Why do most integrative veterinarians recommend a fresh food diet for dogs and cats?

When comparing fresh food diets to dried kibble and canned food for dogs and cats, there are several key differences to consider in terms of nutrition, digestibility, convenience, cost, and overall health benefits. All can provide essential nutrients, but the composition and form in which the food is delivered can have significant implications for an animal’s health.

• Fresh Food Diets:
  Fresh or raw food diets for dogs and cats are often marketed as being closer to the natural diet of these animals. They can include:
• Raw or lightly cooked meats
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Healthy fats and oils
• Supplements (e.g., vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients) to ensure nutritional balance.

The key benefits of fresh food are that it tends to be more bioavailable (easier for the animal’s body to digest and absorb), minimally processed, and higher in moisture, which supports hydration. Fresh diets typically avoid preservatives and artificial additives, which can be found in processed pet foods.

However, fresh food can sometimes be unbalanced if not properly formulated (lacking in certain vitamins, minerals, or amino acids), which is why it's essential to use vet-approved recipes or commercial fresh food options that are nutritionally complete.

Fresh food feeding can also be a risk for bacterial contamination so safe handling is essential.

• Dried Kibble:
  Kibble is the most common type of commercial pet food. It is typically highly processed, using a method of extrusion, which involves cooking the ingredients at high heat and pressure. The main ingredients in kibble usually include:
• Meat meals (which are rendered, concentrated forms of animal protein)
• Grains or vegetables (which serve as carbohydrates).
• Animal fats and oils (to provide energy and aid in flavour)
• Synthetic vitamins and minerals (to meet nutritional requirements).

Kibble is highly convenient, easy to store, and typically cost-effective. However, the high-heat cooking process can degrade some nutrients, such as certain vitamins, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. The lower moisture content of kibble (around 10%) can also be a drawback, particularly for pets who may be prone to urinary tract issues or dehydration.

The high carbohydrate content of kibble is one of the main reasons that most integrative veterinarians do not recommend it. There are many different carnivores in nature, but they all consume a diet low in carbohydrates. A typical wolf diet would contain 1% carbohydrates. There is no doubt the dogs have evolved alongside humans and can digest carbohydrates better than their wolf relatives, but kibble diets are always composed of between 40% and 60% carbohydrates.  

What is the problem with excessive carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates break down to sugar in the body and if not required are stored as fat. Over 50% of dogs in the USA are now estimated to be obese. Diets high in carbohydrates cause a glycaemic index/blood sugar rise which causes a cascade of events that create inflammation in the body.

High carbohydrate diets are PRO inflammatory.

Kibble may also contain preservatives, artificial colours, and other non-desirable components.  

• Canned Food:
  Canned food for dogs and cats is typically moister than kibble and can be a good option for pets that don’t drink enough water. Canned food is often made with similar ingredients as kibble, but the processing is somewhat different:
• Higher moisture content (usually 70-85% moisture)
• Less heat processing (compared to kibble), which helps retain more nutrients in some cases.

The nutritional profile of canned food can vary, with some brands offering higher-quality ingredients (real meat, fewer fillers). However, canned food can sometimes be higher in fat and calories, so portion control is important. Some canned foods may also contain thickeners or gels that can impact digestion. Canned foods are also deficient in thiamine due to the processing so must not be fed on their own.

Canned foods require no chewing which has negative consequences on jaw and dental health.  

There are pros and cons to both fresh food diets and processed food options. Factors such as your animals age, health, activity level and your own lifestyle and budget are all important to consider.

Trialling a fresh food diet which is already nutritionally balanced can be a great way for pet owners considering a transition to start. In Australia, we have Big Dog (for both cats and dogs), Prime 100 and Lyka to name a few. If you are interested in doing it yourself at home, look in our recipe section for AAFCO balanced, easy to make meals. 

We recommend using a quality probiotic when changing diets. We use and stock Big Dog Soothe and Support Probiotic.