Dry dog kibble is specially formulated to be the perfect blend of nutrition and flavor to keep your dog healthy, happy, and thriving. At least, that’s what the dog food commercials want you to think.
Advertisements make big promises of a shiny coat, healthy joints, and cleaner teeth with kibble made from “all-natural” ingredients. An energetic dog leaps across the screen, grabbing a frisbee in midair. “Your dog could be this active, too,” the commercial suggests.
Unfortunately, not all dog food is created equal, and not all marketing is honest. Most cheap commercial kibble is made from unhealthy, unnecessary, and even toxic ingredients that could harm your dog.
So, how do you know what to feed your fur baby? How do you untangle confusing labels and misleading packaging? Here’s a list of the top nine worst ingredients in dog kibble and a few tips to help you source the best food for your best furry friend.
9 Worst Ingredients in Dog Kibble
Corn Syrup
Sugar, in its many forms, hides in nearly all processed and packaged foods — including commercial dog food. Believe it or not, many dog food brands incorporate corn syrup to make their food more appealing to pets. After all, if your dog likes their food, you’ll probably keep buying it, right?
Corn syrup is added to pet food with profit in mind, not your dog’s health. Sugar is associated with weight gain, mental and behavioral problems, diabetes, hyperactivity, and tooth decay and has no place in dog food.
Though corn syrup is most commonly found in canned food and treats, certain brands of dry kibble may also incorporate this dangerous sweetener.
Meat Meal
Meat meal is one of the most unsettling ingredients in commercial kibble. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most common.
This meat by-product, also known as 4D meat, is made from dead, dying, diseased, or disabled animals of unknown origin. Usually, it’s not even meat but a combination of hooves, ears, feathers, cartilage, and diseased internal organs.
Dog food manufacturers take any “meat” unsafe for human consumption and grind it up, adding fillers and flavors (more on this later) to mask the taste and make it palatable for pets. Meat meal is made from the cheapest animal cast-offs and contributes little nutritional value. Plus, verifying the source or safety of these mystery meat ingredients is impossible.
Meat meal may also be listed as meat by-product, animal meal, or protein meal.
Vegetable oil
Vegetable oil is often touted as a “healthy” ingredient in dog food; however, it does more harm than good. This oil, made from corn and soybean oils, is high in Omega-6 fatty acids.
While EFAs (essential fatty acids) are beneficial for skin and coat health in moderation, they contribute to inflammation in excess. Inflammation leads to joint and hip problems and can increase pain in dogs with arthritis.
Commercial dog food contains large amounts of vegetable oil, and dogs eating the daily recommended kibble serving will consume far more EFAs than they should.
Rendered fat
Cheap dog food is priced that way for a reason. To reduce the cost to consumers, manufacturers cut corners and utilize low-quality ingredients.
Like many ingredients on this list, rendered fat in dry kibble is sourced in the cheapest way possible. This mystery fat from unknown animals is added to dog food to increase bulk and flavor. It is impossible to know where this fat comes from since manufacturers aren’t required to list sourcing information on the package.
Most rendered fat used in kibble also contains high levels of toxins such as heavy metal or mold mycotoxins, which can prove harmful to your dog.
Artificial coloring
Artificial coloring in dry kibble is a marketing tactic, nothing more. Those meat and vegetable-toned kibble bits are designed to make you believe you’re feeding your dog natural food from real ingredients.
The reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
Most commercial dog food (even brown kibble) is filled with unnecessary artificial food coloring linked to extreme allergic reactions, cancer, cell damage, and other side effects.
Artificial coloring to watch out for:
- Red 40
- Yellow 5 & 6
- Blue 1 & 2
- Titanium Dioxide
- Synthetic Beta Carotene
- Caramel Coloring
Artificial preservatives
Because dry kibble is shelf-stable, it contains various chemical preservatives to keep it fresh. Unsurprisingly, these chemicals aren’t doing your dog any favors. Here are just a few of the common preservatives used in kibble and the potential side effects for your pet:
- BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole): A known carcinogen in humans and linked to kidney damage.
- BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene): Added to keep oils from breaking down. Linked to tumor growth and organ damage.
