresh diet is best for your pup, or if the disadvantages of wet dog food (in cans or rolls) outweigh its advantages, you’re not alone.  

Both fresh and wet food are convenient options: Lyka is delivered to your door in frozen portions and wet food can easily be stored in your cupboard or fridge.   

Like us, dogs need a fresh and varied diet with the optimal balance of quality protein, vegetables, and superfoods to be healthy and happy.  

Every pup is unique, and factors like breed, age, size, and health concerns can impact the choice you make. One thing’s for sure: all dogs deserve real food. 

Top takeaways

Nutrition and formulation

Lyka contains high-quality, human-grade protein, vegetables, fruit, and superfoods gently cooked to retain their nutritional value and digestibility, while wet dog food often uses pet-grade ingredients cooked at higher temperatures.  

This affects digestibility and degrades the nutritional value, often requiring artificial additives to replace those lost in the process. 

Meeting ‘complete and balanced’ nutritional standards  

All dogs need a complete and balanced diet, containing all the essential nutrients in the right proportions.  

In Australia, the pet food industry is highly unregulated, so many pet food companies choose to meet AAFCO and FEDIAF standards as a safer measurement of nutritional value. 

Generally, commercially produced wet food meets AAFCO and FEDIAF minimum standards for complete and balanced dog food. However, the lower quality of ingredients, method of processing, and additives compromise nutritional value.  

Lyka meals are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to go above and beyond minimum nutritional standards to help dogs thrive, not just survive.  

Each meal contains at least 50% quality protein, along with the perfect balance of vegetables and superfoods. 

Nutritional breakdown (as fed)

The best food for different life stages and health concerns 

All dogs benefit from a nutrient-rich diet made from bioavailable food to nourish them from the inside out. Puppies, seniors, and dogs with health conditions especially need high quality food to support growth or recovery.  

Lyka meals contain abundant nutrients suitable for all life stages: from puppy to golden oldie and every stage in between.  

Ingredient transparency helps parents of dogs with dietary requirements or health concerns find meals that suit their needs. Each Lyka meal comes with the assurance of being backed by expertise and experience in veterinary nutrition, with single or limited protein meals.

Canned puppy food may seem a good option for puppies because it's targeted to their life stage. However, the heavy manufacturing process can make it sub-optimal for dogs of any ages, especially those requiring more focused nutrition, like puppies, seniors, and dogs with health concerns.

Ingredient quality 

Optimal dog food relies on high-quality ingredients that maintain their nutritional integrity. 

Lyka sources superior produce with bioavailable nutrients that are more effectively absorbed into your dog’s body, boosting their health and wellbeing, while the quality of ingredients used in wet food depends on the brand.  

Many brands use pet grade animal protein or meat by-products from knackeries or rendering plants, which at times may include 4D meat (from dead, dying, diseased, or down animals). Although most states and territories do prohibit the processing of meat from the carcasses of unhealthy animals.

Lyka only uses human-grade* meat sourced as ethically and sustainably as possible, like our free-range chicken and wild-caught fish. We choose healthier proteins like grass-fed beef because it’s higher in omega-3 (anti-inflammatory) and lower in omega-6 (pro-inflammatory), compared to grain-fed beef. 

Each Lyka meal is made from 85-95% Australian ingredients, including all animal proteins. We use fresh “ugly bunch” fruit and vegetables — Australian produce that’s deemed too ugly for supermarkets but still nutritious and delicious.  

Our food has high yet safe amounts of Vitamin E, D, C, and zinc to support your pup’s health, and none of our meals contain preservatives, colours, or flavour enhancers. 

Highly processed wet food is often low in protein with moderate to high amounts of carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta, and rice. Meals with a high glycaemic load can lead to health concerns like weight gain, blood-glucose spikes, or pancreas problems.

Other common carbohydrates used in processed food include cereals like wheat, barley, and tapioca which can trigger grain-flare-ups: an allergic response causing inflammation and itchy skin. The cereal content also increases the risk of mycotoxins that can lead to disease. 

