If you’re looking at Kibble and Bits in particular and wondering if it is the best option for your dog’s nutritional needs, you’ve come to the right place. Here is everything you need to know and take into account about this specific brand and its selection of goods.
Kibble and Bits can be given to dogs to meet their basic nutritional needs, but it does not have an ingredient list that promotes peak health for the majority of dogs. As a result of the inclusion of corn, unidentified animal ingredients, and artificial colors, Kibble and Bits is not one of the best dog foods.
Although it is generally inexpensive and widely accessible, you could argue that there are better options available.
I personally wouldn’t look any further than this food brand if you’re looking for a quick recommendation.
It’s great for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. The entire ordering process is easy and simple, and it is based on premium, fresh, allergen-free whole foods.
However, let’s focus on the Kibble ‘N Bits products specifically to understand why they fall short in terms of providing the best possible nutrition.
Which Kibbles ‘n Bits Dry Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
The Advisor gives Kibbles ‘n Bits Dog Food only a 1 star rating.
There are 7 dry dog foods in the Kibbles ‘n Bits product line.
When available on the product’s official website, each recipe includes the corresponding AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental, or Unspecified
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Kibbles ‘n Bits Bacon and Steak Flavor Mini Bits | 1 | M |
| Kibbles ‘n Bits Mini Bits Small Breed | 1 | M |
| Kibbles ‘n Bits Bacon and Steak Flavor | 1 | M |
| Kibbles ‘n Bits Bistro Mini Bits Small Breed | 1 | M |
| Kibbles ‘n Bits Meaty Middles Prime Rib Flavor with Beef | 1 | M |
| Kibbles ‘n Bits Bistro Oven Roasted Beef Flavor | 1 | M |
| Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Savory Beef and Chicken Flavors | 1 | M |
For a thorough recipe and nutrient analysis, Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Savory Beef and Chicken Flavors was chosen to represent the other products in the line.
Using a dry matter basis, the label and nutrient data below were calculated.
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient ContentProtein =
Ingredients include corn, soybean meal, beef and bone meal, whole wheat, animal fat (BHA is used as a preservative), corn syrup, wheat middlings, water sufficient for processing, animal digest (a source of chicken flavor), propylene glycol, salt, hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, peas, caramel color, sorbic acid (used as a preservative), choline chloride, sodium carbonate, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide,
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.9%
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 19% | 8% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 23% | 10% | 59% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 22% | 23% | 56% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. Additionally, this grain has only modest nutritional value for a dog, aside from its energy content.
The second component is soybean meal, which is typically found in farm animal feeds as a by-product of the production of soybean oil.
Despite having a protein content of 48 percent, soybean meal is anticipated to have a lower biological value than meat.
Additionally, less expensive plant-based products like this one can significantly increase the total protein stated on the label, which is a factor to take into account when determining the actual meat content of this dog food.
Beef and bone meal, a dry rendered product made from (beef) tissues, including bone, but excluding blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach, and rumen contents, is the third ingredient.
Compared to most other meat meals, beef and bone meal might not have as much biological value.
Scientists speculate that the ingredient’s higher ash and lower content of essential amino acids may be to blame for the ingredient’s decreased protein quality.
Fortunately, beef and bone meals, which are meat concentrates, have nearly 300% more protein than fresh meat.
In any case, beef and bone meal is not regarded as a higher-quality ingredient in dog food.
The fourth ingredient is wheat. Wheat is a different type of cereal grain that shares the same problems as corn (which were previously covered).
Next, this recipe lists animal fat. A common by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature method used to produce meat meals, is animal fat.
This item could come from almost anywhere since no specific animal is mentioned, including salvaged roadkill, spoiled supermarket meat, and even dead, ill, or dying cattle.
Because of this, we do not regard common animal fat as a quality ingredient.
What’s worse is that BHA, a substance thought to cause cancer, is used to preserve this fat.
The next ingredient is corn syrup. Corn syrup is a high-calorie, glucose-rich food with questionable nutritional value for dogs.
