Raw Dog Food vs Kibble

Since the 1980s, kibble has gained immense popularity as a convenient dog food worldwide. It is often favoured by busy pet owners due to its time-saving nature. 

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the availability of natural balanced and complete convenient options for raw dog food, including raw puppy food and senior raw dog food.

The trend reflects a growing preference among pet parents for incorporating fewer processed foods into their dogs’ diets, focusing on health and longevity. This shift towards healthier eating habits, observed in human food choices, is now evident in the realm of dog food. 

What is better - Raw or Kibble?

Raw dog food, particularly a SARF (Species Appropriate Raw Food) provides all the necessary nutrients for maintaining a fit and active canine, utilising only natural and wholesome foods that are easily digestible. In addition to this, the raw diet has an extensive list of benefits. 

In contrast, kibble often contains less beneficial components such as carbohydrates, and artificial preservatives. The manufacturing process of kibble involves high-heat and high-pressure cooking, which diminishes the nutritional value of the ingredients used. You can find more information about the downsides of feeding kibble here.

What are the downsides of Kibble?

Pancreatitis

A correlation has been found between pancreatitis and the consumption of a high-carbohydrate diet, particularly one that undergoes intensive processing, leading to the presence of heated and oxidised fats. 

The prevalence of cancer in dogs has also shown an increase since the commercialisation of dog food. One significant factor contributing to pancreatitis in dogs is the consumption of processed foods that contain low-quality fats, are often allergenic, and can induce gut inflammation.

Highly processed foods commonly rely on grains as a source of energy and fibre. However, these grains are not ideal for dogs with pancreatitis.  

Dry dog foods such as Hills Science for Stomach and Skin state  “Hill’s Science Plan Sensitive Stomach and Skin Adult dog food with Chicken supports digestive health with prebiotic fibre and promotes a beautiful coat. Key Benefits consist of high digestibility for optimal nutrient absorption and easier stool pick-up, Vitamin E and Omega-6 for skin nourishment and prebiotic fibre to fuel beneficial gut bacteria and support a balanced microbiome”

However, the primary ingredient listed is  “Brewer’s rice.” Hills claims that their dry food contains chicken, but chicken and turkey meal are listed as the second ingredients on the label. 

Meat meal is derived from animal parts that are not typically consumed by humans. This can include a significant portion of the original animal, including residual meat, offal, connective tissues, and sometimes bones. According to the UK Feeding Stuffs Regulations meat meal should be devoid of hair, bristle, feathers, horn, hoof, skin, and the contents of the stomach and viscera. 

The process of creating meat meal along with many other animal by-products, is known as rendering. Initially, the raw animal materials are ground and cooked, often with the use of steam, for around 40 to 90 minutes at temperatures ranging from approximately 115 to 145 degrees Celsius.

This process removes moisture and applies pressure to separate the melted fats from the protein and bone solids. The cooking phase effectively eliminates all microorganisms and parasites. Following cooking and fat separation, the mixture undergoes further processing involving moisture removal and grinding to produce the final powder form.

Making kibble, very dehydrating for your dog.

Why choose a SARF diet?

Throughout their evolutionary history, dogs have flourished by consuming a diet primarily consisting of raw meat in their natural habitats. 

The human choice to commercialise and cook dog food has unfortunately introduced additional health risks for them. However, it is never too late to make a change and prioritise their well-being.If you’re interested in making the step and transitioning onto SARF, visit our changeover page today.

We are driven to help pets live longer, happier and healthier lives with raw food.
For more information on how we can help you and your pet get in touch!

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