Dog Food Thoughts: How Much Do You Know About Kibble?

Kibble, in a nutshell, is ground up ingredients shaped into pellets.

COMMERCIAL DOG FOOD

Commercial kibble (and other pet foods) might be regulated by law to meet nutritional needs, but as pet owners we should still be cautious when buying dog food.

HOW IS KIBBLE MADE?

Dry ingredients are mixed with raw, wet ingredients before being pulverised.
The dough is cooked and formed through extrusion.

Extrusion entails pushing dough through specially sized and shaped holes.

Pieces are cut and dried before being sprayed with fats, minerals, oils and vitamins.
Finally, food is packed and sealed.

Contents of Kibble

Typical ingredients include:

Grains
Cereals
Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
Protein sources such as beef, poultry, fish and eggs
Preservatives

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT PET FOOD LABELS

Protein

Protein(s) should be listed first and ideally be of single/novel source.

Grains

While dogs can benefit from the energy grains provide, some may be sensitive to certain grains. Other dogs may need a completely grain-free diet.

Preservatives

Some owners avoid foods containing controversial preservatives (more information below). Natural preservatives include tocopherols (vitamin E), citric acid (vitamin C) and rosemary extract.

PET FOOD INGREDIENTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED UNHEALTHY

If you see any of these on the label, you may want to think twice before buying.

Carcinogens

Aflatoxins, produced by certain fungi, are found in grains, nuts and legumes
The chemical acrylamide can form in some foods (typically starchy foods) during high-temperature cooking processes.

Preservatives

Ethoxyquin: Banned in human food
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA): Listed as a known carcinogen
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): Associated with liver and kidney problems in studies performed on rats

Protein Extenders