Processed dry dog food has been cooked four to six times at high heat. The end product is a bag of refined carbohydrates and food that is not as digestible as fresh food. Like the fast food we eat or "TV dinners," several companies use synthetic vitamins and minerals to augment nutrition since processing takes away much of the nutrient content.

If you solely give your dog kibble, you run the risk of causing weight gain, digestive issues, low energy, poor skin and coat, degenerative diseases, and cancer.

Natural sugars, such as those found in bananas, sweet potatoes, and carrots are not harmful when consumed in moderation. Sugar can be a source of energy needed by your dog's brain and body.  However, not only are large amounts of refined sugar and carbohydrates not required for dogs to be healthy and active, but they can also be detrimental to your beloved pet's health and longevity.

Surprisingly, many dog foods have sugar added to them! When we hear "dog food," we don't immediately think "sweet," but sugar is used to conceal the bitter flavor of 'filler' ingredients, improve the texture of the food, and make it more appetizing. It masks unpleasant flavors and odors your dog might otherwise reject, such as animal by-products, fillers, chemicals, preservatives, and other additives.

Sugar may also be added to some kibble to build an addiction to their particular food brand. After all, if your dog only wants to eat one type of food - and only that brand — you'll keep buying it.

When reading the ingredient list on dog food and treats, it might be difficult to tell which ingredients are sugars. The term "sugar" typically refers to cane sugar, but it can also refer to sucrose, caramel, corn syrup, and other sugars. Here are a few more terms you could see on dog food labels:

Fructose is a sweet sugar that comes from fruits.

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that can be produced from fruits or synthesized.

Beet pulp is a by-product of sugar beet manufacturing. This is not the red-purple vegetable, generally thought of as a beet, but a separate vegetable called a sugar beet. It's white and has the appearance of a long turnip. It's high in sucrose, often known as "table sugar," which is utilized in various sweets like candies and baked goods. After the sugar is removed, beet pulp remains. The pulp is a fermentable fiber that is used by the gut microbiome  to create short-chain fatty acids.

Although honey and molasses are typically regarded as healthier alternatives, they are still sugars.

Carbohydrates and starches are converted to sugars by the body during digestion.  Many commercial kibbles available in grocery stores are loaded with up to 70% carbohydrates.

When examining the label on the bag of kibble, you will notice that the percentage of carbohydrates is not listed. You can calculate the carbohydrate content utilizing the following formula:

Protein + Fat + Moisture + Ash, then subtract 100 = Carbohydrates  

High glycemic carbohydrates stimulate our dog's body to produce too much insulin, which is referred to as hyperinsulinemia. Cancer, obesity, and canine cognitive decline are all linked to this illness. 

Large amounts of carbs can only increase the alarming risk of cancer in our dogs, who already have a higher risk of developing the condition due to environmental toxins. Additionally, cancer thrives on sugar, so providing it only encourages further growth.

Genetically modified (GMO) grains and other high-starch carbohydrates make up the majority (60%) of kibble. Metabolically, this causes an increase in insulin, glucagon, and cortisol levels throughout the day. The high carbohydrate diet promotes diseases such as diabetes and obesity, contributing to the growing pet obesity epidemic. The grain-free kibble contains starchy carbohydrates, like beans, peas, and lentils.

Kibble is a low-moisture product that can leave a dog constantly dehydrated. Imagine eating nothing but saltine crackers. With kibble having only 10% moisture, kibble-fed dogs can become chronically dehydrated. 

Freeze-dried, dehydrated, or air-dried dog food often comes in a bag and needs rehydration before feeding. However, some types of treats do not need to be rehydrated. In those cases, providing your dog with water while eating is recommended.

Clinical signs of dehydration include lethargy, loss of elasticity in the skin, and dry nose and gums. Chronic dehydration can lead to kidney stones or life-threatening chronic kidney disease. 

One option to prevent dehydration is to add water or bone broth to your dog’s bowl of kibble. Adding raw ingredients or switching to a completely raw diet will safeguard against dehydration as raw food is generally 70% moisture compared to 10% dry kibble.  

Artificial Colors, Flavors, and Preservatives in Dog Food

Your dog does not care about the color of her food, so there is no need for artificial dyes to make the food look like peas and carrots! Artificial flavors should not be needed if the ingredients contain high-quality natural meats and fats. 

There are two types of flavor additives, natural and artificial. Although the FDA requires that natural flavors must be derived from an organic source, extracting the flavor requires a process that adds toxic chemicals to the product. Artificial flavoring involves synthetic compounds that are not typically found in food.

