Simply put: Kibble consists of small, crunchy pieces made during high-temperature processing that parent dogs pour into bowls for their dogs to devour. No mess. Do not bother.
However, look around today and you come across kibble going through a delicious revolution. Companies currently touting kibbles include:
- made from sustainable and alternative proteins like insects, such as dried black soldier fly larvae (Yum or yuck, depending on your perspective.)
- Gently air-dried to maintain more nutrients with each bite for your dog
- Made from completely natural human ingredients
- Contains fresh, unprocessed, certified protein
- manufactured in USDA approved facilities
- does not contain any GMO ingredients nor any corn or wheat
- has enhanced digestibility, by focusing on bacteria, bioproducts And prebiotics
- enhance the quality of the ingredients
“As more and more dog owners treat their dogs as family members, it is likely that the humanization of pet food will continue and grow,” he said. Betsy Floressenior vice president for public policy at Pet Food Institutebased in Washington, DC “We are also likely to see a greater focus on sustainable ingredients, including alternative protein sources, such as protein from insects.”
PFI has advocated for safe and nutritious pet food and lobbied for science-based advances in pet food production since it was founded over 60 years ago. .
Betsy adds: “Pet food manufacturers are constantly conducting research to determine the best dog food formulations to help our companions live long and healthy lives, because So innovations in dog food are always happening. “Today, there is the humanization of dog food and a wide variety of foods — from dry and canned dog food raw and freeze-dried – something unheard of 20 years ago.”
Kibble dog food trends
Enhanced digestibility is also becoming an important factor in kibble. The addition of good bacteria to the digestive system in kibble bags is gaining attention, he said holly ganzPhD, scientific director and co-founder of AnimalsBiologya California-based biotech company that specializes in the study of important healthy bacteria in dogs and cats.
“I really think the fresh food movement is changing the way companies make kibble,” says Dr. Ganz. “People want better ingredients in dog food pellets. There are now more healthy options available to improve the microbiome in dogs for better digestive health.”
She cites two examples: Hill’s Gastrointestinal Biome dry dog food And Purina One microbiota balance.
Pet food companies, large and small, are also becoming more competitive. You may have seen this in TV commercials comparing one kibble brand to another, indicating Dr. Tonya Cookseydirector of veterinary relations at AnimalBiome.
“These kinds of ads can make some people stop to think more about what they’re feeding their pets – and that has prompted snack companies to have to,” says Dr Cooksey. Think twice about the ingredients, quality, and preparation of their snacks.
Tips for kibble food for your dog
During mealtimes, whether it’s simple crumbs or canned, homemade or another dog foodThink of some tips and insights:
- Avoid buying kibble in bulk. Veterinary nutritionists recommend maintaining a one-month supply of kibble dog food to maintain freshness. Avoid buying in bulk as kibbles in opened bags run the risk of going stale or even rancid over time.
- Shop by nutritional quality, not by price. Typically, the mid- and high-priced brands of kibble offer more nutrients per cup than the low-priced, discount brands. It’s like judging the nutritional value of an apple with a bag of processed chips.
- Variety of treats for your dog. Expand your dog’s palate by slowly introducing different brands of quality kibble in different flavors. Follow the 3-3-3 rule: for the first few days, the bowl should contain 2/3 of the current crumbs and 1/3 of the new crumbs. Then, switch to 2/3 of the new grain for the next few days and finally, portion the bowl with the new brand of grain. This 3-3-3 game plan allows your dog get used to new food and avoid digestive problems.
- Double-check the label on the bag. Dog food companies are required to list their ingredients in descending order of weight. Make sure the first ingredient is recognized protein, such as chicken, beef, or salmon. Corn or grains should not be the first ingredient listed.
- Choose resealable bags to maintain freshness. Or store the contents of the dog food bag in an airtight container with a lid. Due to the proteins in the crumbs, there is always a film of residue in the plastic containers need to be cleaned Use mild dish soap and warm water and allow to dry naturally before placing new bags of food in.
- Be careful with marketing ads. Claims to be “mild” or “all-natural” have no real nutritional value. Look for brands that label a “complete and balanced” diet and those that list feeding guidelines for dogs to maintain a healthy weight.
Betsy adds: “The most important item on a dog food label is the nutritional adequacy statement. Dogs have different nutritional needs at different stages of their life, so choosing the right formula for that stage of life is important.”
What is kibble? Here is a brief history
Who invented dog food? Surprisingly, credit goes to an American electrician named James Spratt. He is said to have come up with this idea for dog food while trying to sell lightning rods in the mid-1800s in Great Britain.
While watching sailors along the river eat leftover hard bread made from flour, water, and salt, Spratt had a truly amusing moment: Can he adapt this combination to a convenient form of dog food? He quit his job as an electrician to create Spratt’s Dog and Puppy Cakes made of wheat, vegetables, beets and cow’s blood for upper-class Britons.
- Late 1800s: Spratt’s Patent (America) Ltd. began manufacturing dog food in the United States.
- 1922: Ken-L-Ration hits the market. The main ingredient is horse meat. Fortunately, horse meat is no longer in dog food.
- 1950s: The first commercial dry ice is created through a process called extrusion. It’s a fancy term that means wet and dry ingredients are mixed in a machine and then cooked at high heat to create small granular dog food pieces.
- 1958 marked the founding of the Pet Food Institute, based in Washington, DC. PFI members represent the majority of pet foods in the United States. Its mission is to drive pet food safety innovation and provide science-based information on pet food nutrition and safety to pet owners. petfoodinstcad.org.
- The 1980s ushered in the first therapeutic kibble diet for the kidneys and liver problems produced by Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
- In the 1990s, new kibble brands emerged based on a dog’s activity level and for maintaining a healthy weight when obesity became a major health issue.
- A big hit in kibble today is the arrival of sustainable, insect-based kibble. The manufacturers argue that the new crumb is more planet-friendly because insects use less land and water than traditional protein sources to make crumbs, such as cows and chickens. Also popping up on store shelves and online is air-dried kibble, kibble made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients, and fresh, untreated, certified protein.
