Is kibble bad for dogs might seem like a strange question, as it has long been the go-to option for dog owners looking to provide their furry friends with a convenient and balanced diet. But recent debates have raised concerns about the potential negative effects of feeding kibble to dogs, including cancer, allergies and obesity.
In this article, we will look at how kibble is made and why it might pose a risk to our dogs’ health and wellbeing. We will also look at some alternatives, including a raw food diet for dogs.
Understanding Kibble Composition
Kibble is a popular type of commercial pet food designed specifically for dogs. It comes in bags of dry pellets of various shapes, sizes and flavours. Because of its convenience, it’s the most commonly fed form of dog food worldwide.
Ingredients
Kibble typically consists of a combination of ingredients intended to provide balanced nutrition to meet the dietary needs of dogs. These ingredients may include meat (such as chicken, beef, lamb, or fish), grains (like rice, corn, or barley), vegetables, fruits, vitamins, minerals, and added supplements.
Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing process involves cooking the raw materials at high temperatures to remove moisture and increase shelf life. This process makes the kibble dry and eliminates harmful bacteria. But it also destroys many of the nutrients and the flavour at the same time.
Different brands will have variations in their recipes and production methods, and this is partly why kibble is available in such a wide price range. Normally, cheaper kibble will have cheaper ingredients and less attention to nutrition.
Added Ingredients
As well as the food content, dog kibble normally contains other non-food additives.
Antioxidants and Preservatives
The fat content in kibble will rot without added ingredients to prevent it turning rancid. There are both natural and artificial sources of the antioxidants and preservatives that are typically added to dog kibble for this purpose.
Natural sources include vitamin E, vitamin C and rosemary oil.
The cheaper and more effective option is artificial. Chemicals that you will frequently find in dog kibble include BHA (also known as E320), BHT (E321), Propyl Gallate (E310) and Potassium Sorbate (E202). Studies have shown that these chemicals are carcinogenic, meaning they cause cancer. What’s more, BHA, has been shown to cause increased aggression and severe learning disabilities in mice.
Vitamins and Minerals
Because the process of making kibble removes most of the natural nutrition from the ingredients, manufacturers will add vitamins and minerals essential for dogs’ health. In a relatively good quality kibble, the list of added nutrients should be long, as fresh food offers a wide range of natural vitamins and minerals.
Fillers
Kibble is made bulkier by the addition of grain and gluten products like wheat, barley, corn and cereal by-products. These are known to cause allergies and sensitivities in dogs.
Beet pulp is another common filler that sounds healthy but isn’t and is typically found in grain-free formulations. It’s a by-product of sugar beet, not pulp from the beetroot vegetable.
None of these fillers add nutritional value to dog kibble. They act solely as padding and fibre.
Fibre is an important nutrient for dogs, as it is for humans. But much healthier sources include butternut squash, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and fruit.
Flavourings
Because most of the actual food value in dog kibble has been removed through the manufacturing process, flavour is frequently added to make it palatable to dogs. Typically, fat, sugar and liquidised meat by-products are sprayed onto kibble to make it smell better.
What Can I Feed My Dog Instead of Dog Food?
As a caring dog owner, you might well be horrified to discover the list of ingredients we routinely feed our beloved canines. It’s clear that kibble is bad for dogs when it is manufactured cheaply.
So, what are the options if you want to find something healthier than kibble?
1. Wet food
Wet food from a pouch or tin might be considered better than kibble for several reasons. Dogs usually prefer it, it has less unnecessary carbohydrate content and fewer preservatives. However, it is still a processed food, and you would be wise to study the list of ingredients to ensure the quality of the contents. Furthermore, wet food is generally considered to contribute to poor dental health.
2. Human food
To ensure your dog is eating fresh, good-quality food, you can prepare their meals yourself, including fresh meat or fish and a range of vegetables and fruits. Dogs shouldn’t eat the same meals that you eat, though, so with the regular preparation and cooking, this can be a time-consuming option. What’s more, you would need to do a lot of research to ensure you were providing a properly balanced diet.
3. Raw food
Advocates of a raw food diet for dogs will tell you that this is the best diet for any dog’s health, wellbeing and longevity. There is no processing, so no chemicals or unnecessary fillers or additives. The meaty bones in a raw diet provide good nutrition and exercise for dogs as well as being great for keeping their teeth clean and healthy.
Final Thoughts
In the raw and kibble debate, raw definitely wins in terms of health benefits. While kibble may provide convenience and affordability, it often contains low-quality ingredients and lacks essential nutrients. If you are feeding kibble, then a premium formulation with a minimum of artificial ingredients, fillers and grains is preferable. On balance, we prefer raw and agree that kibble is bad for dogs.