Food preservatives are used in dog food to ensure the integrity and stability of the ingredients. However, commonly used preservatives, such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin have been linked to cancer, kidney disease, pancreatitis, allergies, skin problems, blindness, and immunodeficiency. A comprehensive five-year study on dogs in the early 1960s that revealed disturbing evidence about the toxicity of ethoxyquin. And yet these preservatives are still being used.

Several natural preservatives, such as tocopherols (vitamin E), vitamin C, and rosemary extract, can be used in kibble. However, these natural products do not preserve foods as long as artificial preservatives. The limited shelf life means that kibble would need to be made in smaller batches and turn over of the product would need to be monitored more closely.  

Because kibble is heated at least four times intensely during manufacturing, vitamins are destroyed, and minerals are altered. As a result, synthetic compounds must be added to the food to meet the nutritional guidelines set by AAFCO. 

The concern about these synthetic compounds is that there is evidence that they are not comparable to natural compounds and they are not bioavailable for your dog's metabolic processes.

Natural vitamins are complex compounds that contain enzymes, coenzymes, transporters, and co-factors. Without the full complement of components, synthetic vitamins can not perform their full range of biological processes. Synthetic vitamins contain just one part of the vitamin complex.

Synthetic vitamins and minerals are less efficient for your dog, and can also be toxic! Many studies on the toxicity of synthetic vitamins and minerals in humans reveal higher cancer and death rates in individuals who take too many synthetic compounds.

Dog food brands range in cost from the least expensive, averaging $2.00 per pound, to higher quality kibble averaging closer to $4.00 per pound.  Dehydrated and freeze-dried options are more costly at $10.00 per pound and $33.00 per pound, respectively.  

Feeding a whole food raw diet will increase your monthly costs for feeding, but the overall annual costs can actually be reduced when you factor in the savings on veterinary bills.  

Many of the most common reasons for veterinary visits, poor oral health, diabetes, skin problems, gastrointestinal diseases, heart conditions, and obesity may be avoided if you feed your dog a raw diet. Let’s examine just one common condition that can be prevented with a raw diet that includes providing raw meaty bones – poor oral health.

Oral health is a very costly problem in dogs. It has been established that 75-85% of dogs have periodontal disease caused by plaque accumulation by two years of age! Why is this? Kibble has so little moisture that, a stick bolus of food is created when mixed with saliva. In addition, dog saliva lacks amylase!  No digestion of carbohydrates and sugars occurs. The result: tartar buildup  on your dog's teeth and gum line! 

Annual dental exams with teeth cleaning average between $300-$700 or more, depending on the extent of damage to the teeth and gums. If teeth have to be removed, there are fees for each extraction. 

The cooking process eliminates essential enzymes and vitamins found in raw food. Dogs should eat fresh, healthy foods manufactured from human-grade components. Grass-fed, free-range, and organic are ideal because these meats are more nutrient-dense and free of harmful pesticides and herbicides.

The raw diet also promotes a dog's health and well-being. Dogs evolved to eat raw meats, bones, and vegetation consumed by their wild counterparts, the wolf, coyote, fox, and other wild canids. 

However, if you cannot feed raw, investigate which kibble brand has the best ingredients without the artificial ingredients and synthetic vitamins and minerals. Add fresh foods and minimally processed or air-dried treats as kibble toppers to supplement your dog’s bowl.  

Processed dry dog food has been cooked at least 4 to 6 times at abnormally high heat resulting in little to no natural nutrition. Instead, synthetic vitamins and minerals are added.

Commercial kibble diets contain up to 70% sugar.

The correlation between kibble and cancer rate is high.

Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks | Center for Science in the Public Interest 

Is meat from diseased and non-slaughtered animals in pet food safe? 

Tumors show enhanced dependency on glucose and glycolytic pathway 

Why do cancers have high aerobic glycolysis? 

Metabolic changes during carcinogenesis: Potential impact on invasiveness 

Cancer's sweet tooth: the Janus effect of glucose metabolism in tumorigenesis 

Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.

Unit 4 - Pesticides Plague Your Dog Daily

Unit 2 - Raw Meaty Bones: Safety And How To Add 

Unit 3 - AAFCO And NRC: Why Were Standards Established? 

Unit 1 - Learning About The Gut Microbiome 

Synthetic Vitamins And Minerals In Commercial Dog Foods 

Processed dry dog food is cooked at high temperatures four to six times, leaving it with mostly refined carbohydrates and less digestible than fresh food. Like fast food or TV dinners for humans, many companies add synthetic vitamins and minerals to compensate for the nutrients lost during processing.

