The Truth About Raw Food Vs Kibble For Dogs

Did you know that dogs were domesticated around 20,000-50,000 years ago but that the first commercial dog food didn’t appear until the 1920s?

While this may shock some, our modern conception of dog food hasn’t existed for very long! Before the 1800s, most working or domesticated dogs were fed table scraps, meat, bones, or other animal parts that humans didn’t want.

Today, we’re going to explore the differences between raw food vs kibble, dive into the history of kibble, and explain the pros and cons of both feeding styles.

Table of Contents

1. The History of Dog Food and Kibble
2. What is Kibble?
3. What is Raw Dog Food?
4. 5 Key Differences: Raw Food vs Kibble
5. Conclusion: Feeding as Many Fresh Foods as Possible
6. Frequently Asked Questions

The history of dog food and kibble

Have You Ever Wondered When Kibble or Dog Food Was Invented? To answer these questions, we must dive into the history of dog food.

• Late 1800s: The first dog biscuit was made by an American electrician named James Spratt, who was looking for a convenient way to feed stray dogs. The biscuit ingredients included vegetables, wheat, and blood. Milk-Bone was also invented at this time and gained popularity.
• The 1920s and 1930s: The F.H. Bennett Biscuit Company, the inventors of Milk-Bone, introduced the first dry dog food. Other brands of dry food also became commercially available. Additionally, the first canned wet food was invented by the Chappel Brothers, called “Ken-L-Ration.”
• The 1940s: Although canned wet food became very popular, World War II caused a metal shortage due to its allocation to war materials. This caused a shift from canned wet food to bagged dry food.
• The 1950s: Purina Dog Chow introduced the first true “dog kibble” to the market, which sparked a significant advancement in dry dog food commercialization.
• The 1960s: At this time, extrusion technology was introduced, which standardized the shape and color of food. It also allowed for mass production of a shelf-stable product. Extrusion is the process of boiling scraps, fat, and meat together and later adding starch and vitamins.
• The 1990s: Oma’s Pride began crafting and distributing raw pet food after a family dog became sick eating dry food. The Signature Mix (made from meat, bones, organs, and vegetables) was born after studying how wolves in the wild ate. After 30 days of the new raw diet, the family dog was fully recovered and healthy!
• Modern Day: The pet food industry is huge, as many pet owners purchase their pet’s food from a local pet store or online. Pet parents have many brands to choose from, including raw, dry, wet, lightly cooked, freeze-dried, and more.

What is Kibble?

Kibble is a dry, commercially available pet food typically made using extrusion.

How is Kibble Made?

• Step 1: Ingredients like meat, vegetables, grains, and legumes are boiled or steamed and shaped into standard balls.
• Step 2: A brown color spray is applied for a uniform appearance.
• Step 3: Vitamins, minerals, and fats are sprayed onto the kibble balls.
• Step 4: The extruded kibble is packaged, sealed, and shipped to pet parents.

Characteristics of Kibble

• Almost all kibbles are highly processed and cooked at high temperatures to preserve shelf life.
• Kibble typically contains a high carbohydrate content.

Not All Kibbles Are Made Equal

Now, you may be wondering, is kibble bad for dogs?

• The quality of store-bought kibble can vary drastically depending on processing, ingredients used, and more.
• Low-quality kibbles: These can contain byproducts and raw materials considered "suitable" for dog consumption. Sadly, ingredients like road kill, dying animals, spoiled human foods, waste, byproducts, and other materials have been known to make it into mass-produced kibbles.
• For example: If a kibble bag lists a generic ingredient like "meat meal," this can legally be sourced from almost any mammal, including road kill or dying animals.
• Higher-quality kibbles: These include real meat listed toward the beginning of the ingredient list, sourced domestically or from known origins, and contain easy-to-identify ingredient names on the label.

What is Raw Dog Food?

Raw dog food is an uncooked diet for dogs consisting of meat, bones, and organs. A raw diet can also include other nutritional ingredients like:

• Dog-safe fruits
• Vegetables
• Oils
• Eggs
• Seeds
• Tripe
• Dairy products

Types of Raw Diets

• Homemade raw diets
• Purchased raw diets in frozen, dehydrated, or freeze-dried forms

Why is a Raw Diet Good for Dogs?

A raw diet is considered the most ideal, biologically appropriate option for carnivorous dogs and cats (Carnivora). Dogs' carnivorous characteristics include:

• Short GI tract
• Elongated sharp teeth
• Wide jaws
• Tight molar digitation
• No nutritional requirement for carbohydrates
• Highly acidic stomachs

Concerns About Feeding Raw?

