Is Dry Kibble Bad for my Dog?

“To kibble or not to kibble”- that simple question causes a great deal of controversy among pet owners, veterinarians, breeders, pet food companies, etc. Here at Volhard Dog Nutrition we feel that knowledge is power, and we are hoping that when you have a better understanding about kibble, you can make more informed decisions for your own dog.

Many people think that feeding a fresh or raw diet is a fad. The truth, however, is that commercial kibble is in fact the fad. Commercial dog food has only been around for about 160 years. Prior to this, dogs were typically fed whatever their owners were eating, table scraps, bones, leftover meat, eggs, etc. Remember, people have been domesticating dogs for thousands of years! Kibble was not their answer to, “what should I feed my dog?”

We at Volhard Dog Nutrition feel that the optimal diet (species-appropriate)for dogs includes fresh, whole foods made from food-grade ingredients. Proteins that are chosen to be fed, should be grass-fed, free-range and organic, if possible. The optimal diet for your dog also includes healthy fats, high moisture (around 70%) and is a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients. A great way to feed this balanced diet is with fresh, natural foods.

So what makes kibble a wrong choice for your dog?

A few issues with kibble:

• It is not biologically appropriate.
• Feed Grade Ingredients.
• Highly processed ingredients.
• It contains synthetic vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are not as bioavailable to the dog.
• It contains high-starch carbohydrates like high-glycemic, genetically engineered corn, wheat, rice or potato.
• Low Moisture.
• Increased bacteria risk.
• Goes rancid quickly.
• Added colors and chemicals.

What is a species-appropriate diet? 

In order for a dog to experience thriving health, they must consume the foods they were designed to eat. This is known as species-appropriate or biologically appropriate nutrition.

What’s wrong with Feed Grade Ingredients?

The regulation that is placed upon feed grade ingredients meant for dogs only is significantly different from that designed for human food consumption. Pet feeds are allowed to contain what is called “4D” meats. These meats are sourced from dying, diseased, dead or downed animal material and meat ingredients sourced from non-slaughtered animals – with no disclosure requirement. 

The FDA says, “Processed pet food, including pet food consisting of material from diseased animals or animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, goes through high heat processing, which is designed to kill harmful bacteria…”

Rendering is one of the processing methods of sanitizing otherwise putrid, inedible animal by-products and animal waste. Many ingredients in pet food today are from rendering plants.

How do highly processed ingredients affect my dog?

Many of the bioavailable nutrients in kibble are lost during the high-heat process, so in order to make sure dogs will eat it and that it is balanced, fats, flavor enhancers and synthetic nutrients are added to replace what has been lost. Different types of acrylamide and other carcinogens are created in this process that could be detrimental to your dog’s long-term health.

All starches are carbohydrates but not all carbohydrates are starches!

GMO grains and other high-starch carbohydrates make up the majority (60%) of kibble. If you are feeding a grain free kibble then you have swapped grains for high-levels of starchy carbs including legumes, peas & lentils. This creates metabolically stressful insulin, glucagon and cortisol spikes throughout the day. The high carb content and its effect on the dog’s body can cause premature disease such as diabetes and contributes to the growing epidemic of pet obesity.

My dog drinks water, what is the problem with dry food?

Kibble is a low-moisture product, which puts a dog in a constant state of dehydration. Think of it like this- you sit down for a meal of a bowl of Saltine crackers with nothing to drink. The dry food absorbs all the moisture in your throat, stomach and intestines leaving the dog with a minimal amount of fluid to churn the food into something that moves through the digestive system. When a dog gets dehydrated, they can experience several harmful symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Reduced energy levels and/or lethargy
• Panting
• Sunken, dry-looking eyes
• Dry nose and gums
• Loss of skin elasticity

Raw food is dangerous because it contains bacteria?

In dry kibble, there’s always a risk for bacteria and mycotoxins to be present. Also, storage mites can multiply rapidly in dry kibble. Pets can develop a hypersensitivity to storage mites, resulting in itchy inflamed skin, hair loss and ear infections. With a pH of 2, a dog’s stomach is more than capable of handling raw materials without getting sick like a human would. 

Why would the spray on fats go rancid?

As soon as you open a bag of dry kibble, light and air affect the fragile ingredients inside the bag of food. The fats that are inside the kibble and that are sprayed on the food during production start to go rancid. This can be quantified at 1 week and by 6 weeks you have toxic food! Long-term consumption of rancid fats in kibble can destroy vitamins, which can lead to vitamin, protein and fat deficiencies. Even more alarming, many other health issues have been attributed to rancid fats including malnutrition, hair loss, diarrhea, kidney and liver disease, reproductive problems and even cancer and death.

I always wondered what made the colors in kibble?

Many food dyes, referred to by the Center for Science in the Public Interest as the “Rainbow of Risks”, have been banned because of their negative effects on laboratory animals. This report finds that several of the nine approved food dyes could be causing serious health issues, including cancer and hypersensitivity reactions.

But my Veterinarian says that’s what I should be feeding?

We’ve shown you evidence that kibble may not be the healthiest choice for your dog. As it stands, the only benefits of kibble are convenience and cost. As pet owners, it is important to have a good relationship with your veterinarian and to have the ability to communicate freely with them. However, you will find that not all veterinarians are advocating for fresh diets. 

