If you are a dog owner, you may be concerned about the food you serve it. And one of the most popular dog food that we make our beloved dogs consume is Kibble food. In view of the recent inputs and research, Kibble food for dogs has come under scanner. So, is Kibble good for your dog? Can kibble make a dog sick? Let us try finding answers to those questions.
Quick Answer –
If you wonder if kibble can kill dogs, yes – it can. Kibble food generally consists of flavor enhancers and synthetic nutrients added to them. This can cause severe issues in your dog as the digestive system of dogs is NOT designed for the kind of nutrients available in kibble. It may also contain carcinogens which may be dangerous for your dog’s long term health.
What is Kibble and How it is Made?
Kibble is the dry dog food that we serve our dogs with. The kibble food is inclusive of all the dry food that is packed with the ingredients and nutrients that your dog needs. By definition, kibble is a commercially manufactured dog food that is in the dry food form.
What is Kibble dog food made of? The dry dog food, or kibble is made from the ingredients that your dog needs in a process called food extrusion. Raw meats, vegetables, carbs, and fillers are some of the ingredients that go into it. The primary ingredients in the kibble include meat, fat, grains and concentrated minerals and vitamins.
How is kibble made? When the ingredients that WWE just talked about come to the manufacturer, they are turned into a coarse powder and mixed together. Starch in the form of rice, potatoes or or lentils is added to them. The starch is used for binding all the food items bind together. The powdered food is then mixed with waste animal tissues. They together go through the rendering process wherein the food is cooked to prepare what is known as meat meal. This mix is now placed into an expander and the whole mix goes through the process called extrusion. Extrusion is a highly aggressive process and removes practically every nutrient from the so called pet food. Once done, these pellets are faloured by adding fat, coloring and flavoring.
Why Kibble is Bad for Dogs – 5 Reasons that Make Kibble bad for Your Dog
Kibble food for dogs come with several issues. To begin with, Kibble contains substandard ingredients. Most of the ingredients such as chicken and meat is sourced from non-slaughtered sources. Which means the meat or chicken is generally sourced from the dead animals. Isnt that scary? If you really love your fiurry friend, would you want to serve him that kind of food, ever?
Some of the reasons I stopped feeding my doggy with kibble food was due to the following issues I found with them –
1. The quality of the ingredients is substandard
Pet food ingredients are generally sourced for disesed animals. I am sure you are aware of the difference between the laughtered animals and diseased animals. The ingredients go through a process called rendering which supposedly sanitises the meat and removes harmful bacteria from it. But, will we eat putrid chicken even when it “rendered” or purified? Why should our dogs eat it?
Kibble food is also known to cause cancer in dogs. Feeding kibble can be quite equivalent to killing your dog. It has also been stated to cause lier disease in dogs.
2. It consists highly processed ingredients
Highly processed foods are generally left with no nutrients. The high heat used during the food extrusion and rendering can leave the food with nothin good for your dog. What your dog (or even you) find intriguing and attractive is the result of flavor enhancers and synthetic nutrients. The types of acrylamide and other carcinogens contained in the dog food can be dangerous to the dog food.
3. High starch content
Kibble food also consists of grains and other high starch components. They are highly glycemic in nature. Dogs do not need carbohydrates and a high degree of carbohydrates found in the kibble can make it detrimental to the health of your dog. It can cause insulin, glucagon and cortisol spikes in your dog. The high carb content can also cause pet obesity.
4. Low moisture is a concern
kibble food contains a very low level of moisture. It can leave your dog dehydrated for long. It can subsequently result in lethargy, low energy levels, panting and dry nose or eyes. This can result in your dog facing dehydration and want to drink much water.
5. Added Chemicals and Colors
The Kibble food contains colors that may be harmful. In fact, many food colors have been banned in the developed countries. In fact, food colors have been considered to be a rainbow risks in a recent study. These dyes can even cause health issues such as cancer and hypersensitivity.
What Should your Dog eat instead of Kibble?
The right food for dogs would be to serve fresh and whole foods. It is advisable too go with the human grade ingredients. Feeding as much organic food as possible would be a good option. The optimal food for your dog should include healthy fats, high moisture (around 70%). It should also consist of protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients.
The best way is to serve raw food. The raw diet generally consists of organ meats, muscle meat, whole or ground bone, raw eggs, dog-safe fresh fruits and vegetables, and a dairy product such as yogurt. You will find it offering several benefits that include shiny coats, healthy skin, better dental health, incsed energy, and consistent stools.
Can Kibble Food cause Allergies?
There are reports that dogs can face allergic reactions due kibble food. Primary sources of food in kibble are chickens and beef. They have been identified as the major allergens in most of the cases. If you find your dog consistently scratching itself or feeling itchy all of a sudden, it can be an indicator that it has suffered a few allergic reactions.
Some of the allergies that kibble food can cause in dogs include
- Itchy skin
- Skin infection
- Ear infection
- Poor coats
- Weight loss and
- Dirrhoea
High carb Content in Kibble Food can Cause Gut issues
Kibble food comes with several issues. Some of them may include overprocessing, low quality ingredients and high carbs with little protein. But, the starch and carbs in the kibble food are what would result in severe gut and digestive issues in your dog. Dog’s intestines are not made for high carb food, and kibble food consists of a high carb level.
Kibble can also increase the pH level in dog’s stomach. This is another reason that cank throw your dog’s stomach out of sync. Dog’s stomach has one of the lowest pH levels and it is essential to maintain the levels for an optimum health. But, kibble food can increase these levels. It can also cause a leaky gut syndrome.
In Conclusion
Kibble is perhaps one of the most commonly used food that dog owners rely upon. But, it should be noted that kibble food is never the best food item that you should feed your dog with. It is quite bland, and in addition, comes with several issues. The processed nature of the food is known to result in allergies, dehydration and several other other problems in your beloved dog.
FAQs
Can a dog survive on kibble?
Dogs can live on kibble food. But, from the health point of view, the dog gut is not made for dry food. It is advisable to feed them wiht raw food, and with human ingredients to be precise. The kibble food does not have any nutritional value. Most of the ingredients in kibble food are bland and serve no nutritional purpose. Moreover, they can also cause dehydration issues.
What is dog kibble made of?
Kibble food is generally made from meat, grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits. The food items are mixed, powdered and rendered. Then they go through a process called extrusion to remove moisture in them.
Is kibble hard to digest?
Kibble food is completely bland and can be easily digested. However, it does not serve much nutritional purposes. That is one of the reasons raw food advocates suggest not using kibble food as the staple diet for your dogs.
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