Gather ten pet owners in a room, and they’ll likely all have something different to say about the best diet for dogs. Some swear by the cheapest kibble available, saying it’s just as good as more expensive brands. Others disagree and only purchase premium kibble made from the finest ingredients.
Some people cook all of their dogs’ food at home — insisting this is the only way to ensure a healthy diet. Still, others say you shouldn’t cook your dog’s food at all and claim that a raw diet is the most beneficial option.
What’s the truth? How can you provide a healthy diet for your pet when there’s so much conflicting information? We’ve gathered the facts to help you make an informed decision and answer the burning question: kibble vs. raw food, which is better?
What is a raw food diet?
A raw food diet for dogs includes raw meats, vegetables, and some dairy products. It primarily consists of organ meats, muscle meat, whole or ground bones, yogurt, eggs, and certain fruits and vegetables. Raw-food diets are prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The meat usually isn’t cooked, and the vegetables and eggs are raw.
Understanding kibble: why it isn’t the best choice
Since the 1950s, when dry kibble became the dog food of choice, most people haven’t thought twice about heading to the store and picking up a shelf-stable bag of mystery kibble to feed their pet.
After all, pet food manufacturers wouldn’t sell something harmful to dogs, would they? Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
One example is the story of Michigan, a healthy collie-Labrador mix. One day, without warning, Michigan developed kidney failure and passed away. Eventually, through a lawsuit and extensive investigation, it was discovered that the melamine in his dog food was the cause of death.
Melamine is a plastic additive used to make the protein levels in dry kibble appear higher. At the time of the lawsuit in 2007, this additive was found in over 150 dog-food brands — leading to one of the most extensive recalls in pet food history. Who knows how many other pets fell victim to these tainted commercial kibbles?
While kibble is certainly the more convenient option, the trade-off is nutritional value and safety. Is it worth it?
Here are just a few of the other problems with standard dry dog food:
Processing
High heat processing turns “food materials” into dog food that can remain on the shelf for years. This processing strips the food of many beneficial nutrients, which manufacturers then add to the kibble in synthetic form. It also kills the enzymes in food that support gastrointestinal health and aid in digestion.
Low-quality meat
Most pet owners are shocked to realize that the “meat” used in their dogs’ food is anything left over that isn’t safe for human consumption. Some refer to this as 4D meat — meat that is derived from dead, diseased, dying, and disabled livestock.
Chemicals
Chemicals, preservatives, plastics, additives, and colorings are added to pet food to help make it last longer, keep it from going rancid, improve the “nutritional” content, and, yes, make the color more appealing. Why pet food manufacturers feel the need to add coloring to pet food is anyone’s guess.
Here are just some of the toxic ingredients present in certain brands of kibble:
- Sodium Hexametaphosphate
- Corn syrup
- Carrageenan
- MSG
- Propylene glycol
- Melamine (as mentioned above)
- BHA
- BHT
- Ethoxyquin
Dangers of a kibble-only diet
Though pet food companies want you to believe that dry kibble provides the most well-rounded nutrition, there is much discussion surrounding the best diet for pets. Certain studies suggest that dogs fed a homemade diet with healthy ingredients live an average of 32 months longer than dogs who eat industrial pet food.
Proponents of the raw food movement suggest that low-quality kibble can contribute to the following issues in dogs.
- Weight gain
- Inflammation
- Lethargy
- Allergies
- Dehydration
How is raw food any better?
Raw food is much closer to nature and more accurately reflects the diet of dogs from hundreds of years ago. Kibble has been around for less than 100 years, but humans have been domesticating dogs for millennia. Kibble is a relatively recent invention and isn’t the end-all-be-all for pet nutrition.
Though there’s much debate among pet owners, the raw food movement is only growing. When dogs are fed a well-balanced, safely-prepared diet of real, whole ingredients, they often experience fewer chronic conditions and are healthier and more energetic.
