The Scary Truth About Kibble

For decades, kibble has been marketed as the ultimate convenience food for dogs — tidy, cheap, and “complete and balanced.” But behind the colorful bags and catchy slogans lies a darker reality.

If you truly want your dog to live a longer, healthier, happier life, it’s time to take a hard look at what’s really in kibble and how it impacts your dog’s body.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

1. Kibble Is Highly Processed and Stripped of Nutrients

Most kibble starts with low-grade ingredients that are cooked at extremely high temperatures. This process destroys many natural nutrients, requiring synthetic vitamins and minerals to be sprayed on afterward. Real nutrition doesn’t come from a chemical cocktail — it comes from fresh, whole foods.

2. Hidden Ingredients You Would Never Choose

Kibble often contains mystery meats, rancid fats, chemical preservatives, dyes, and flavor enhancers to mask poor-quality ingredients. Labels like “meat meal” and “animal by-products” can legally hide things like roadkill, expired grocery meats, and waste from slaughterhouses.

3. High Carbohydrate Loads That Fuel Obesity and Disease

Dogs are not designed to thrive on high-carb diets, yet many kibbles are packed with 40–60% carbohydrates from cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. Over time, this carb overload can lead to obesity, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and even cancer.

4. Dangerous Toxins and Contaminants

Repeated recalls have exposed serious problems in the kibble industry, from toxic mold (aflatoxins) to dangerous levels of heavy metals and bacteria like salmonella. Every recall is a reminder that kibble isn’t as safe or tightly regulated as it seems.

5. Shorter Lifespans and Lower Quality of Life

Kibble-fed dogs often suffer from allergies, arthritis, dental disease, skin problems, digestive issues, and chronic illnesses that severely impact their quality of life. Sadly, they also tend to have shorter lifespans compared to dogs on a fresh, natural diet.

You wouldn’t eat processed junk food every day and expect to feel your best — and neither should your dog.

At Otto, we believe dogs deserve better. Our raw meals follow the natural 80/10/10 formula — fresh muscle meat, bone, and organ — with no hidden ingredients, no cheap fillers, and no dangerous processing. Just real food for real health.

Make the switch and see the difference.