Beyond Kibble: Unveiling the Best and Worst Dog Food Choices

We all want the best for our furry companions, and a cornerstone of their well-being is proper nutrition. But walking down the dog food aisle can feel like navigating a minefield. Kibble, canned, raw, freeze-dried…the sheer variety of options can leave any pet owner confused.

How do you know what's truly best for your dog? What's just marketing hype, and what will actually nourish your pup from the inside out? This comprehensive guide takes the guesswork out of dog food selection, ranking different types from best to worst. We'll unveil the truth about what goes into your dog's bowl, empowering you to make informed decisions that support their long-term health and vitality.

From the gold standard of biologically appropriate raw diets to the pitfalls of ultra-processed kibble, we'll break it all down. If you're curious about the benefits of premade raw dog food or simply want to understand the landscape of dog food options, you've come to the right place.

Let's dive in and discover the best way to nourish your best friend.

The Gold Standard: Cold-Pressurized Frozen Raw & Freeze-Dried Raw

When it comes to canine nutrition, raw food diets reign supreme. These diets, mimicking what dogs ate for thousands of years before today’s highly processed diets were invented, are biologically appropriate, meaning they align perfectly with a dog's digestive system and nutritional needs.

Think of it as the canine equivalent of a whole-foods diet for humans–packed with nutrients in their most natural and bioavailable form. Within the raw food category, two standout options exist: cold-pressurized frozen raw and freeze-dried raw.

What It Is

Both cold-pressurized frozen raw and freeze-dried raw dog food start with the same high-quality ingredients: USDA human-grade meat (like the chicken, beef, lamb, venison, duck, and turkey used in We Feed Raw's recipes), nutrient-rich organs, bones, and sometimes, small amounts of fruits and vegetables. The key difference lies in the preservation method.

Cold-Pressurized Frozen Raw

This method involves applying high pressure to nutritionally balanced patties before freezing the raw ingredients to preserve freshness. This process helps inactivate potentially harmful bacteria and viruses (including avian flu) while maintaining the food's nutritional integrity and moisture content. This format most closely resembles how dogs consumed food in the wild.

Freeze-Dried Raw

Freeze-drying removes moisture from the raw ingredients through a process called sublimation (going directly from frozen to vapor). This results in a shelf-stable product that retains nearly all the nutritional value of fresh, frozen raw food.

Why It’s Best

Raw dog food diets, whether frozen or freeze-dried, offer a wealth of benefits:

• •Biologically Appropriate: Raw diets are what dogs are evolutionarily designed to eat. They provide the ideal balance of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals in a form that's easily digested and absorbed.

• •Nutrient Retention: Minimal processing means that raw food retains its natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, which are often lost during the high-heat processing of kibble and canned food. These nutrients are also in a bioavailable form, meaning your dog's body can readily use them.

• •Pathogen Controlled: Reputable raw food brands, like We Feed Raw, implement strict safety protocols, including pathogen testing and control measures, to ensure their products are safe for your dog. Cold-pressure processing further enhances safety.

Key Differences: Frozen vs. Freeze-Dried

While both options are excellent, there are some practical differences to consider:

• •Moisture Content: Frozen raw food is moisture-rich, closely mimicking the natural prey of wild canines. Freeze-dried raw food has the moisture removed, making it lightweight and shelf-stable.

• •Storage: Frozen raw requires freezer space, while freeze-dried raw can be stored at room temperature.

• •Preparation: Frozen raw simply needs to be thawed before serving. Freeze-dried raw can be rehydrated with water or broth before serving or fed as-is.

Better, But Not the Best: Gently Cooked

Moving down the spectrum of dog food options, we arrive at gently cooked recipes. These foods represent a step up from highly processed kibble and canned options, but they still fall short of the nutritional powerhouse that is raw food.

What It Is

Gently cooked dog food is exactly what it sounds like: recipes that are cooked at lower temperatures than traditional methods to retain more nutrients. These recipes are typically refrigerated or frozen to maintain freshness and are made with whole-food ingredients.

Why It’s Better Than Kibble

Gently cooked food offers some advantages over kibble and canned food:

• •Less Processed: Compared to the high-heat extrusion of kibble or the prolonged cooking of canned food, gently cooked recipes undergo less processing, which helps preserve more of the food's natural nutrients.

• •Easier Digestion for Some Dogs: Some dogs, particularly those with sensitive stomachs, may find gently cooked food easier to digest than kibble. The cooking process breaks down some of the complex proteins and carbohydrates, making them more accessible for digestion.