Here are just a few benefits of raw food:
Improves skin health
High-quality, nutrient-dense food and healthy fats can help keep skin conditions at bay. Dogs on a raw food diet generally have healthier, more moisturized skin than dogs who eat kibble.
Promotes a shiny coat
Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in raw food diets keep your dog’s coat sleek and shiny. Kibble doesn’t contain many essential nutrients that contribute to coat health. Plus, raw food diets are generally higher in protein, which is critical for skin and coat health.
Improves allergies
Many dogs are allergic to grains and additives in conventional dog food. Raw food, on the other hand, helps reduce food-related and environmental allergies that lead to excessive itching.
Benefits oral health
Along with regularly brushing your dog’s teeth, feeding them a raw food diet could be the key to reducing plaque buildup and bacteria that contributes to bad breath and oral disease. Raw food diets consist of bones and whole vegetables that help remove plaque from the teeth as they chew.
Improves digestion
Dry kibble is essentially “dead food.” It contains the bare minimum nutritional requirements to keep a dog alive but doesn’t support healthy gut bacteria or gastrointestinal health.
With raw food diets, dogs are forced to eat slower and chew more, allowing more time for their food to digest. Raw food is also more bioavailable, meaning the nutrients are absorbed by the body. It improves gastrointestinal conditions and supports a vibrant gut microbiome.
Decreases inflammation and improves the immune system
Many additives in conventional dog food are highly inflammatory and contribute to an array of severe health concerns, including arthritis and heart disease. Antioxidant-rich raw food diets fight free radicals, support the immune system, and keep chronic inflammation at bay.
Is a raw diet safe?
Perhaps the biggest question surrounding a raw food diet for dogs — is whether it safe. Many online resources emphasize the dangers of feeding your dog a raw diet. However, the majority of this information comes from conventional pet food brands that want to retain their customers. This fear-mongering marketing makes many pet owners hesitant to try out a raw food diet.
In most cases, a raw food diet is safe and effective as long as you plan thoroughly, prepare carefully, and buy high-quality ingredients. Though there have been some reports of raw dog food containing antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as E. coli, this does not necessarily correlate to an increase in food poisoning.
Homemade vs. store-bought raw dog food
While making your own raw dog food is possible, this increases the risk of bacterial contamination and could contribute to a nutrient deficiency for your dog if you aren’t feeding them a balanced diet. Preparing food for your dog can also be time-consuming and is a huge hassle for many pet owners.
Finding a reputable raw dog food company is the best way to transition to a raw diet, especially if you are still learning about pet nutrition. Many of these companies create a meal plan curated for your dog’s breed, age, and weight and send fresh or frozen pre-packed meals to your house. This is as easy as opening a kibble bag but is much healthier for your dog.
If you make raw food at home, follow a veterinarian-backed meal plan and practice safe prep guidelines. Cooking certain meats could help reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. There is some discussion that cooking meat could reduce certain beneficial nutrients, but it is still a better option than kibble and could give you peace of mind regarding harmful bacteria. Clean your work surface, wash your hands thoroughly, and wash your dog’s bowl with soap and hot water after every meal.
Cost of raw food vs. kibble
While cost is certainly a factor, it’s also important to realize that you’ll likely save hundreds (if not thousands) on vet bills and health complications if you feed your dog a raw diet.
Finding the best food for your dog doesn’t mean picking the cheapest option. When deciding between raw food and kibble, consider how much you value your dog’s health, happiness, and longevity. You want the best for your furry friend — that means the best food too.
How to transition to raw food
Instead of switching your pooch to a raw food diet all at once, try slowly adding raw food elements into their meals. This helps prevent any digestive upset and allows the transition to go smoothly.
If you’re not ready to fully commit to raw food only, incorporating fresh, quality meat and dog-safe vegetables into their diet along with organic/natural kibble is certainly better than nothing! This hybrid diet can help make up for the nutritional deficiencies of kibble.
Choosing the best for your pet
Just as you ought to care about your health and what you put into your body, you should also care about what you’re feeding your dog. A raw food diet will help them live longer, feel better, and stay active for years to come.