The problem with your average veterinarian giving you nutritional advice is that they have had very little nutrition training outside of the few hours focused on food during their time spent in school/training. Most vets get their information from other biased or uninformed vets, they believe what they read in the vet publications sponsored by kibble companies, they get their information from sales representatives of the big kibble companies, or from limited private reading. I am sure you understand why kibble companies do not make the best reference source as they are only interested in selling their products and are not open to alternative diets even if that might be actually needed. Private reading usually reinforces whichever position on the argument they’ve previously decided.  Don’t let this discourage you, there are many wonderful, holistic, proactive veterinarians coming to the forefront of the dog world trying to change the tide! You can read more about talking to your vet about a healthy diet by clicking here.

Volhard Dog Nutrition is backed by 30 years of experience, clinical testing, and happy healthy dogs of all breeds, ages, and activity levels. If you would like further information on our specific diets, please visit our website, www.VolhardDogNutrition.com or you can also send us an email (info@VolhardDogNutrition.com) or give VDN a call at 888-571-2245 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm EST).

Why is a Dog Food Diet with Raw Ingredients Better for my Dog?

By Volhard Dog Nutrition

Raw ingredients in your dog’s food is healthier than any ingredients found in canned or dry/kibble type foods. Any time you have cooked ingredients, the process of cooking destroys the food’s nutrition. Heat is the destroyer of important living digestive enzymes, oils, vitamins and minerals along with Omega-3s and other important nutrients. Once these micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals, living enzymes, antioxidants and flavonoids are destroyed, they simply cannot be replaced (not with additives and not with supplements).

The living enzymes referenced are proteins found in raw foods which help the dog’s body function. Enzymes are only beneficial to the body if they are living. Once food is cooked or processed, it no longer contains living enzymes. Foods without living enzymes put stress on the pancreas to produce the necessary proteins to function. Living Enzymes in a raw diet restore, repair, and maintain health. Animals replenish their enzymes systems by eating raw unprocessed foods.

This is why dogs begin to slow down and develop chronic diseases around 6-8 years of age. The dog’s bodies have run out of their natural stores of digestive enzymes and without these, they have to work harder to digest the food they eat. At Volhard Dog Nutrition, our vegetables and fruits are all farm fresh, non GMO and only sourced from the USA and are natural sources of enzymes, vitamins, minerals. The way they are processed, using cold dehydration, the micronutrients are concentrated into the foundation mix making that mix more bioavailable than any food with an added synthetic vitamin pack.

There are immediate benefits to feeding a raw diet ( the Volhard Diet specifically) and some of those are:

Healthy Skin & Coat

This is one of the first changes you will notice when you start feeding the Volhard diet. If you have been dealing with persistent skin issues, itching, chewing of feet, and red ears, once you switch to the Volhard diet suddenly these issues disappear or at the very least improve. This immediately saves you money because you no longer need vet visits, medicated shampoos, antibiotics, cortisone shots and cortisone tablets to control the outbreaks. Sometimes these symptoms appear to be ingredient sensitivities, however when you switch to the Volhard diet, it becomes quickly apparent that it was a nutritional deficiency and not a true allergy. What you have now is a dog with a rich, thick and very shiny healthy coat.

Healthy Teeth & Breath

A short time after feeding the Volhard Diet, your pet will have no issues with periodontal disease, much-improved breath and white healthy teeth. This saves you money because you will minimize having to visit the vet for dental issues and cleanings.

Enhanced Digestion & Absorption of Nutrients

Remember living enzymes break down and utilize food to maximize the digestive system’s effectiveness. Probiotics help to diversify the guts microbiome. If your dog was experiencing stomach bloating, gurgle sounds and digestive issues, these will no longer occur. The dog’s poop will be much less and no foul odor and they drink less water during the day because all their meals are hydrated. For dogs who have issues staying hydrated, you no longer have to worry. Reduced stool volume and odor is a sign of an improved and healthy digestion cycle. Odorous stools are a result of improper or incomplete digestion of nutrients.

What are the benefits of feeding your dog a raw food diet?

A Healthy Immune System

The Volhard diets are fresh, healthy and balanced thus providing the optimum environment for the immune system to function normally. The Volhard diet brings a system out of balance back into balance through nutrition. This strengthens the immune system while at the same time reduces inflammatory conditions and infections.

Degenerative Disease

Pet owners that switch their older pets to the AM/PM diet usually find that whatever degenerative disease their pet is fighting becomes less of a problem. The AM/PM diet is the original NDF recipe that offers the most flexibility in the choice of protein and vegetable. The fact that certain ingredients are separated from each other when the dog eats them allows the dog to process the food easier. This simple change in the feeding schedule, has reversed many aggravating degenerative conditions and has given relief to a variety of diseases. One has to only review the various testimonials to see the dramatic changes that a biologically appropriate diet can make.

Healthy, Lean Body Mass

One of the greatest benefits from feeding the Volhard diet is the loss of unwanted fat and an increase in muscle mass. The outcome of this body change is that your dog looks better, they feel better which leads to increased activity and energy levels, and ultimately provides them with a longer healthier life. Combined with a healthy, active lifestyle of exercise your dog will thrive not just survive!

Volhard’s supplements are made from purposefully chosen superfoods that provide a nutritional boost when given with the food, and they work by increasing the bioavailability of the nutrients found in the food, making our food the most easily digested and nutrient-available dehydrated raw food on the market. Our products are unique because you have the flexibility to add the protein you desire and not have to take what comes in the food or switch foods because your dog is bored or can no longer tolerate that protein type. By providing the highest quality ingredients and leaving them the way they are, we provide optimal nutrition and health for your pet. Learn more here: www.volharddognutrition.com