Dogs fed only kibble are more likely to experience weight gain, digestive problems, low energy, poor skin and coat health, and a higher risk of degenerative diseases and cancer.

Ensuring your dog absorbs and utilizes essential nutrients is crucial for their health. However, kibble diets, which undergo extensive processing at high temperatures, can significantly reduce nutrient digestibility compared to raw or home-cooked diets. This is particularly concerning for essential nutrients like proteins and minerals.&nbsp;

Proteins in kibble may become denatured during processing, making them harder to absorb, while minerals such as calcium, zinc, and magnesium—vital for bone health and immune function—are less efficiently absorbed. Dogs with higher nutritional needs, such as puppies, pregnant or lactating females, and those with certain health conditions, may be significantly affected. Raw or home-cooked, minimally processed diets retain the natural structure of proteins and minerals, allowing for better absorption and overall health.

Many essential nutrients are critical to your dog's health, particularly those involved in antioxidant defense. Selenium, for example, supports antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from damage. In kibble diets, the bioavailability of selenium is often reduced due to the high level of processing, making it less accessible for absorption. As a result, dogs on kibble diets may have lower levels of functional selenium, compromising their ability to fight off harmful free radicals leading to increased oxidative stress. This can contribute to chronic inflammation and elevate the risk of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular issues. Minimally processed diets like raw or home-cooked meals better preserve these nutrients, promoting more robust antioxidant defenses.

Contrary to popular belief, kibble diets do not necessarily improve dental health. While kibble is often thought to clean teeth as dogs chew, its crumbly texture can contribute to tartar buildup. Small particles from kibble can become trapped between teeth or along the gumline, encouraging the growth of plaque-forming bacteria, which eventually harden into tartar. This can lead to gum disease and other dental problems. Additionally, many kibble formulas are high in carbohydrates, further fueling bacterial growth. On the other hand, raw diets that include raw meaty bones offer natural abrasive action that helps scrape away plaque, promoting healthier teeth and gums.

Kibble diets have been linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders such as bloating and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), particularly in large, deep-chested breeds. Kibble can absorb moisture and expand in the stomach after ingestion, leading to gastric distention, which may increase the likelihood of GDV, a life-threatening condition.&nbsp;

Raw or home-cooked diets with larger particle sizes and higher moisture content may reduce the food ingestion rate and mitigate this risk. Additionally, raw diets tend to promote better gastric motility and reduce the occurrence of bloating, offering better overall digestive health.

Kibble diets often contain lower amounts of high-quality proteins than natural or minimally processed diets, which may not fully meet the biological needs of carnivorous dogs. Commercial kibble typically prioritizes cost-effectiveness and shelf stability, using plant-based proteins or by-products that are less bioavailable than animal-based proteins.&nbsp;

Over time, this can result in issues like muscle wasting, poor coat quality, weakened immune function, and diminished energy, particularly in dogs with higher protein demands, such as puppies, active dogs, or lactating females. Raw or home-cooked diets, rich in high-quality animal proteins, better fulfill the species-specific nutritional needs of dogs and promote long-term vitality.

Kibble diets have also been linked to imbalances in the gut microbiota, which is essential for digestion, immune health, and overall well-being. The high levels of processed carbohydrates and artificial additives in kibble can disrupt the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in your dog’s gut.&nbsp;

Dogs on kibble diets often show lower populations of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, essential for gut health. In contrast, harmful bacteria like Clostridium and E. coli may thrive. This imbalance, known as dysbiosis, can lead to chronic gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, bloating, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Raw or home-cooked diets, rich in natural fibers and high-quality proteins, help support healthy and diverse microbiota, reducing the risk of digestive and immune-related issues.

Dogs fed kibble diets may also experience weakened immune responses, mainly through lower levels of essential immunoglobulins like IgA and IgG, which are crucial for protecting against infections. Immunoglobulins help neutralize harmful pathogens and maintain mucosal immunity, especially in the gut and respiratory tract.&nbsp;

The lower quality of proteins and essential nutrients in kibble diets, coupled with artificial preservatives and additives, may impair the body’s ability to produce these critical antibodies. Studies suggest that dogs on kibble may have reduced levels of IgA, which can compromise their ability to fight off infections and increase their susceptibility to gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory issues. A diet with high-quality, bioavailable nutrients, such as those in raw or home-cooked meals, can help strengthen the immune system and improve overall health.

By understanding these potential concerns with kibble diets, dog owners can make informed decisions and consider incorporating more natural, nutrient-dense options like raw or home-cooked diets to support their dog’s long-term health and well-being.

