Dr. Marty Dog Food: 7 Powerful Truths Every Pet Owner Must Know Before Buying

Your dog stares up at you every single mealtime with those big, trusting eyes, and you want to make sure what goes into their bowl is actually good for them. But with so many premium pet food brands making bold promises, how do you separate science from marketing?

Dr. Marty dog food has sparked enormous debate among pet owners, vets, and nutrition enthusiasts alike. Some swear it transformed their dog’s health. Others aren’t so sure. So what’s the real story?

In this guide, you’ll get a complete, no-fluff breakdown of Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Blend freeze-dried raw dog food: what’s in it, whether it lives up to its claims, who it’s best for, and what the science actually says. Let’s dig in.

Who Is Dr. Marty Goldstein, and Why Should You Trust His Dog Food?

Before we talk about the food itself, let’s talk about the man behind it.

Dr. Martin “Marty” Goldstein is a Cornell-educated integrative veterinarian with over 45 years of experience. He’s authored The Nature of Animal Healing, appeared on Oprah and Martha Stewart’s shows, and has long championed a whole-food, raw-diet philosophy for pets.

His fundamental belief? Commercial kibble, even “premium” kibble, is often heavily processed and nutritionally compromised. Cooking at high temperatures, he says, kills natural enzymes and degrades protein quality. That’s the philosophy built into Dr. Marty dog food.

Expert Insight

Freeze-drying is one of the best-preserved food technologies available. It removes roughly 98% of moisture while retaining the food's original nutritional profile, unlike high-heat extrusion used in most kibble production.

What Exactly Is Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend?

Dr. Marty’s flagship product is Nature’s Blend, a freeze-dried raw dog food. Think of it like this: it’s as close to feeding your dog a raw diet as you can get without the mess, spoilage risk, or prep time.

Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend Highlights

• Freeze-dried raw formula – retains nutrients without artificial ingredients.
• Recipes that focus on protein – turkey, duck, salmon, beef and other animal proteins rank high on the ingredient list.
• Grain-free formula – no corn, soy or wheat
• No artificial preservatives, colours or flavours
• Manufactured in the USA

The food comes as tiny, crumbly nuggets that you can serve dry or re-hydrated with warm water. It smells and tastes more like real meat than processed kibble ever could and most dogs go crazy over it.

Ingredients Breakdown: What’s Really Inside

Here’s a sample ingredient list from Nature’s Blend (Turkey & Vegetables recipe):

Primary proteins: Turkey, turkey liver, turkey heart, duck Organs: These are nutrient powerhouses, especially rich in B vitamins, iron, and taurine. Fruits & vegetables: Carrots, spinach, cranberries, blueberries. Supplements: Salmon oil (Omega-3s), dried kelp, tocopherols (natural Vitamin E)

The organ meats deserve a special shoutout. They’re often overlooked, but liver and heart are some of the most nutrient-dense foods a dog can eat nature’s original multivitamin.

Did You Know?

In the wild, wolves and wild dogs instinctively eat organ meats first after a kill. Organs like liver can contain up to 10–100 times more nutrients than muscle meat by weight.

What Are the Real Benefits of Dr. Marty Dog Food?

This is where it gets interesting. Many pet owners who switch to Dr. Marty dog food report noticeable changes, some within just weeks. Let’s look at the most commonly reported benefits and what science tells us about each.

1. Better Skin and Coat Condition

Freeze-dried raw foods keep natural fatty acids, especially Omega-3’s from salmon oil. Clinically, they are associated with less skin inflammation and less itching, and a shinier, softer coat.

If your dog has been scratching a lot, or his coat is dull and brittle, changing to a raw-style diet will often make a noticeable difference.

2. Better Digestion and Smaller Stool Size

Here’s a handy (if slightly gross) metric: stool size tells you how much of the food your dog actually utilized.

Kibble is highly processed and often passes through undigested, creating large and frequent stools. Raw and freeze-dried foods have a higher bioavailability, meaning that more of what goes in actually gets absorbed. Less waste in. Less waste out.

3. Weight Management Support

Protein-rich, grain-free diets tend to promote lean muscle mass and help dogs maintain healthier body composition. This is especially relevant for overweight dogs or breeds genetically prone to weight gain.

4. Dental Health Improvements

Some pet owners report reduced tartar buildup, possibly because the crunchy freeze-dried texture provides mild mechanical cleaning and because the absence of starchy fillers means less sugar feeding oral bacteria.