If you're nervous about feeding raw, check out common misconceptions about raw food here: Raw Feeding Myths Versus Facts.

Raw Feeding Models

People typically follow a raw feeding model to achieve a balanced diet. Two of the most popular models are:

1. BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) Diet

This model recommends the following composition:

• 70% muscle meat
• 10% raw edible bone
• 7% vegetables
• 5% liver
• 5% other secreting organ
• 2% seeds or nuts
• 1% fruit

2. PMR (Prey Model Raw)

This model includes:

• 80% muscle meat
• 10% raw edible bone
• 5% liver
• 5% other secreting organs

Benefits of Raw Food for Dogs

A dog’s overall health improves when they eat more biologically appropriate whole foods instead of processed or synthetic foods. Specific benefits of a raw diet include:

• Natural allergy relief
• Softer, shinier skin and coats
• Strong, clean teeth and gums
• Improved alertness and cognition
• Better weight control
• Reduced inflammation
• Smaller, less stinky poops
• Boosted hydration
• Improved gut functioning

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5 Key Differences: Raw Food vs Kibble

Now that you understand what raw food and kibble are, let’s dive into some specific differences between the two.

1. Moisture Content

One fundamental rule for functioning life is water. We can go weeks without eating but only live 1-3 days without water. Water is vital because it is at the root of every bodily function: hair and skin health, properly working joints, digestion, toxin elimination, and so much more.

Moisture Content in Kibble

When discussing hydration in raw food vs kibble, the difference is vast. During kibble processing, the moisture is removed to make it more shelf-stable and cost-effective.

Tip! Curious about the moisture percentage in your dog’s food? You can always check it on the back of your bag in the “Guaranteed Analysis” section.

On average, dry dog food contains about 5-10% moisture, which is very low. Sadly, if a dog eats exclusively kibble or dry food without any additional ingredients, it can lead to dehydration in two ways.

• First, dogs must choose to go to the water bowl instead of getting water in their meals (and some dogs just aren’t good at that).
• Second, the body expends its stored moisture to process the food, leaving insufficient water for other bodily functions. If dehydration persists, there's an added risk of inadequate food digestion.

Dehydration concerns can be exacerbated by the high carbohydrate content in the dry food, which is already challenging to digest, especially without sufficient water.

Although it won’t make up for all of the lost moisture content, pet parents can add water, bone broth, or even raw milk to kibble to reduce the chances of dehydration.

Moisture Content in Raw Diets

On average, gently cooked diets contain 60-65% moisture, while raw diets contain 70-75%.

Raw diets are rich in intracellular moisture (the liquid content inside cells). This natural moisture in raw food hydrates dogs at the cellular level, which is more powerful than water alone.

Not only is this beneficial for hydration purposes, but dogs who receive more moisture in their diets are prone to having:

• Healthier skin and coats
• Better dental health
• Easier body temperature regulation
• Better elimination habits
• Healthier, well-lubricated joints

2. Carbohydrate Levels

There is a lively debate in the pet community about whether dogs require carbohydrates. Dogs are “scavenging carnivores,” meaning they can survive eating a diet high in carbs but not thrive.

Most raw feeders agree that excessive carbohydrates instead of meat are not nutritionally appropriate for dogs. And, although dogs may not have a biological requirement for carbohydrates, fresh foods like fruits and vegetables offer beneficial nutrients like antioxidants and fiber that are lacking in animal sources.

Carb Levels in Kibble

On average, commercial kibble recipes typically contain 40-60% carbohydrates from high-starch sources like rice, corn, barley, oatmeal, potatoes, or peas.

These ingredients, rich in starch (sugar), can lead to gut microbiome dysbiosis by promoting the growth of harmful bacteria. High carbohydrate diets are also linked to obesity and cardiovascular health issues, and the crops used are often laden with chemicals and pesticides.

Tip! The carbohydrate content is not readily available on your dog food label. To calculate it, use the formula:
100 - (Protein + Fat + Fiber + Moisture) = Carbohydrate Percentage.

Carb Levels in Raw Food

Carbohydrate levels in raw food are typically low and under 10%.

Personally, I aim to keep the carbohydrate percentage under 5%, favoring high-fiber foods over starchy options like potatoes and rice.

High-fiber foods include steamed broccoli, microgreens, berries, steamed kale or spinach, boiled carrots, green beans, and pure pumpkin.