Natural sugars, such as those found in bananas, sweet potatoes, and carrots, are not harmful when consumed in moderation. Sugar can be an energy source for your dog.&nbsp; However, large amounts of refined sugar and carbohydrates are not required for dogs to be healthy and active. Conversely, they can harm your beloved pet's health and longevity.

Surprisingly, many dog foods have sugar added to them! When we hear "dog food," we don't immediately think "sweet," but sugar is used to conceal the bitter flavor of 'filler' ingredients, improve the texture of the food, and make it more appetizing. It masks unpleasant flavors and odors your dog might otherwise reject, such as animal by-products, fillers, chemicals, preservatives, and dyes.

<a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/how-much-hidden-sugar-is-in-kibble">Sugar is added to some kibble</a> as a marketing ploy. Sugar is highly addictive, so adding it to kibble will encourage dogs to become brand loyal. After all, if your dog only wants to eat one type of food - and only that brand — you'll keep buying it.

When reading the ingredient list on dog food and treats, it might be difficult to tell which ingredients are sugars. The term "sugar" typically refers to cane sugar, but it can also refer to <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/sucrose">sucrose</a>, caramel, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/corn">corn</a> syrup, and other sugars. Here are a few more terms you could see on dog food labels:

The body converts carbohydrates and starches to sugars during digestion. Many commercial kibbles in grocery stores are loaded with up to 70% carbohydrates.

100 - %Protein - %Fat - %Moisture - %Ash = Carbohydrates&nbsp;&nbsp;

High glycemic carbohydrates stimulate our dog's body to produce too much insulin, referred to as hyperinsulinemia. Cancer, obesity, and canine cognitive decline are all linked to this illness.&nbsp;

Genetically modified (GMO) grains and other high-starch carbohydrates make up the majority (60%) of kibble. Metabolically, this causes an increase in insulin, glucagon, and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/cortisol">cortisol</a> levels throughout the day. The high carbohydrate diet promotes diseases such as <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/diabetic-ketoacidosis">diabetes</a> and obesity, contributing to the growing pet obesity epidemic. The <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/grainfree">grain-free</a> kibble contains starchy carbohydrates, like beans, peas, and lentils.

Kibble is a low-moisture product that can leave a dog constantly dehydrated. Imagine eating nothing but saltine crackers. With kibble having only 10% moisture, kibble-fed dogs can become chronically dehydrated.&nbsp;

Freeze-dried, dehydrated, or air-dried dog food often comes in a bag and needs to be rehydrated before feeding. However, some types of treats do not need to be rehydrated. In those cases, it is recommended that you provide your dog with water while eating.

Clinical signs of dehydration include lethargy, skin elasticity loss, and dry nose and gums. Chronic dehydration can lead to kidney stones or life-threatening chronic kidney disease.&nbsp;

One option to prevent dehydration is to add water or bone broth to your dog’s bowl of kibble. Adding raw ingredients or switching to a completely raw diet will safeguard against dehydration as raw food is generally 70% moisture compared to 10% dry kibble.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are two types of flavor additives, natural and artificial. Although the FDA requires that natural flavors must be derived from an <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/organic">organic</a> source, extracting the flavor requires a process that adds toxic chemicals to the product. Artificial flavoring involves synthetic compounds that are not typically found in food.

Food preservatives are used in dog food to ensure the integrity and stability of the ingredients. However, commonly used preservatives, such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin, have been linked to cancer, kidney disease, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/pancreatitis">pancreatitis</a>, allergies, skin problems, blindness, and immunodeficiency. A comprehensive five-year study on dogs in the early 1960s revealed disturbing evidence about the toxicity of ethoxyquin. And yet, these preservatives are still being used.

Natural preservatives&nbsp;can be used in kibble, such as tocopherols,&nbsp;<a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/vitamin-e" target="_blank">vitamin E</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/vitamin-c" target="_blank">vitamin C</a>, and rosemary extract. However, these natural products do not preserve foods as long as artificial preservatives. The limited shelf life means that kibble would need to be made in smaller batches, and product turnover would need to be monitored more closely.  

Because kibble is heated at least four times intensely during manufacturing, vitamins are destroyed, and minerals are altered. As a result, synthetic compounds must be added to the food to meet the nutritional guidelines set by <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/aafco">AAFCO</a>. 

The concern about these synthetic compounds is that there is evidence that they are not comparable to natural compounds, and they are not <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/bioavailable">bioavailable</a> for your dog's metabolic processes.

