Our article this month focuses on Kibble vs Raw Dog Food. We will be discussing the difference between the two, the positives and negatives of both, what to look out for and more.

Kibble vs Raw – What is the difference?

 Let’s start with Kibble – Kibble is ground-up ingredients formed into pellets. These are made up of meats, grains, vegetables and more. Kibble is affordable, convenient, easy to clean and available in numerous bag sizes and shapes. Kibble is a diverse dry food that can provide balanced nutrition for your dog. It is designed to be able to supply the proper vitamins and minerals as well as all the other benefits that come from dog food. Kibble is by far the most popular form of food fed to dogs. In fact, in a recent poll we ran, we found 58% of people fed their dogs, Kibble – as opposed to 42% who fed raw. However, there are some things to keep in mind when giving your dog a kibble-focused diet. Those things, specifically the cons – are that certain kibble food may contain highly processed ingredients, added colours and chemicals, low moisture (which can lead a dog to dehydration) and more. Therefore, we recommend sticking to high-quality kibble food and not the cheap ones often found in your local grocery stores.

 Moving on to Raw Dog food – Raw is comprised of (you guessed it – raw food). It is commercially prepared raw food such as meats and dog-safe fruits and vegetables. People often go to raw food as it is considered more natural and has been found to help with superior joint and bone health, reduced body odour, superior dental health and more. The preparation for commercially prepared raw food is a bit different. They are packaged typically in soft patties that must then be divided and put in bowls making it a bit more work than kibble. Over the years, raw food has grown in popularity with many dog owners starting with kibble then switching to raw. One thing to keep in mind is that raw food is just that – ‘raw’ meaning it could be contaminated and lead to bacterial infections (although extremely unlikely).

Let’s sum it up!

 Both have their respective benefits (some of which are mentioned above). It is important to keep in mind that you may have to adjust accordingly depending on your dogs’ habits and individual tastes. Dogs can be particularly picky at times and may refuse to eat their food so switching it up may be the solution to that problem. If this is the case for you – one thing to keep in mind when considering a switch from kibble to raw is to first speak with your vet. Sudden diet changes can leave your dog with an upset stomach for a few days until they can adjust and it’s always good to know the possible side effects of each one before committing to such a change.

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