Raw diet formulators and commercial raw products often maintain carbohydrate levels at 2-4%, incorporating higher-quality ingredients like broccoli and carrots. However, caution is advised with some gently cooked recipes on the market, as many still contain a high percentage of carbohydrates.

3. Ingredient Quality

The sourcing and origin of ingredients are important to determine just how healthy the ingredients are.

For example, dairy cows raised in pastures with ample space, sunshine, and fresh air have more nutritious milk.

Chickens raised in open-grass pastures have more healthy fats plus higher vitamin E levels compared to over-crowded farming practices. Free-range and grass-fed meats naturally contain less harmful bacteria like pathogenic E. coli as well.

Kibble Ingredient Quality

Low-quality kibbles often opt for cost-effective ingredients at the expense of quality.

To maintain high profit margins, some kibble companies lean towards sourcing inexpensive ingredients, resulting in a higher volume of plant-based proteins rather than more beneficial animal sources, despite the latter being more advantageous for our canine companions.

Sadly, lower-quality kibbles often source ingredients from byproducts at rendering plants.

Why are rendering plants problematic?

Rendering plants receive leftover ingredients from slaughterhouses and materials like spoiled food from fast food chains, supermarkets, ranches, farms, and animal shelters. The materials submitted to rendering plants can even include plastic and styrofoam from packaging. Plastics and metals from ear tags and other identification methods are also found. Furthermore, these materials are often from animals that were sick, already dead, or euthanized.

AFFCO (The Association of American Feed Control) has stated:

“Meat and meat byproducts not directly suitable for animal food that are designated as 4-D (dead, dying, diseased or disabled). These are considered adulterated—unless processed in a manner that rids them of disease-causing microorganisms prior to becoming animal feed. This is most often done by rendering, which subjects the materials to heat and pressure to eliminate harmful bacteria…Raw materials that may have come from diseased or disabled animals are prohibited from use as raw animal feed or raw pet food. Cooking, high-temperature treatment or rendering can kill potential microbial agents and make such products safe for animal consumption.”

AFFCO regulations allow rendered 4-D meats in kibble since cooking at high temperatures should kill off the contaminants. However, heating contaminants increases the levels of exotoxins, toxins secreted by bacteria breakdown during the rendering process. Additionally, pentobarbital, the drug used to euthanize dying or sick animals, is resistant to heating and canning temperatures.

Please note that not all kibbles are made from rendered ingredients; however, it is easier to mask low-quality ingredients in kibble because of the high-heat processing. If you feed a kibble diet (or a partial one), investigate where the ingredients come from!

Raw food ingredient quality

On the other hand, commercial raw diets tend to contain higher-quality ingredients because the ingredients are not highly processed. In general, raw diets have a high percentage of animal ingredients (about 70-80%) and typically source from farms, not rendering plants.

Why do raw ingredients matter? Raw ingredients are far more bioavailable than processed ingredients, allowing dogs to process and absorb all nutrients, enzymes, and minerals. Studies have even shown that pets digest food better when it’s raw.

At the end of the day, every company is different. Be sure to research the source of the ingredients in your pet’s food regardless of what type of food you choose!

If you haven’t already, check out Oma’s Pride raw food. Here are some facts about their sourcing:

• Ingredients are sourced from multi-generational, family-owned farms and USDA-inspected processors.
• Meats are grass-fed and antibiotic-free (never 4-D or rendered).
• Ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible.
• Proteins are always USA-sourced (except for some exotics and select lamb).
• Oma’s Pride has 70+ years of expertise and credibility in the meat, vegetable, and transportation supply chains.
• Food is made from 100% human-grade meat, vegetables, organs, bones, and herbs.
• All ingredients arrive from USDA facilities.
• All food is crafted in small batches of 200 pounds or less in a USDA facility.

4. Omega 6 and Omega 3 Ratios

Fatty acids are the building blocks of dietary fats and are categorized as omega-6 or omega-3. Both are beneficial and needed for proper bodily functions. However, they should be presented in a careful ratio.

There is no recommended ratio, as the National Research Council (NRC) recommends a wide range of ratios of 2.6:1 to 26:1 omega-6 to omega-3. AAFCO guidelines offer a maximum ratio of 30:1. For humans, the recommended ratio is much lower at 5:1 to 10:1.

Although at a certain level omega-6’s are beneficial, their main function is to increase necessary inflammation to help the body deal with injury and illness. Too much can cause an auto-immune response where the immune system ramps up too high and begins to attack its own body.

