Is Kibble Bad for Dogs?

Kibble is the most common form of dry dog food and has been for decades. It was the first commercially produced dog food because of its convenience and affordability. But in the decades since kibble came onto the market, it hasn’t really improved. 

Although kibble is a convenient feeding option, there are significant drawbacks. It’s manufactured using a method called “hot extrusion”, which puts the food under extreme heat and pressure. Although hot extrusion makes kibble crunchy and shelf-stable, it also destroys the natural nutrients and flavor found in the ingredients. 

To make up for lost nutrients, kibble brands have to add artificial vitamins and minerals to meet nutritional requirements. Synthetic or artificial ingredients are not good for your pup because their bodies don’t absorb the nutrients the same way as whole ingredients do. Is kibble bad for dogs even if it’s made with whole ingredients? If it’s made using hot extrusion, the quality of the ingredients won’t really matter under that much pressure and heat. 

Don’t fret if you are feeding your dog kibble – it’s easy to learn how to switch dog food. There are other convenient forms of dry dog food that preserve the natural nutrients of fresh, whole ingredients – like Sundays for Dogs. Many of our customers have seen positive changes in their pup’s health when switching dog food from kibble to Sundays. 

Switching Dog Food for Picky Eaters

Lil Martin is an adorable rescue Chihuahua that has benefited from switching dog food. His pet parents, Zoe and Jamie, call him Marty and he’s estimated to be between two and three years old. 

“We call him ‘Marty the Party Animal’ because he loves to have fun and is super playful,” Zoe explained. “He’s really goofy, super mischievous, and so sweet when he gets to know you.” 

Prior to being rescued, Marty experienced some trauma and wasn’t properly socialized. But Zoe says that he’s come a long way since being adopted and a loving home has made a positive impact on Marty’s behavior. 

“He is a big barker on his walks and can have a hard time making friends in the world,” Zoe said. “But he’s made so many strides since he came to us about a year and a half ago. We’re so proud of him!”

Before switching dog food to Sundays, Marty was fed Natural Balance kibble and wet food. Zoe explained that the Chihuahua was never excited about mealtime and would often not eat it at all.

“We did a bunch of searching on the internet and read about the high-quality of Sundays and the many reviews that stated people’s dogs actually began looking forward to mealtime. We figured it was worth a shot and went for it.”

Zoe is happy to report that Marty loves Sundays and looks forward to mealtimes now. He enjoys Sundays USDA Beef recipe twice a day for dinner and breakfast. Marty will even tug at his bowl if his pet parents aren’t feeding him fast enough! 

“Since starting Sundays, not only does he actually enjoy eating meals, his hair is super shiny, his skin is healthy, he has gained an appropriate and needed amount of weight, and has great energy,” Zoe said. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing Marty loving his food. It’s so stressful when your pet won’t eat, so finding this food has been a lifesaver.” 

Weight Management with Sundays for Dogs

This Sundays subscriber is a Terrier/Pitbull mix named Athena. Her brown doe eyes and big ears give her “permanent puppy face”, as her pet parent, Nidhi, calls it – but Athena is actually 8.5 years old. 

“She was just around 1 when I rescued her and is a mix of sweet, naive, innocent, silly pup who loves to cuddle and has learned to use her sweet puppy face and eyes to get attention,” Nidhi said. “She dislikes the rain very much and will look at me as if I should know better when trying to walk her during any sprinkle.”

Prior to switching dog food, Nidhi tried feeding kibble brands like Whole Earth Farms and Blue Buffalo. She eventually learned that kibble contained filler ingredients and lacked nutrients compared to other dog food diets. 

“I really wanted to see if I could cook her meals, and I did for many months,” Nidhi said. “I don’t think I necessarily did my research well as [Athena] was losing weight. There is a lot of information to digest about which nutrients are best for dogs and much of it is conflicting. I went back to Blue Buffalo while I looked into other products.”

After hearing about Sundays in a newsletter, Nidhi decided to give it a try. She was sold on the idea of air-dried dog food made with all-natural, nutrient-rich ingredients to give Athena a long and healthy life. 

“Athena loves Sundays. She gets way too excited and is basically asking for it hours before she knows that it’s feeding time,” Nidhi explained. “I know that she is getting really good food that is easy to scoop out just like kibble.”

Sundays built a customized feeding plan for Athena based on her breed, age, body condition, and other health factors. She receives a little more than ½ cup of Sundays twice a day to maintain a healthy weight. 

How to Switch Dog Food

When you are ready to lose kibble and transition to air-dried food like Sundays, here are some tips on how to switch dog food. Begin by going to our site to build your dog’s customized feeding plan. Fill out the quiz with your pup’s age, breed, and weight to see how much food they need and which recipe is best for them. 

Once your first order of Sundays arrives, you’ll get a transition guide on how to switch dog food without upsetting your pup’s stomach. We recommend switching dog food out over a period of 10 days to avoid digestion issues. Dogs should always be transitioned slowly into a new food! 

Sundays Transition Instructions

Days 1-3: 25% Sundays, 75% old diet 

Days 4-6: 50% Sundays, 50% old diet 

Days 7-9: 75% Sundays, 25% old diet 

Day 10: 100% Sundays