Dog food brands range in cost from the least expensive, averaging $2.00 per pound, to higher-quality kibble, averaging closer to $4.00 per pound. Dehydrated and freeze-dried options are more costly, at $10.00 per pound and $33.00 per pound, respectively.  

Feeding a whole-food raw diet will increase your monthly feeding costs, but the overall annual costs can actually be reduced when you factor in the savings on veterinary bills.  

Many of the most common reasons for veterinary visits,&nbsp;including poor oral health, diabetes, skin problems, gastrointestinal diseases, heart conditions, and obesity, may be avoided if you feed your dog a raw diet. Let’s examine just one common condition that can be prevented with a raw diet that includes providing&nbsp;<a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/raw-meaty-bones" target="_blank">raw meaty bones:</a>&nbsp;poor oral health.

Oral health is a very costly problem in dogs. It has been established that 75-85% of dogs have <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/periodontal-disease">periodontal disease</a> caused by <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/plaque">plaque</a> accumulation by two years of age! Why is this? Kibble has so little moisture that a thick food bolus is created when mixed with saliva. In addition, dog saliva lacks <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/amylase">amylase</a>!  No digestion of carbohydrates and sugars occurs. The result: <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/tartar">tartar</a> buildup  on your dog's teeth and gum line! 

Annual dental exams with teeth cleaning average between $300 and $700 or more, depending on the extent of damage to the teeth and gums. If teeth have to be removed, there are fees for each extraction. 

The cooking process eliminates essential enzymes and vitamins found in raw food. Dogs should eat fresh, healthy foods manufactured from human-grade components. Grass-fed, free-range, and organic meats are ideal because they are more nutrient-dense and free of harmful pesticides and herbicides.

Fresh food diets, although ideal, are not feasible for all dog parents. If you must continue to feed your dog kibble, try to find a kibble with the following characteristics:

<a href="https://cspinet.org/resource/food-dyes-rainbow-risks">Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks | Center for Science in the Public Interest</a>

<a href="https://truthaboutpetfood.com/is-meat-from-diseased-and-non-slaughtered-animals-in-pet-food-safe/">Is meat from diseased and non-slaughtered animals in pet food safe?</a>

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20009286/">Tumors show enhanced dependency on glucose and glycolytic pathway</a>

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15516961/">Why do cancers have high aerobic glycolysis?</a>

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17055536/">Metabolic changes during carcinogenesis: Potential impact on invasiveness</a>

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16488806/">Cancer's sweet tooth: the Janus effect of glucose metabolism in tumorigenesis</a>

<a href="https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/your-dogs-diet-a-dry-food-discussion/">Your Dog's Diet: A Dry Food Discussion</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36807651/">Fine cassava fibre utilization as a dietary fibre source for dogs: Effects on kibble characteristics, diet digestibility and palatability, faecal metabolites and microbiota - PubMed</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27043433/">Selenium Digestibility and Bioactivity in Dogs: What the Can Can, the Kibble Can't - PubMed</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8174467/">Clinical health markers in dogs fed raw meat-based or commercial extruded kibble diets - PMC</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://doaj.org/article/5ecd0fc0f64541cb85eb0330c55335ad">Are Dogs Fed a Kibble-Based Diet More Likely to Experience an Episode of Gastric Dilatation Volvulus Than Dogs Fed an Alternative Diet? – DOAJ</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6849757/">Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards - PMC</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28265505/">Key bacterial families (Clostridiaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae and Bacteroidaceae) are related to the digestion of protein and energy in dogs - PubMed</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11983825/">Supplemental fructooligosaccharides and mannanoligosaccharides influence immune function, ileal and total tract nutrient digestibilities, microbial populations and concentrations of protein catabolites in the large bowel of dogs - PubMed</a>&nbsp;

Brady, C. (2020). Feeding dogs dry or raw? The science behind the debate. Farrow Road Publishing.

Unit 4 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/pesticides-plague-your-dog-daily">Pesticides Plague Your Dog Daily</a>

Unit 2 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/raw-meaty-bones-safety-and-how-to-add">Raw Meaty Bones: Safety And How To Add</a> 

Unit 3 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/aafco-and-nrc-why-were-standards-established">AAFCO And NRC: Why Were Standards Established?</a> 

Unit 3 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/how-to-read-a-pet-food-label">How To Read A Pet Food Label</a> 

Unit 2 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/the-truth-about-carbohydrates">The Truth About Carbohydrates</a> 

Unit 1 - <a href="https://feedreal.com/articles/learning-about-the-gut-microbiome">Learning About The Gut Microbiome</a> 

Kibble is a Fast Food Drive Thru

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