Why It’s Not as Good as Raw

While gently cooked food is a better option than kibble or canned food, it still has limitations compared to a raw diet:

• •Nutrient Loss: Even gentle cooking inevitably leads to the degradation of some essential nutrients, particularly heat-sensitive vitamins and enzymes. These nutrients are crucial for optimal health and vitality.

• •Protein Denaturation: Cooking alters the structure of proteins, a process known as denaturation. This can negatively impact their digestibility and overall nutritional value. While gently cooked food is better in this regard than traditional cooking methods, it's still a factor when considering raw vs. cooked dog food.

• •Lack of Bioavailability: The cooking process can reduce the bioavailability of certain nutrients, meaning your dog's body can't absorb and utilize them as effectively as it would from raw food.

In short, while gently cooked food is a decent option, it doesn't provide the same level of complete and bioavailable nutrition as a properly balanced raw diet.

Decent, But Could Be Better: Air-Dried & Dehydrated

Air-dried and dehydrated dog foods represent a middle ground in the pet food landscape. They're less processed than kibble and canned food, but they still involve some level of heat treatment, which impacts their nutritional profile.

What It Is

Both air-dried and dehydrated dog foods involve removing moisture from the ingredients, but they use different methods:

• •Air-Dried: This process removes moisture through evaporation, typically without the use of high heat. This helps preserve more of the food's natural nutrients compared to other methods.

• •Dehydrated: This method uses low heat over a longer period to remove moisture. While it's still a lower temperature than kibble production, prolonged exposure to heat leads to greater nutrient loss than air-drying.

Why They’re Better Than Kibble

Air-dried and dehydrated foods offer some advantages over kibble:

• •Less Starch: They generally contain less starch than kibble, which can be beneficial for dogs prone to weight gain or digestive issues.

• •More Natural Enzymes and Nutrients: Compared to kibble, they retain more natural enzymes and nutrients, particularly air-dried foods. Dehydrated foods, due to the longer exposure to heat, lose more nutrients during the drying process.

Why They’re Not as Good as Raw

Despite their advantages over kibble, air-dried and dehydrated foods still fall short of raw diets:

• •Heat Degradation: Even with low-heat methods, some nutrient degradation occurs, especially with dehydrated foods. Heat-sensitive vitamins and enzymes are particularly vulnerable.

• •Texture Changes: The drying process significantly alters the texture of the food. Air-dried foods often have a jerky-like consistency, while dehydrated foods can be leathery. This can be less appealing to some dogs.

• •Hydration: Because moisture is removed during processing, dogs who eat air-dried or dehydrated foods must have access to plenty of fresh water. Proper hydration is crucial, and you may notice your dog drinking more water than usual.

In summary, air-dried and dehydrated foods are a decent alternative to kibble, but they don't match the superior nutrition and bioavailability of a raw food diet. The processing involved, while less than kibble, still compromises some of the nutritional value.

The Downward Slide: Kibble & Raw-Coated Kibble

Unfortunately, we now arrive at the portion of the dog food spectrum that offers the least nutritional value: kibble and its misleading cousin, raw-coated kibble. These ultra-processed options dominate the market, yet they often fall far short of providing optimal nutrition for our canine companions.

What It Is

Kibble is dry, extruded food made from a variety of ingredients, including feed-grade meat or meat meal, grains, starches, and other highly refined components. Raw-coated kibble is simply kibble that has been sprayed with a thin layer of raw meat or other raw ingredients after the kibble has been processed.

Why It’s Bad

Kibble's widespread availability and affordability often overshadow its significant drawbacks:

• •High-Heat Processing: The high-heat extrusion process used to make kibble drastically reduces the bioavailability of nutrients. This means that even if the ingredients list looks good on paper, your dog's body may struggle to absorb and utilize the nutrients effectively.

• •Nutrient Degradation: Essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are often destroyed or significantly diminished by the high heat. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies over time.

• •Carb-Heavy and Pro-Inflammatory: Kibble is high in carbohydrates, which can contribute to weight gain, dental problems, and other health issues. The high carbohydrate content can also promote chronic inflammation in the body.

• •Digestibility: The processing involved in creating kibble can make it difficult for dogs to digest. The complex carbohydrates and altered proteins can put a strain on their digestive systems.

• •Raw-Coated Kibble Is Still Kibble: The thin layer of raw coating on kibble does little to offset the negative effects of the underlying processed kibble. It's primarily a marketing tactic and doesn't significantly improve the nutritional value.

Raw-Coated Kibble Misconception

Don't be fooled by raw-coated kibble. While the addition of a raw coating might seem like a positive step, it doesn't change the fundamental nature of the kibble itself. The core of the product is still highly processed and lacks the nutritional integrity of a truly raw diet.