Expert Tip

Pair Dr. Marty dog food with regular tooth brushing and annual dental checkups for best results. Food alone isn't a substitute for dental care.

Are There Any Downsides to Dr. Marty Dog Food?

Let’s be honest, no product is perfect, and responsible pet ownership means knowing the limitations too.

The Cost Question

Dr. Marty dog food is priced as a premium dog food, and it shows. It can get pricey fast to feed large-breed dogs nothing but Nature’s Blend. Many owners also use it as a meal topper, adding a tablespoon or two to their current kibble, which provides some benefits at a fraction of the cost.

Not for every dog?

Some dogs may have health issues like kidney disease, pancreatitis or a protein allergy that requires a special diet that Dr. Marty’s formula may not meet. Always consult your vet before making any drastic diet changes.

Limited Third-Party Testing Transparency

While the brand emphasizes quality ingredients and US manufacturing, publicly available third-party lab testing data is limited. This isn’t unique to Dr. Marty; it’s a gap across much of the pet food industry, but it’s worth noting for scientifically minded pet owners.

Interregnum Period

Changes in a dog’s diet can produce a temporary upset stomach. Most nutritionists recommend a transition of 7 to 10 days, gradually increasing the ratio of new food to old.

How Does Dr. Marty Dog Food Compare to Raw Feeding?

Good question and one that many people ask. Here is the straight answer:

Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend is basically a convenient, shelf-stable raw diet. It follows the same nutritional philosophy of high-quality animal proteins, organ meats, and no synthetic fillers, but solves the biggest pain points of traditional raw feeding: cost, prep time, risk of bacterial contamination, and short shelf life.

Traditional BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diets need careful sourcing, safe handling and nutritional balancing. They are good if you do them right. Done wrong, they can put you and your dog at risk (from cross-contamination of pathogens like Salmonella).

Freeze drying eliminates most of those concerns while keeping the nutrition intact. For busy pet owners who believe in the raw food philosophy but don’t have time to.

Did you know?

The freeze-drying process (lyophilization) was originally developed for preserving blood plasma during World War II. Today it's used for everything from astronaut food to premium pet nutrition.

Who Should Buy Dr. Marty Dog Food?

Dr. Marty Dog Food is a good fit for:

• Dogs with dull coats, skin conditions or chronic itching
• Dogs with low energy or low muscle tone
• Pet owners who believe in raw or whole food nutrition but want convenience
• Senior dogs requiring highly digestible, nutrient-dense food
• Small to medium breeds that have a more manageable price per serving

It may not be the best primary food for:

• Dogs over 80 lbs being fed as a sole diet (cost becomes prohibitive for most budgets)
• Dogs with diagnosed kidney issues, pancreatitis, or specific dietary restrictions
• Pet owners on a tight budget (though using it as a topper is a budget-friendlier option)

How to Transition Your Dog to Dr. Marty Dog Food

Slow and steady wins the race here. Rushing a food transition is the number one cause of upset stomachs and loose stools, and it often makes owners wrongly conclude the new food “doesn’t agree” with their dog.

Suggested 10 Day Transition Plan:

1. Days 1-3: 75% old food + 25% “Marty”
2. Days 4-6: 50% old food + 50% Dr. Marty
3. Days 7-9: 25% old food + 75% Dr Marty
4. Day 10+: 100%  Dr. Marty (or whatever the maintenance ratio you want)

During this time, watch for loose stools, vomiting or lethargy. A little tummy upset is normal. If it continues or is severe, call your veterinarian.

The Bottom Line: Should You Try Dr. Marty Dog Food?

The frank summary is this: Dr. Marty dog food is not magic, but it is based on good nutritional science.

In fact, the raw freeze-dried format has more nutrients than regular processing. Ingredients are of good quality. It’s a philosophy that aligns with what animal nutritionists are increasingly recommending: whole proteins, organ meats, minimal processing, no synthetic fillers.

Is it the right food for every dog, and every budget? No. If you’re a pet owner frustrated by the limitations of kibble and want something closer to a biologically appropriate diet, but without the messiness of DIY raw feeding, Dr. Marty dog food is definitely worth a serious look.

Start with a small bag. Transition slowly. Watch your dog. Their coat, energy, and stools will tell you everything you need to know. Your dog can’t read ingredient labels. But you can, and now you know exactly what to look for.

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