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Is kibble good for dogs and cats? Understand the difference between low-quality and premium dry pet food, plus tips for choosing healthy, nutrient-rich options.
Dry pet food, or kibble, has long been a go-to diet for many dogs and cats. It’s affordable, long-lasting, and easy to serve — just measure, scoop, and pour. No wonder a 2024 Nextin Research study found that over half of us choose it for our animals. The question is, is kibble good for dogs and cats? Or are we sacrificing their health and well-being for the sake of convenience?
It depends. Many of the dry pet foods lining shelves at the grocery store aren’t very healthy. They’re packed with fillers, excess carbohydrates, and artificial additives that can actually harm a dog or cat’s health over time. Fortunately, a growing number of premium pet food companies are raising the bar on kibble by raising their standards. Instead of focusing only on convenience, they create high-quality kibble with superior nutrients. These nutrients help support your dog or cat’s health and longevity.
What’s the problem with cheap kibble?
Low-end kibble often contains fillers like wheat, corn, soy, or rice. All are high in carbohydrates. This approach fails to meet the dietary requirements of dogs and cats. Our feline friends in particular are carnivorous and need meat-based protein to thrive. Dogs are more omnivorous but still need a protein-rich, nutrient-dense diet.
Cheap kibble also tends to contain too much salt. “Low-quality pet foods often have excessive sodium and imbalanced minerals, which can increase the risk of diseases, including liver damage and urinary tract infections (UTIs),” says food scientist Bryan Quoc Le, PhD. “Over time, feeding these diets can reduce quality of life and lifespan due to inadequate nutrition and elevated exposure to harmful substances.”
Along with carb-dense fillers and sodium, many low-grade kibbles include by-products, rendered fats, artificial colors, and preservatives. These ingredients can lead to obesity, diabetes, poor coat condition, digestive issues, and periodontal disease, as well as chronic inflammation.
How are premium pet food companies redefining kibble?
Pet food companies know convenience is a top priority in today’s busy world. Premium kibble brands also use convenience as a foundation for their dog and cat diets, but their main focus is to create nutritious kibble with balanced ingredients and better cooking methods. Let’s take a closer look at how they accomplish this:
- They use higher-quality proteins
This means no unnamed meat by-products or meals, which are highly processed. Instead, premium pet food companies use fresh meat, such as chicken, beef, fish, lamb, or turkey, as the first ingredient in their dry foods. Some even use specialty proteins such as duck or venison, which give dog and cat parents different options if their animals are intolerant to certain proteins. Real named meat ingredients provide a source of protein that supports the immune system, muscle function, and overall health.
- Their diets include whole foods
Premium kibble brands use whole foods instead of synthetic vitamins and minerals. This ensures your dog or cat gets the nutrition they need. Ingredients such as sweet potatoes, lentils, peas, spinach, blueberries, and flaxseed provide a source of nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber. This helps keep your animal’s digestive system working smoothly and also offers joint and immune support. In addition, their skin and coat will be soft and healthy!
- They choose low-glycemic carbohydrates
To form dog and cat food into kibble, some carbs are needed. However, not all carbs are created equal. Low-glycemic carbs like chickpeas or oats help keep blood sugar stable. This reduces the risk of diabetes, obesity, and inflammation. These complex carbs also help prevent overeating, and keep your dog or cat satisfied longer thanks to the slower, more sustainable release of energy they provide.
- Their cooking methods utilize lower temperatures
Manufacturers make low-quality kibble with a process called extrusion. It’s a high-heat process that destroys nutrients and alters proteins. This makes the food more shelf stable – but also less nutritious and harder for a dog or cat to digest. Premium pet food companies use low-temperature cooking methods, such as cold-pressing and oven-baking, when making dry food. Lower cooking temperatures preserve the ingredients — and the flavor.
Is high-quality dry pet food easy to find?
Yes! More and more pet food companies are responding to consumer demand for better quality kibble diets for their animals. This means healthy, nutritious dry foods for dogs and cats are much easer to find than they used to be.
Among these companies is NutriSource. They dedicate their efforts to providing a balanced meal profile to its customers. Their formula supports gut health, skin, coat, and immune function by focusing on bioavailable nutrients as well as prebiotics and probiotics, nourishing both cats and dogs from the inside out. NutriSource grinds their meat, mills their own grain, and cooks it all up at low temperatures to preserve nutrient and flavor profiles.
CHARM is another company that specializes in nutritious premium dry food recipes for dogs and cats. Their diets incorporate a variety of high-quality ingredients, including meats such as chicken, duck and salmon, along with vegetables like peas, sweet potatoes and apples. They also feature functional superfoods for an extra health boost – e.g. Reishi and Turkey Tail mushrooms, turmeric, cranberries and blueberries.
Many stores now carry high-quality kibble for dogs and cats. You can choose one that fits your animal’s needs without losing the convenience of shelf-stable, easy-to-serve food. If you’re overwhelmed by all the options, consult your holistic or integrative veterinarian for advice and guidance on the diet that best suits your animal companion. They can help you narrow down your choices.
Thanks to higher-quality ingredients and more thoughtful manufacturing and cooking processes, premium pet food companies have transformed dry pet food. Now you can find comfort in giving your dog or cat the nutrients they need to live a long and healthy life, without sacrificing convenience.
7 things to look for when buying kibble for your dog or cat
- Real meat: The first ingredient should be a real, named, whole meat, such as chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, etc.
- No to few fillers: Avoid foods with corn, wheat or soy high on the ingredients list.
- Complex carbohydrates: Opt for products that use sweet potatoes, lentils or oats, rather than rice or corn.
- No synthetic additives: Look for natural colors, flavors, preservatives, and natural sources of vitamins and minerals.
- Probiotics and prebiotics: These help support gut and immune health.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Fish or flaxseed oil helps lead to better skin and coat condition, as well as joint and cognitive health.
- Brand transparency: Choose pet food companies that are transparent about their sourcing, cooking processes, and ingredient quality.
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Laurie Riihimaki is a full-time freelance writer and editor covering a range of topics from animals and holistic medicine to fitness and personal development. Her theatre background in Boston, London, and New York City have helped her create a fun voice that she utilizes in her writing. When not writing for work, Laurie puts time into developing novels, poetry, and personal essays. And when she isn’t writing, she is directing, acting, painting, exploring nature, reading, or spending time with her family and dog.