The small amount of raw coating is unlikely to provide any significant health benefits and is primarily used for marketing purposes.

Having said that, you can safely mix We Feed Raw with kibble for a more budget-friendly option if you can’t afford a fully raw diet for your pup.

The Worst of the Worst: Canned & Semi-Moist

At the very bottom of the dog food ranking, we find canned and semi-moist foods. These options represent the most highly processed and often least nutritious choices you can make for your canine companion.

What It Is

• •Canned Food: Canned dog food is cooked at very high temperatures during the canning process, a step necessary to achieve shelf stability. It typically contains a higher moisture content than kibble, but this doesn't necessarily translate to better nutrition.

• •Semi-Moist Food: Semi-moist dog food is processed to have a soft, chewy texture. This is achieved through the addition of humectants and other additives, which unfortunately often come at the expense of nutritional value.

Why It’s Bad

Both canned and semi-moist foods share significant drawbacks:

• •Nutrient Destruction: The high-heat cooking process used for canned food destroys many essential nutrients, including vitamins, enzymes, and some amino acids. Semi-moist food, while not subjected to the same level of heat, often lacks key nutrients due to its formulation.

• •Fillers and Additives: Canned and semi-moist foods often contain a high proportion of fillers, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. These ingredients provide little to no nutritional value and can even be detrimental to your dog's health.

• •High in Starch and Sugar: These foods are frequently high in carbohydrates, particularly starch and sugar. This can contribute to weight gain, dental problems, and other health issues. Semi-moist foods, in particular, are notorious for their high sugar content.

• •Low Bioavailability: The processing and ingredients used in canned and semi-moist foods can significantly reduce the bioavailability of any remaining nutrients. This means your dog's body struggles to absorb and utilize what little nutrition is left.

The Bottom Line

Canned and semi-moist dog foods represent the most processed and least nutritious options available. They are frequently loaded with fillers, artificial additives, and excessive amounts of carbohydrates, while essential nutrients are often destroyed or present in forms that are difficult for dogs to absorb.

Choosing a raw, gently cooked, or even air-dried/dehydrated option is a far better way to support your dog's long-term health and well-being.

Feed Your Dog the Best: Choose We Feed Raw

We've explored the world of dog food, from the optimal nutrition of raw diets to the downsides of processed kibble and canned food. The key takeaway? A biologically appropriate raw diet is the gold standard for canine health.

Choosing the right food is crucial for your dog's well-being. It impacts everything from energy and coat condition to digestion and long-term health. Don't settle for less.

We Feed Raw makes raw feeding easy. Our six frozen recipes use high-quality, human-grade ingredients, providing complete and balanced nutrition. We take the guesswork out of raw, so you can simply thaw and serve the very best.

Ready to switch to raw? Explore our recipes or start a meal plan and discover the We Feed Raw difference.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is considered the best dog food overall?

The best dog food for your furry friend is a biologically appropriate raw diet, like the frozen options offered by We Feed Raw.  These diets closely mimic what dogs ate in the wild, providing optimal nutrition, preserving vital enzymes, and maximizing nutrient bioavailability.

I'm on a budget. Is there a more affordable option that's still good for my dog?

While raw food is the gold standard, if budget is a concern, gently cooked dog food is a better alternative than kibble, canned, or semi-moist food.  It's less processed than those options and can be easier for some dogs to digest.

You can also add some raw food to your dog’s existing diet. Even if you can’t afford to feed a fully raw diet, some raw food is better than none.

What is the worst food for dogs that I should absolutely avoid?

The worst food for dogs includes highly processed options like canned and semi-moist food. These are often loaded with artificial ingredients, fillers, and preservatives, and they undergo high-heat processing that destroys essential nutrients.

Kibble, while slightly better than canned or semi-moist, is also a poor choice due to its high carbohydrate content, processing, and low bioavailability of nutrients.

My dog is a picky eater. How can I transition them to a raw diet?

While most picky dogs prefer raw over kibble, transitioning a picky dog to a raw diet can be done gradually. Start by mixing a small amount of raw food with their current food, slowly increasing the ratio of raw food over time. You can also try different proteins to see which one your dog prefers.

We Feed Raw offers a variety of recipes to help you find the perfect one for your picky pup. You can also find more tips on transitioning to raw in our blog.

Is a raw food diet safe for puppies?

Yes, puppies can eat raw meat as soon as they start weaning. In fact, a raw food diet can be especially beneficial for puppies, providing them with the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.