A common symptom of an overworking immune system is itchy skin, a problem so many pets experience. A study by Scott et al. demonstrated that a diet with an overall dietary omega-6: omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 5:1 and 10:1 satisfactorily controlled itchiness. In contrast, higher ratios did not.

How are omega-6 levels different between raw and kibble diets?

• Kibble diets: Kibble diets often contain higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids due to the inclusion of plant-based oils, grains, and processed fats. Ingredients like corn oil, sunflower oil, or soybean oil are commonly used in kibble recipes and tend to be rich in omega-6. However, many kibbles end up with an unbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, often exceeding the recommended 30:1 range.
• Raw diets: Raw diets tend to have a more balanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Raw meat, especially from grass-fed animals, often has a better balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The inclusion of whole prey, organs, and bones in raw diets helps maintain a healthier ratio. Some raw food formulations may also include fatty fish like salmon, which boosts omega-3 levels to help balance omega-6.

Overall, while both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for dogs' health, it's important to ensure the correct ratio is maintained to prevent issues like inflammation and immune system imbalance.

• Kibble diets: Oils commonly used in commercial dry food include sunflower, safflower, grapeseed, and soybean. These oils are lower in cost and are typically high in omega-6 levels. While omega-6 fatty acids are essential, an imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 can lead to inflammation and other health issues in dogs.
• Raw diets: Raw diets tend not to contain these oils and instead use high-quality options like coconut oil, which is lower in omega-6 and can offer additional health benefits. Some raw diets also include flaxseed oil, which contains both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, helping to maintain a better balance for the dog's overall health.

5. Cost: Raw Food vs Kibble

On average, a standard kibble diet is less expensive per pound to feed than a raw diet. However, many kibble-fed dogs experience health issues at higher rates than raw-fed dogs. It’s not uncommon for dogs who eat exclusively kibble to experience issues like severe allergies, inflammation, stinky poops, chronic dehydration, diabetes, obesity, and even long-term development of cancers or tumors.

It’s true: raw food can be more expensive in the short term. However, in the long run, many pet parents find that they save money by feeding a biologically-appropriate diet. How? Less chronic and repetitive health issues over time means fewer vet visits, fewer medications, fewer surgeries, and more.

Although a standard kibble tends to be less expensive than raw food, this isn’t always the case. The brand you choose, how many pets you have, and how much your pets weigh will determine the cost for your household.

• Kibbles can cost as low as $1 a day up to $13 a day per dog, depending on the brand.
• Raw food ranges from $3 a day to $10 or more daily per dog.

Check out the chart below to see how much it costs daily and monthly to feed Oma’s Pride raw food on a subscription!

Special Note: Mixing Kibble and Raw

It’s also important to note that pet parents don’t need to choose between kibble or raw food. Here are some alternatives to feed as much fresh food as possible!

• Feed raw toppers: If you use kibble as a base, you can top the kibble with freeze-dried or frozen raw to add a nutritional boost to the bowl!
• Mix it up: Incorporate both kibble and fresh, whole foods like raw into your dog’s bowl each meal. They can benefit from both at the same time!
• Switch mornings and afternoons: Consider splitting your dog’s diet in half! For example, you can feed kibble in the morning and raw food in the evening (or vice versa).
• Train and travel with raw: If you feed a mostly kibble diet, consider buying high-value freeze-dried training treats like Lamb Lung to get the benefits of raw in a convenient, travel-ready package!

Please note that most pets can eat kibble and raw at the same time.

However, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, changing foods too quickly can cause digestive upset. If your pup is sensitive, incorporate new foods slowly into their diet. You can also supplement with canned 100% pumpkin or a supplement like Digestive Performance to help!

Conclusion: feeding as many fresh foods as possible

At the end of the day, every pet parent’s situation is different. While there are major downsides to kibble, it’s understandable that feeding a completely raw diet isn’t always possible.

Remember: the more raw, whole foods you can incorporate into your dog’s bowl, the better! Your dog can benefit from any raw food, whether a daily snack, bowl topper, or training treat.

Health starts in your dog’s bowl. When deciding on the best diet for your dog, consider the pros and cons of kibble and raw to make the most informed decision that works for you!

Frequently asked questions

Is kibble bad for dogs?

Kibble can negatively impact your dog’s health because it’s made with preservatives, is extruded at high temperatures, contains very little moisture, has excess carbohydrates, and low-quality ingredients.

References

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