At some point, loving pet parents all ask the question, “Is dry kibble good for dogs?” Deep down, they know domesticated dogs still need a high-protein diet just like their wild ancestors did and that many dry kibble options fall far short.

Today, pet guardians do the hunting. They scour grocery store aisles and the internet for solutions. For years, they have been searching for a high-quality pet food option that offers the nutrition of a raw diet and the convenience of commercial kibble.

ZIWI, an innovative New Zealand-based pet food company, is dedicated to providing pets with the most natural diet possible. With its gentle air-drying technique and patented Z-MicroSteam™ process, ZIWI is at the forefront of emerging alternatives to raw diets. 

New Alternatives to the Raw Diet: Air-Dried and Micro-Steamed Options

While serving up raw dinners seems like the easy option at first glance, the opposite is actually true. Pet guardians spend countless hours shopping for meats and produce and even more time researching and preparing balanced meals. 

Unfortunately, even after all this effort, raw ingredients can prove risky to pets and their guardians. For example, in one study, at least one out of every four servings of raw ingredients contained dangerous pathogens and bacteria. 

Air-drying is a time-honored method of preserving food that removes harmful pathogens and bacteria while keeping nutrients, enzymes, and the original taste intact. Though the process is not new, ZIWI had pioneered the technology in 2002 to make it viable in the commercial pet food sector. 

Air-drying involves the gentle process of evaporation, which slowly circulates air around the raw ingredients at low temperatures and delicately extracts moisture. The result is a groundbreaking product in the pet food space that offers the same level of nutrition as raw food and is as safe and easy to serve as kibble. 

Alongside their premium air-dried pet food line, ZIWI also provides an all-new Steam & Driecline, using their newest Z-MicroSteam™ technology, that boasts high inclusions of premium raw ingredients with functional additions of fruits, vegetables, or seafood at a much more affordable price point. This technique ensures that premium raw ingredients maintain their nutritional value and authentic taste with delicate, low-temperature steaming. 

Raw diet alternatives like air drying and steaming are increasing in popularity. Veterinarians and pet nutritionists favor these diets because they have a lower risk of bacterial contamination and precise nutrient balance. Plus, these diets provide similar advantages to raw diets, such as better digestion, improved skin and coat health, decreased allergies, and increased overall energy levels. 

High Meat Content and Ethically-Sourced Ingredients Make Alternative to Raw Diets a Fantastic Option for Pets and the Planet

Beyond nutrition, the modern pet food revolution considers pet diets’ environmental impact and ethical implications. Pet food production has a massive environmental footprint. In the United States, more than 163 million dogs and cats depend on pet food manufacturers as their primary source of nourishment. Like human food production, the pet food industry strains the planet’s natural resources. 

Forward-thinking brands focusing on alternatives to raw diets also typically emphasize sustainable sourcing practices, including free-range, grass-fed meats and organic, non-GMO vegetables. This shift not only supports animal welfare and reduces the industry’s environmental footprint but also ensures that pets receive high-quality ingredients. 

For example, ZIWI bases the health benefits of its products as much on ethically sourced ingredients as on innovative processing methods. A year-round temperate climate provides the New Zealand-based brand access to free-range poultry, grass-fed cattle, and wild-caught fish. By working only with farms and fisheries that practice the principle of kaitiakitanga — a Māori concept that emphasizes guardianship and protection of the land and sea — the brand ensures that all its products reflect a deep respect for animal welfare and environmental ethics. 

Air-dried and steam-dried diets are the beginning of a broader movement towards innovative, health-focused pet foods catering to dogs’ and cats’ diverse needs. By embracing these alternatives, pet owners make a conscious choice about the type of future they want for their pets—one that values nutritional integrity, safety, and the planet’s well-being. 

Beyond raw, a new era of pet nutrition awaits. It offers a blend of tradition and science that honors the spirit of raw feeding while embracing the advancements that ensure pets thrive in the modern world. 

In the pursuit of optimal canine nutrition, these ethical brands set themselves apart through innovation and environmental responsibility. Before now, pet guardians only had two real options: highly processed, mass-manufactured pet food or raw ingredients. Today, brands like ZIWI blaze a new trail that aligns more closely with nature’s intent and the modern pet guardian’s lifestyle. Through sustainable practices, pioneering air-drying technology, and the ingenious application of Z-MicroSteam™, ZIWI provides a viable alternative to raw diets and sets a new standard in pet nutrition.

Now, pets and their pet guardians can have the best of both worlds — the unadulterated goodness of nature, transformed through innovation to fit seamlessly into a busy schedule. As more and more pet guardians discover these exciting alternatives, the vision of a world where all pets thrive on natural, nourishing diets becomes an ever-closer reality. Beyond raw, there lies a future of pet nutrition that is safe, convenient, and aligned with high ideals of animal welfare and sustainability — a future that ZIWI is proud to pioneer.

Published by: Holy Minoza