Is Kibble Bad for Dogs? Here’s What We Actually Think

by Toronto Pets


5-minute read · Updated March 2026 · torontopets.ca

It’s one of the questions we get asked most often, and honestly? It’s a great one to ask.

If you’ve been feeding your dog kibble and wondering whether you could be doing better you’re not alone, and you’re not being paranoid. The pet food world has changed a lot in the last decade, and it makes sense to take a second look.

Here’s our honest take.

First: What Even Is Kibble?

Kibble is made through a process called extrusion. Basically, ingredients get ground up, cooked at very high heat and pressure, shaped into little pellets, dried out, and then sprayed with fats or flavour coatings to make them smell and taste appealing.

That process is great for shelf life a bag of kibble can sit in your pantry for a year. But all that heat does affect the nutrients inside. So manufacturers add synthetic vitamins back in after cooking to replace what was lost.

It works well enough for a lot of dogs. But it does raise a fair question: is a food that’s been heavily processed and then rebuilt with synthetic nutrients really giving your dog the best version of those nutrients? That’s still something researchers and vets debate.

One more thing worth knowing: kibble typically contains about 10% moisture. Dogs evolved eating whole prey animals, which are roughly 70% water. That’s a significant gap and one reason some kibble-fed dogs end up mildly dehydrated without anyone realizing it.

The Honest Pros of Kibble

We want to be fair here, because kibble genuinely has a lot going for it:

  • It’s convenient. Scoop and serve. No thawing, no prep, no mess.

  • It’s affordable. Compared to raw or fresh-cooked diets, kibble is the most accessible option for most families.

  • It meets baseline nutrition standards. Reputable brands formulate to AAFCO guidelines, which set minimum nutrient requirements.

  • Plenty of dogs thrive on it. This isn’t a scare piece lots of dogs live long, happy, healthy lives eating quality kibble.

The Honest Cons of Kibble

Here’s where things get more nuanced.

  • The processing is heavy. High-heat cooking changes the structure of proteins and reduces how well dogs absorb certain nutrients. The synthetic vitamins added back in help, but whether they fully make up for that is genuinely uncertain.

  • Ingredient quality varies a lot. Some kibble is made with clearly sourced, quality proteins. Others rely on vague “meat meals,” fillers, and flavour sprays. The bag can look similar from the outside what’s inside often isn’t.

  • The moisture gap is real. For dogs with kidney issues, urinary problems, or just a tendency not to drink enough water, the low moisture content of kibble can matter.

  • Some dogs just don’t love it. If you’ve cycled through multiple kibble brands because your dog has zero enthusiasm for eating, that’s worth paying attention to.

What the Research Says (In Plain English)

Science is starting to look more closely at how different diets affect dogs, and the findings are interesting.

  • Gut health: A 2024 study from Oklahoma State University compared dogs eating raw food versus kibble over a full year. The raw-fed dogs had higher levels of a protective enzyme in their digestive system, and stronger immune markers in their gut. The researchers said it could be especially meaningful for dogs with chronic digestive issues.

  • Blood sugar and metabolism: A University of Helsinki study found that dogs eating kibble showed higher blood sugar and blood fat levels compared to raw-fed dogs over about four and a half months markers that, in humans, we’d flag as a concern.

That said these are relatively small studies, and the research is still developing. We’re not going to tell you kibble is slowly killing your dog, because that’s not what the evidence says. But the direction of these findings is worth knowing about.

So Should You Switch?

Here’s how we’d think about it:

  • If your dog is thriving: good coat, steady energy, healthy weight, happy digestion there’s no emergency. Focus on choosing a kibble with clear, quality ingredients.

  • If you’ve noticed issues: skin problems, low energy, chronic loose stools, a dog that’s indifferent to their food it’s worth trying something less processed.

  • Not ready for a full switch? Even adding a raw topper or some fresh food a few times a week can make a meaningful difference. You don’t have to go all-or-nothing.

Want to compare all the options side by side? Read our guide to the best dog food in Toronto we break down raw, gently cooked, and kibble in plain terms.

Thinking about trying raw? Our raw dog food Toronto guide covers what to buy, how to handle it safely, and how to make the switch without stress.

Still not sure? Come chat with us.

Our team at any of our six Toronto locations can help you figure out what actually makes sense for your dog no pressure, no jargon, just honest advice.

Find Us in Toronto

Six locations across the city. Walk in anytime we love talking about this stuff.

Leaside Pets
1542 Bayview Ave, Toronto ON M4G 386
leasidepets@gmail.com  ·  416-546-3152

Toronto Pets – Avenue Rd
1950 Avenue Rd, North York ON M5M 4A1
avenuepets@gmail.com  ·  416-256-2654

St. Clair Pets
1258 St Clair Ave W, Toronto ON M6E 1B9
stclairpets2022@gmail.com  ·  416-658-9999

Forest Hill Pets
446 Spadina Rd, Toronto ON M5P 2W4
foresthillpets2022@gmail.com  ·  416-485-4243

All Pets
528 Church St, Toronto ON M4Y 2C5
allpetstoronto@gmail.com  ·  416-901-7387

Yorkville Pets
Lower-124 Cumberland St, Toronto ON M5R 1A6
yorkvillepets2025@gmail.com  ·  647-438-8469

Sources: Frontiers in Veterinary Science (OSU, 2024), University of Helsinki / The Veterinary Journal, Dog Aging Project / JAVMA (2025), PetMD, AAFCO, dvm360.

Back to Posts

Share this