Wheat middlings, also known as “wheat mill run,” are the seventh ingredient. Wheat mill run may sound good, but it’s actually a cheap byproduct of processing cereal grains.
Unfortunately, the differences in nutrient content found in wheat middlings can be a major problem when determining whether or not they should be used in any dog food or even livestock feeds.
Wheat middlings are actually just milling dust and floor sweepings, and they are more frequently found in lower-quality pet foods.
Water, which is the eighth ingredient, only adds moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The ninth ingredient is animal digest. In order to enhance the flavor of dry kibble, animal digest is a mixture of animal by-products that has been chemically hydrolyzed.
The list continues with a number of additional items after this.
But realistically, ingredients this far down the list (aside from nutritional supplements) are unlikely to have an impact on the product’s overall rating.
With 9 notable exceptions…
First, this product contains the controversial food moisturizer, propylene glycol. The FDA has prohibited the use of propylene glycol in cat food.
However, some commercial dog foods still contain it.
The presence of artificial coloring in pet food always makes us sad. Because of this, coloring is used to enhance the product’s appeal to humans rather than your dog. Do you really believe that your dog is bothered by the color of his food?
This includes titanium dioxide, a white coloring agent. Despite widespread assertions to the contrary, one international agency has labeled titanium dioxide as a “Group 2B carcinogen,” possibly associated with cancer in humans.
Additionally, we discover wheat flour, a highly refined byproduct of milling wheat. Like corn, wheat is a cheap, contentious cereal grain with minimal nutritional value for dogs.
We do not view wheat as a preferred ingredient in any dog food because of this.
Additionally, caramel, a natural coloring agent made by caramelizing carbohydrates, is included in this recipe. Manufacturers of pet food use it to give the finished product a golden brown tint.
However, the concentrated form of this substance, which is also known as caramel coloring, has recently generated controversy and been linked to cancer in test animals.
Additionally, this product includes hydrochloric acid, also known by its chemical symbol HCl. The product is likely made more acidic by the use of HCl in order to aid in the prevention of mold growth.
Very small amounts of low-concentration HCl can be considered safe for use in both pet and human foods, despite the fact that high concentrations of any acid can be dangerous.
Additionally, we discover sodium selenite, a contentious selenium mineral form. In terms of nutrition, selenium yeast appears to be a more natural source of selenium than sodium selenite.
Additionally, probiotics—friendly bacteria added to the surface of the kibble after processing to aid in digestion—are not mentioned.
We also observe that none of the minerals listed here seem to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
And finally, BHA, a preservative that is thought to cause cancer, is used to preserve this product.
What is the healthiest kibble for dogs?
Here are the top dry dog foods according to The Dog Food Advisor for June 2021.
Why is Kibbles and Bits bad for dogs
The main reason why Kibbles and Bits is bad for dogs is due to its ingredients Because soy and corn are two of the top dog allergens, it is not recommended that your puppies consume these foods.
FAQ
Why does my dog throw up after eating kibbles and bits?
Usually, it’s regurgitation. Your dog might have overindulged or eaten too quickly, or they might be stressed. You should consult your veterinarian to be sure because megaesophagus is another possibility. If your dog is throwing up, it typically occurs at least a few minutes after eating.
Are kibbles and bits safe for dogs?
Our Evaluation of Kibbles ‘n Bits Dog Food Kibbles ‘n Bits is a grain-free dry dog food that relies primarily on named and unnamed meat meals for animal protein, earning the company a score of 1 star. Not recommended.
Can dogs get sick from kibble?
Because kibble contains little moisture, a dog consumes it constantly dehydrated. Think of it like eating nothing but Saltine crackers. Dogs who become dehydrated display a number of detrimental signs, including: Appetite loss
Why you shouldn’t feed your dog kibble?
They lack the typical plant-eating molars and the four chambered stomach needed for the fermentation and slow digestion of complex carbohydrates (starches from plants and grains).