Forthglade Cold Pressed Dry Food: What 'Cold Pressed' Actually Means for Your Dog
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The most revealing line on the Forthglade Cold Pressed Dry (Chicken & Vegetables) listing is a footnote. Several ingredients carry a dagger symbol, and the key says they are "thermally pre-treated prior to cold pressing". So "cold pressed" describes the final shaping step, not a food that never meets heat. That is useful to know before you pay extra for the phrase.
The 2 kg bag shows 4.4 out of 5 from 958 ratings on Amazon.co.uk at the time of writing, the lowest score of the Forthglade dry foods we have reviewed, though still a decent one.
What the listing says cold pressed does
The listing says the ingredients are "gently cold pressed" to produce food that is easily digestible, grain free, and "great for long term gut health". That is the whole explanation. It does not describe how the pressing works, what temperature is involved, or what difference it makes in the bowl, and it offers no comparison with ordinary kibble. The claims are the maker's, and the page provides no study or measurement behind them. So the fair reading is that this is a different manufacturing method, presented as gentler, with an unproven benefit.
What is in the bag
The listed ingredients start with chicken at 32.5% (17.5% freshly prepared, 15% dried ground), then dried sweet potato (28%), dried peas, poultry fat, gelatin and dried beet pulp. Further down are dried fruit (2.3%: apples, pears, blueberries and cranberries), salmon oil (1%), brewer's yeast, dried botanicals (0.6%: fennel, nettle and dandelion), mannan-oligosaccharide, egg powder, chicory extract (0.2%), dried seaweed, camomile (0.2%), flaxseed oil (0.1%), glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate (both 300 mg/kg), and yucca extract.
The listing's digestive claims rest on a handful of those: salmon oil for omega 3 and 6, brewer's yeast, chicory root and MOS, a prebiotic. That sort of thing is common in dog food, and the quantities are small. The glucosamine and chondroitin figures are per kilogram of food and not a daily dose, so we would not treat this as a joint supplement.
"Vet approved" and "veterinary diet"
Two phrases on the listing may mislead. The title says "Vet Approved For Good Gut Health", and a field lists the diet type as "Veterinary Diet". The bullet points explain that recipes were created by pet or veterinary nutritionists and meet FEDIAF guidelines. That is a statement about how the recipe was formulated and its nutritional completeness. It is not the same as a prescription veterinary diet, which a vet recommends for a diagnosed condition. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, ask your vet and do not assume this fits.
All life stages, with a catch
The listing calls it suitable for senior, adult and puppy, with directions saying it is a complete food for dogs from two months. That is convenient for a household with dogs of different ages. The catch is that one recipe has to serve all of them, and puppies, especially of large breeds, have particular needs. If you are considering it for a growing dog, check with your vet and compare it with puppy-specific recipes first.
Feeding and changing over
The directions say to serve on its own or mix with a good quality wet food, adjusting the amounts if you mix, with fresh water always available. The listing text we reviewed has no feeding table, so use the bag. For the changeover, the listing advises two weeks, starting with a 50/50 mix of the old and new food and slowly raising the proportion of cold pressed. That is a slower schedule than some guides suggest, and a sensible one for a dog with a sensitive stomach. Our guides to switching food and mixing wet and dry go through the practicalities.
What counts against it
The listing calls the food hypoallergenic, yet the recipe contains chicken, egg powder, gelatin and salmon oil, all of which can cause trouble for some dogs, and the page does not define the word. The pack is 2 kg, which works for a small dog or a trial but is a very small bag for a large one. The cost per day, which you work out by dividing pack price by the days it lasts, will therefore swing widely with the size of your dog. Peas and sweet potato are major ingredients. And the cold pressed benefit is a claim, with the listing's own footnote showing the process is not as simple as the name suggests.
If your dog has recurring loose stools, itching or ear problems, see a vet before changing the diet. This food is a general-purpose option and not a treatment.
Who should buy it
Forthglade Cold Pressed suits an owner who wants a chicken-based, grain-free dry food with a gut-friendly ingredient list, for a dog without chicken, egg or fish sensitivities, and who is happy to start with a small bag. For the same brand's baked alternative, see the lightly baked review. If your dog is large, allergic to common proteins, or on a vet-managed diet, look elsewhere. Otherwise, the 2 kg bag is a low-risk way to try it. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide.
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