- Ethoxyquin: Protects against lipid peroxidation and stabilizes fat-soluble vitamins. Used in the production of rubber. Linked to kidney and liver damage.
- STPP (Sodium Tripolyphosphate): Used in detergents to soften hard water. Helps kibble retain moisture and stay fresh. Could act as a possible neurotoxin.
Empty fillers
Most cheap fillers added to dry dog kibble offer no nutritional benefits and act as empty calories in your dog’s diet. Fillers like corn and white flour wreak havoc on blood sugar levels, contributing to overeating, weight gain, and diabetes.
Many foods used as fillers are difficult for dogs to digest and are not part of their natural diet.
Here are some of the common filler ingredients to avoid:
- Wheat
- Corn
- Soy
- Rice flour
- Potato starch
- Cereals
- Brewers rice
- Cellulose
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
MSG is an addictive flavor enhancer used to trick the brain into overeating and compensate for low-quality ingredients. It offers no nutritional value and could cause an allergic reaction in dogs.
You likely won’t see MSG on a dog food label since companies are not required to list it as a separate ingredient.
Instead, look out for these common ingredients that use MSG:
- Hydrolyzed protein
- Protein isolate
- Texturized protein
- Natural flavors (like chicken flavor)
- Autolyzed yeast
- Hydrolyzed yeast
- Yeast extracts
- Soy extracts or concentrate
- Sodium caseinate
- Calcium caseinate
- Monopotassium glutamate
- Glutamate or glutamic acid
- Disodium inosinate or guanylate
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is most commonly used in “pet-safe” antifreeze, but it is also added to semi-moist dog foods to help retain moisture and prevent bacterial growth.
Though it is considered “safe” for dogs by the FDA, it has been banned from cat food and is known to be harmful. In cats, propylene glycol can cause Heinz body anemia, a serious blood disorder.
Avoid all dog food products containing propylene glycol. It serves no nutritional value and is potentially toxic to dogs if ingested in large amounts.
Other ingredients to avoid:
- Melamine
- Salt
- Xylitol
- Artificial flavor
- Sodium hexametaphosphate
How to read dog food labels
When reading any label, whether for dog or human food, the first ingredients make up most of the product. Though you should read the whole label, a quick glance at the first five ingredients offers much information. If any of the nine ingredients mentioned above appear early in the list, put the bag back on the shelf.
You should also keep an eye out for long ingredient lists. Usually, this means a plethora of chemicals, preservatives, and artificial vitamins were added to make up for low-quality primary ingredients.
Pay close attention to the word “with” on the bag. According to the American Kennel Club, if you see a dog food label like “Doggie Dinner With Beef,” the “with” ingredient only needs to make up 3% of the entire product.
Don’t be fooled by the words “natural ingredients.” Many of the nine ingredients on this list could be considered natural, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe or beneficial.
What to look for in dog food
While most kibble is suspect, it’s not all bad. Recent years have seen an uptick in healthy options that offer balanced nutrition for your dog. Here are some of the best ingredients to look for:
Real meat: Real meat (not by-product) should be the first or second ingredient listed on the dog food bag.
Vegetables and fruit: Vegetables and fruit provide essential vitamins and minerals critical for your dog’s overall health. Look for dog superfoods like pumpkin, carrots, and peas.
Whole grains: Some whole grains are actually good for dogs and help keep them full longer, preventing overeating.
If you’re unsure about what to feed your dog, talk with your trusted veterinarian and share your concerns regarding conventional kibble. They will be able to direct you toward reputable brands offering healthy alternatives.
Kibble: Not always the best choice
Kibble is a convenient, popular choice for dog owners to feed their pets. Is it always safe and healthy? Not even close. If you’ve been feeding your dog commercial dry food, take a look at the ingredient list. You might be shocked by what you find.
Thankfully, there are many real food alternatives (beyond the pet food aisle) offering complete nutrition for your pup. From convenient pet food delivery services to trustworthy raw organic brands, there are plenty of options to ensure your dog never eats 4D meat again.
Stay vigilant, read labels, and do your research to find the best food possible. Hint: It probably isn’t kibble.
