Ever since your dog was a puppy, you probably tried to feed it some sort of high-quality, grain-free kibble dog food formula. Maybe it had some premium ingredients in it, like dried fruit, venison, and brown rice. But in the end, not everything your dog needs is in your premium dog food.
Even if you find super premium dog food and dog treats that are supposed to support an active lifestyle and keep your dog healthy, the natural ingredients (food ingredients) may not provide your pup or adult dog with the nutrients it needs to thrive.
Let’s look at things from another angle. Do you feed your dog premium dog food but still notice dull fur and low energy? Most dry kibble goes through high heat processing that kills vital nutrients. Your dog needs fresh, whole foods plus key supplements to stay healthy and active.
In this article, we will take a deeper dive into premium dog food and learn simple ways to boost your pup’s nutrition for a balanced meal.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. For common pet care advice and guidance, it is recommended that you call your veterinarian or veterinary clinic first before adding any new foods or supplements to your dog’s diet.
Understanding Kibble: The Basics
Kibble stands as the most common healthy dog food in the U.S. for the past 50 years. This dry food (puppy food and adult dog food) offers a simple and wholesome way to feed dogs while meeting basic AAFCO nutrition rules. The small, dry bits stay fresh longer than wet food and cost less to buy.
Premium kibble starts with good ingredients and careful cooking. The food goes through high heat to make those crunchy bits dogs love. Each piece packs proteins, fats, and needed vitamins in an easy-to-serve form.
The mix stays balanced for dogs at every meal, making it a top pick for busy pet parents.
The Shortcomings of Kibble Formulas (Dry Dog Food)
Kibble tends to lack the vital nutrients your dog needs for a happy, healthy life. Most dry dog foods go through high-heat processing that kills off good bacteria and enzymes — even the premium brands with high quality control can’t escape this basic flaw in their dog food options.
1. Missing Fresh Nutrients
Your dog needs fresh nutrients that dry food can’t provide. Premium dog kibble lacks vital enzymes and natural compounds found in raw foods. The high heat used to make dry dog food (over 350°F) destroys up to 80% of the original nutrients.
Fresh meat, fruits, and veggies pack live enzymes that help your pet digest food better.
Dogs thrive on fresh, whole ingredients rich in natural vitamins and minerals. Dry food contains 30-60% carbs and relies on synthetic nutrients to meet basic needs. Your pet’s body absorbs nutrients from fresh foods much better than artificial ones.
Raw foods and natural supplements give your dog the complete nutrition they need for healthy skin, strong bones, and good digestion.
2. Effects of High Heat Processing
High heat processing strips up to 75% of vital nutrients from kibble ingredients. This harsh cooking method breaks down essential vitamins and minerals that dogs need to stay healthy.
The extreme temperatures used to make kibble also reduce the bioavailability of added nutrients, making it harder for dogs to absorb them properly.
Premium dog food goes through the same intense heat processing as cheaper brands. The high pressure and heat destroy natural enzymes and beneficial compounds in the ingredients. Many pet food companies add synthetic vitamins after cooking to replace lost nutrients, but these artificial additions don’t match the quality of natural food sources.
3. Common Fillers and Artificial Additives
Most kibble brands stuff their food with cheap fillers like corn and cornmeal. These fillers make your dog feel full but give little real nutrition. Many premium dog food brands add artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives to make their kibble look and taste better.
Your dog’s food needs fresh meat sources instead of low-grade animal by-products that lack key nutrients.
The vitamins sprayed on kibble after cooking often pass right through your dog’s system without being absorbed. Your pup’s digestive health suffers from these synthetic additives and poor-quality ingredients.
Natural food sources provide better nutrition than artificial supplements. Fresh whole foods help support your dog’s skin, coat, and immune system in ways that processed kibble cannot match.
The Reality of Premium Dog Foods
The premium dog food market masks nutritional gaps through clever marketing tactics. While these foods cost more, they still face the same processing limitations as regular kibble.
1. The Truth Behind Marketing Claims on Balanced Nutrition
Marketing claims on dog food bags often mislead pet owners. Words like “premium,” “gourmet,” and “natural” sound great but lack real meaning. The FDA does not check or control these fancy labels at all.
Many dog food companies use these words just to make their food seem better than it really is.
Your dog needs more than just flashy words on a bag. Good dog food must have lots of real meat and not too many carbs. Most premium kibble falls short of these basic needs. Dogs need fresh nutrients, but high-heat processing kills many good things in kibble.
Your pup’s food should support healthy digestion and give them essential fatty acids for a shiny coat. Many premium brands skip these vital parts and focus on pretty packaging instead.
2. The Problem with Nutritional Uniformity
Feeding your dog the same kibble every day limits their access to varied nutrients. Your dog’s body needs different food sources to get all the right building blocks for good health.
Dogs in nature eat many types of foods, not just one formula, day after day. Up to 75% of nutrients get destroyed during kibble processing, making the food less helpful for your pet.
Most premium dog foods offer the same basic mix of ingredients in every bag. This lack of variety creates gaps in your dog’s diet that simple kibble can’t fill. Your dog needs fresh nutrients from real foods to stay healthy.
Labels that say “complete and balanced” don’t tell the whole story about what your pet truly needs for optimal nutrition. Common fillers like corn make the food less nutritious while raising allergy risks.
3. Dependence on Synthetic Nutrients
Premium dog foods rely heavily on synthetic vitamins and minerals to meet basic nutrition needs. These fake nutrients can cause real problems for your dog’s health, like lung cancer and heart issues.
