Raw fish, freeze-dried: what that means at home

Are freeze dried fish treats raw? Ours are. Our minnows, sardines, sardine heads and anchovies all go into the freeze dryer raw, and none of them is cooked first. That changes how you handle them at home: wash your hands, reseal the bag, and keep it cool and dry.

Are freeze-dried fish treats raw or cooked?

It depends on the maker, so this answer covers ours only. Our four fish treats are freeze-dried raw. The sardine listing says the sardines go raw into the freeze dryer, and we have confirmed the same for the minnows, the sardine heads and the anchovies.

Nothing is cooked along the way. The fish goes in raw and comes out freeze-dried, in small batches, made in Malvern, Pennsylvania from imported fish.

We are describing what happens to the fish, nothing more. We are not making a claim about what that means for any pet, and a bag that is not cooked is a reason to read the handling notes below.

Which of the fish are freeze-dried raw?

All four fish we sell as single bags:

• Sardines: freeze-dried raw, sold whole.
• Sardine heads: freeze-dried raw.
• Anchovies: freeze-dried raw.
• Minnows: freeze-dried raw. The minnows are sold out at the moment, and the button reads "Sold out, back soon."

The freeze-dried sardines and the sardine heads have their own pages if you want the detail on each. The Fish Trio bundles the sardines, the anchovies and the sardine heads, so those three are raw as well.

Does freeze-dried mean the fish is no longer raw?

Not for these. They go in raw and they are not cooked. That is the whole answer, and we keep it there.

We are not going to explain the freeze-drying process, and we are not going to make claims about what it does to the fish. We have no source on this page for that, and a guess would not help you. What we can tell you is what the listings say to do with the bag, and that is what the next section covers.

If you want a view on raw fish for your own pet, your veterinarian is the one to ask. They know your pet, and a product page does not.

How should you handle raw freeze-dried fish?

Handle it as raw fish. The steps the listings support are short:

1. Wash your hands after handling the fish. The sardine heads listing says, "This is raw fish, so wash your hands after handling it."
2. Reseal the bag after you take what you need.
3. Keep the bag cool and dry. The sardine and anchovy listings add that no refrigerator is needed.
4. Supervise while your pet eats.

The minnow listing adds that the bag should stay out of direct sunlight. Our guide on how to store freeze-dried fish treats goes into storage in more detail.

These are treats or meal toppers, not a complete diet. Give fresh water alongside, and keep the portion sensible. Handling a bag of fish treats is a bit like handling a gear box: it is simple, but you wipe your hands before you touch anything else.

Who should you ask before feeding raw fish treats?

Your veterinarian. That goes double if your pet has had trouble with seafood before. The anchovy listing's FAQ says so directly: "If your dog has had trouble with seafood before, ask your veterinarian first."

The sardine heads listing adds a similar line about fish bones: if you are unsure about your own dog and fish bones, ask your veterinarian. It is a short question, and the answer is worth having before you open a bag.

For the rest, the guides hub has our other reading, and the label figures are on each product page.