Did you know that raw dog food only lasts about three to five days when refrigerated and only a few hours (or less) at room temperature? So, if your furry friend eats raw food, that might put a damper on any travel plans.

Luckily, there are several alternatives to a raw diet that can help you ensure your pet friend gets all the necessary nutrients when traveling — without risking their well-being. 

In this post, we look at five great options and give you some tips to help you choose the right one. 

Contrary to some belief, the answer to the question "Does fresh dog food travel well?" is no. Maintaining a raw food diet for your pet isn't easy, much less when traveling, and here’s why:

•  It must be refrigerated: Unlike shelf-stable options like kibble and dehydrated food, raw food must be kept cold to prevent spoilage. This can be impractical for trips, as it means carrying a cooler with ice packs and only staying in accommodations with a fridge. 

•  There's a high risk of contamination:  No matter how careful you are, there's an inherent risk of contamination with raw food. Raw pet food may contain pathogens like E. coli, salmonella and listeria, which can be dangerous for you and your dog. 

•  You'll likely have to deal with space challenges:  Raw food takes up a lot of space, which means less room for your own luggage and supplies — not to mention the hassle of lugging around a big, heavy cooler.

•  It may present some issues with customs and regulations when crossing borders:  If you leave the U.S., you must declare raw meat to Customs and Border Protection officials when coming back. They may ask to examine it before granting entry to make sure it doesn't contain any foreign pathogens. 

By now, you’re probably getting the idea that raw feeding is generally impractical and inconvenient when traveling.

The good news is that there are various alternatives to raw food that provide convenience, nutrition and ease of storage without compromising the quality of your pet's diet. Here's an in-depth look at the top options.

While sometimes confused with traditional kibble, dehydrated dog food isn't your typical dry food. Unlike kibble, which is prepared at extremely high temperatures, dehydrated food is processed at low temperatures to gradually remove its moisture. 

Some of the benefits of dehydrated dog food include:

• High nutritional value, thanks to the slow, low-temperature processing 

• Highly concentrated — 1 lb rehydrates to 4 lbs

• Easy to pack and takes up minimal space 

• Shelf-stable — no refrigeration required

The only potential downside to dehydrated dog food is that it requires water for rehydration. So, if you’re backpacking or boondocking and will have limited access to fresh water, you’ll have to bring extra water with you — which will negate the space-saving benefits.

The Honest Kitchen's dehydrated dog food collection is one of the best on the market because it's human grade and free from artificial preservatives. We offer an extensive selection of recipes to suit every palate, and our dehydrated collection comes in whole grain, grain free and gourmet grain varieties.

Whole food clusters, an innovative product by The Honest Kitchen, is the world's first human grade dry food. Available in both whole grain and grain free options, with recipes like chicken, beef and turkey, it's a better alternative to raw dog food because it's more convenient to carry and requires no refrigeration.

It also has a longer shelf life and is easier to prepare, since you just need to scoop it and add it to your dog's bowl. The best part? The Honest Kitchen's whole food clusters offer a natural feeding experience similar to raw food, as it’s made with high-quality, human grade minimally processed ingredients.

It may not be as lightweight as dehydrated food and it comes in slightly bulkier packaging. Still, it's much more convenient and safer to feed on the road than raw dog food.

Wet dog food is exactly what it sounds like — pet food with moisture content. It's typically prepared by mixing or blending ingredients and then adding gravy. This makes it more palatable for picky eaters.

It can be excellent for the road because it's easy to serve (just scoop and add it to your furry friend's bowl), can help keep your dog hydrated and requires no rehydration.

However, compared to dehydrated and dry food, it may not be the best alternative for pet parents who want minimal hassle when traveling. It's heavier than dehydrated options, requires more storage space and, depending on the type, may require refrigeration once opened.

If these aren't dealbreakers for you, check out The Honest Kitchen's wet food collection for high-quality human grade options. As with our other products, we have a wide variety of recipes, including:

• Slow Cooked Chicken One Pot Stew

• Braised Beef & Lamb One Pot Stew

• Beef, Cheddar & Farm Veggies Butcher Block Pâté

• Simmered Salmon & Chicken One Pot Stew

This type of food is prepared by — you guessed it — freezing it. The food is frozen and then exposed to minimal pressure and heat to eliminate the water content before packaging. It's different from dry and dehydrated dog food because of its unique preparation process, which allows it to maintain the flavor, structure and nutrients of raw food.

Freeze-dried dog food is a great alternative to raw food because it has a longer shelf life, is more lightweight and is easier to pack.

However, it's more expensive than raw meals and other raw food alternatives, may be more difficult to find and requires rehydration, which can be inconvenient without a reliable water source.

Traditional kibble is typically what comes to mind when most people think about dry dog food. It's pet food that's dried at high temperatures and shaped into the pellet-sized pieces found on most pet store or grocery store shelves.

It's a suitable raw dog food alternative because it has a long shelf life, is widely available, requires no rehydration and is more convenient to carry than raw and wet food.

However, due to its exposure to high heat, it has a lower nutritional value than raw or dehydrated food and can lack the natural flavor profile of less processed foods.

If you're going on a short trip and are okay with carrying a cooler, just bringing fresh dog food may not be much of a hassle.

However, if you're going on a lengthy trip, more lightweight, shelf-stable options, like dehydrated or freeze-dried food, are better. They make it easier to carry more food and can last a very long time without spoiling, giving you peace of mind on the road.

Different options have varying storage and preparation needs. If your dog doesn’t finish a whole container of wet food in one sitting, you’ll likely need to refrigerate the leftovers — which means you have to make space for a cooler or stay in a room with a mini fridge.

If you don't have the space, dehydrated or freeze-dried options or The Honest Kitchen’s Whole Food Clusters may be better since they don't require refrigeration. But keep in mind that dehydrated and freeze-dried options require rehydration, which means you'll need a fresh, clean water source.

Introducing your pet to a new type of food during the trip can result in digestive issues like diarrhea and vomiting. So it’s best to stick to what they're accustomed to.

If you want to switch things up, start the transition process a few weeks before you travel. This will give them enough time to adjust to the new diet and help you identify any negative reactions well before the trip.

Raw dog food has a limited shelf life, requires refrigeration and carries a high risk of contamination, making it impractical for traveling. Fortunately, there are plenty of convenient pet food options, like dehydrated or freeze-dried recipes, whole food clusters, wet foods and traditional kibble.

The Honest Kitchen offers a wide variety of raw food alternatives to promote easy feeding during your trips. Plus, all of our foods are made with human grade ingredients and no artificial preservatives. You’ll love the convenience and quality, and your dog will love the delicious taste.

Shop The Honest Kitchen's dog food collection today for more convenient traveling with your furry friend!