Your dog needs real, whole-food sources for proper nutrition.
Many super premium pet foods list synthetic vitamins at the bottom of their labels. These man-made nutrients can build up in your dog’s body and lead to toxic levels over time. Natural food sources give your dog better nutrition than lab-made vitamins.
Your dog’s body knows how to use real food nutrients much better than artificial ones.
Enhancing Your Dog’s Diet with Healthier Alternatives
Your dog needs more than just dry food to stay healthy. You can boost your pup’s meals with fresh options that pack vital nutrients missing from regular kibble.
1. Incorporating Whole Foods
Fresh foods pack vital nutrients that kibble lacks. Adding whole foods to dog meals creates a more complete diet that supports better health.
- Mix cooked eggs into kibble to boost protein and essential fatty acids for skin and coat health
- Add lean meat pieces as natural protein sources that aid muscle growth and repair
- Include crunchy fruits like apples and pears to provide natural fiber for digestive health
- Put fresh vegetables such as carrots and green beans for extra vitamins and minerals
- Stir in plain yogurt to support digestive and immune health with natural probiotics
- Top meals with wild-caught sardines to add omega-3 fatty acids for brain function
- Cut back kibble portions by 10% to balance calories from whole food additions
- Feed small amounts of bone broth to improve joint health and digestion
- Start with tiny portions of new foods to check for food sensitivities
- Pick foods that match the dog’s life stage and activity level needs
- Serve fresh additions right after prep for maximum nutritional benefits
- Store unused portions in sealed containers in the fridge for up to 3 days
- Watch for signs of improved energy and coat shine after adding whole foods
- Ask a vet about specific portions based on breed size and weight goals
2. Benefits of Raw and Freeze-Dried Foods
A raw food diet gives your dog real nutrients that stay intact. Freeze-dried foods pack the same goodness as raw food but last longer on your shelf.
- Raw meat diets make your dog’s coat shine bright and keep their skin healthy, just like nature planned
- Dogs eat raw bones safely, which cleans their teeth better than any brush could do
- Your dog gets more energy from raw food because their body uses it better than processed kibble
- Freeze-dried food keeps all the good stuff from raw food but stays good for months
- Raw fruits and veggies in these diets help your dog digest food better and stay regular
- Your dog’s immune system gets stronger with raw food because it has natural vitamins
- Dogs on raw diets often need fewer vet visits due to better health
- Raw food helps dogs stay at a good weight because it has the right mix of protein and fat
- Freeze-dried food lets you feed raw while traveling or camping with your dog
- Dogs who eat raw food drink less water because the food has natural moisture
- Raw diets cut out fake stuff that can upset your dog’s stomach
- Your dog’s breath smells better on raw food because their teeth stay cleaner
- Senior dogs often act younger on raw food thanks to better nutrition
- Small breeds do great with freeze-dried food since it’s easy to portion
3. Adding Bone Broths and Natural Supplements
Bone broth packs vital nutrients your dog needs for better health. Natural supplements fill the gaps that regular kibble leaves in your dog’s diet. For instance, our Canine Beef Bone Broth Protein Powder and Canine Chicken Bone Broth Protein Powder are perfect additions as meal toppers.
- Bone broth delivers one ounce of goodness per ten pounds of your dog’s weight daily, making it perfect for all breeds.
- Fresh bone broth contains glucosamine and chondroitin that keep your dog’s joints strong and flexible.
- Natural gelatin in bone broth helps fix gut problems and makes digestion easier for your pup.
- Adding vitamin-rich broths to dry food creates a tasty meal that supports healthy skin and coat.
- Anti-inflammatory amino acids in bone broth reduce joint pain and swelling in adult dogs.
- Natural supplements with prebiotics help balance your dog’s gut health and boost immunity.
- Essential nutrients from broths and supplements work together to meet the nutritional needs of dogs of all ages.
- Quality supplements support sensitive stomachs and help maintain a healthy weight.
- Fresh ingredients in bone broth provide better nutrition than synthetic vitamins found in kibble.
- Natural food supplements give large breeds extra support for their bones and muscles.
Meal Toppers You Can Add to Your Premium Dog Food
Your dog needs more than just dry food for top health. Fresh foods add vital nutrients that cooking destroys in kibble. Mix raw meats, fruits, and veggies into your pet’s meals for better nutrition.
Natural supplements fill the gaps that even premium kibble leaves behind. Your furry friend will thrive with a varied diet that matches what nature meant dogs to eat.
At Holistic Bin, we wanted to formulate meal toppers to support a healthy pup throughout their entire life. We wanted something specifically formulated for dogs, and that can be added to both dry and wet food.
We have a full section on our website called the Canine Club that is full of amazing meal toppers to enhance the nutrient profile in your furry friend’s meals. Check out all we have to offer your pup to keep it healthy and tail wagging!
Premium Dog Food Resources
1. https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/premium-natural-gourmet-dog-food/
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6515811/
3. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-truth-about-dog-food-and-supplements/
4. https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/features/raw-dog-food-dietary-concerns-benefits-and-risks
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8174467/
6. https://resources.integricare.ca/blog/bone-broth-for-dogs
Author:
Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN, is the owner of Weik Fitness. He is a globally recognized and prolific writer. With a passion for creating health and fitness content, Matt’s work has been featured on thousands of websites, over 100 magazines, and he has authored over a dozen published books.