*Human grade means it’s fit for human consumption — a process that’s strictly regulated in Australia. 

"Many wet food brands use what appear to be low-quality products chosen for economics over nutritional benefits. The benefits they do have are often degraded by the cooking process, which is likely to also produce concerning by-products like advanced glycation end products."
— Dr Matthew Muir, Lyka Co-founder and Integrative Veterinarian

Cooking and processing 

Lyka is regarded as minimally processed dog food, but wet food found in cans or rolls is highly processed. 

Lyka uses high-quality human grade ingredients are diced to retain their original texture, mixed, then cooked at low temperatures (between 75-90°C) for a short duration. The food is cooled down safely, packaged into portions, then snap frozen. 

This process supports nutrient integrity and naturally enhances the tastiness of each meal. From a microbiological standpoint, gently cooking food significantly reduces the risk of pathogens and removes the need for preservatives. 

Canned food is often made from pet-grade meat ground into a fine texture then mixed with starchy vegetables, and additives like vitamins, minerals, stabilisers, and preservatives. The mixture is cooked at high temperatures, up to 140°C. Water and vegetable gums may be added to create a thick ‘gravy’. 

The cooked blend is poured into cans and sealed. It then undergoes a retort: the can is exposed to extremely high temperatures for 80 minutes to sterilise it, but in doing so it also compromises the nutrient integrity of the food inside.  
 
Pet rolls contain ground and blended ingredients with binding agents added in large-scale mixers. The cooking method generally involves piping the mixture into plastic or bioplastic casings and steaming at high temperatures of up to 120°C. Although this plastic is food safe, we can’t confirm if plastic leaching into the food has occurred.  

Wet dog food has a biologically appropriate moisture content, but heavy processing means the integrity of the ingredients’ tastes, textures and nutritional values are lost and must be replaced artificially.  

Variety and taste 

Lyka and most wet food brands offer a wide range of meals based on different animal proteins to make it easier to provide variety in your dog’s diet.  

A variety of fresh food supports a diverse and balanced microbiome — vital for your dog’s immune system, digestion, and brain function. Dogs also have tastebuds just like us, so rotating their meals can increase their enjoyment at dinnertime and boost your special bond. 

Lyka meals have a range of 6 proteins to choose from: Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Turkey, Kangaroo, and Fish. You can keep your pup excited at mealtimes with a different taste nearly every day of the week! 

Each meal contains limited protein: a single protein base (like beef) with fish oil or sardines for an omega-3 boost.  

The benefits of food quality and variety are reduced when ingredients have undergone high processing that denatures their natural textures and nutrients. It’s common to find artificial flavours, salt, and sugar in wet food to make it palatable for dogs to eat.  

Transparency 

Knowing exactly what ingredients are in each meal gives you the power to shape your dog’s meal plans to suit their specific health needs or preferences. 

Lyka believes in being transparent. We’ve shared our list of ingredients and their health benefits, so you know why we’ve selected them for our meals.  

Most wet food brands use a combination of proteins, depending on market price and availability. It’s common to see ingredients listed as chicken, lamb &/ sheep, beef &/ pork, making it difficult to know exactly what’s inside.  

Understanding dog food labels can be helpful when navigating the confusing world of dog food. For example, wet food labelled as ‘with chicken’ (or any other protein) only need to contain a minimum of 3% of that ingredient.  

Lyka: going above and beyond for all dogs 

A simple shift in what you put in your dog’s bowl can have a life-changing impact on their health.  

Lyka dog food is formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to go above and beyond nutritional standards for all dogs at all life stages. Each gently cooked meal is made from high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, making them a nourishing option for dogs. 

Choosing the right food can be overwhelming — we’re here to keep things simple, and make sure you’ve got all the information you need to make the best decision for your pup. 

Is your pup ready to feel the difference?