DIET & NUTRITION

What You Must Know About Packaged Dog Food (Dry Food or Kibble)

Packaged dry food is marketed as the easiest way to meet all your dog’s nutritional needs. Read as Veterinarian Dr Pai explain the basics on Dry Food
Table of contents

Before you feed Packaged Dry Food - Essential Information

  1. Kibble is a highly nutrient-dense type of food - Kibble or packaged dog food contains higher calorie and protein values per serving compared to the same amount of fresh food. So, you are likely to think your dog needs more than what’s prescribed as the quantity may seem less.
  2. Kibble is very low in water content - To increase its shelf life, kibble is dehydrated. If you soak your dog's kibble in water, you will see it soak and bloat up. This is exactly what happens when your dog eats kibble. If you are overfeeding your dog and they eat quickly, the kibble may expand in their stomachs and make them feel uncomfortable and bloated.
  3. It is very common to overfeed Kibble - We have commonly observed parents guess/estimate the quantity of dry food that they give their dogs. As Vets, we strongly advise against this as kibble is not the same as regular/home cooked food. Always follow the Diet chart on the back of your Kibble Packet to know the quantity. More on this later.
Given how our country lacks any stringent regulations on the quality standards expected of Kibble manufacturers, as parents can only go by what the manufacturers promise on the packet. This puts a lot of responsibility on us to make the right choice.
Here are some of the common types of dog food -

Dog with kibble dry food
Our dogs look up to us for their diet and health

Types of Packaged Dog Food (Dry Food or Kibble)

Premium dog food is usually divided into different categories.
  1. Based on your dog's breed (Mini, medium, and large/giant) - Not only is the nutrient requirement different for different breeds, but even the size and shape of kibble are quite different. Some companies even manufacture breed-specific kibble for more popular breeds like labs, retrievers, cocker spaniels, etc.
  2. Based on your dog's life stage (Starter, Puppy, Junior, Adult, Senior) - Young puppies have higher energy, calorie, and protein requirements than older dogs. Hence, the size of the kibble will also be smaller. Similarly, an adult dog cannot be fed a puppy diet because they are done growing and this is guaranteed to cause overfeeding. Each dog food packet will specify the age for which that food was formulated. Always stick to the category that corresponds to your dog's age. When your puppy reaches the age to transition meals - never do it abruptly, always buy the new kibble a few weeks prior and introduce it gradually.
  3. Prescription diets (Liver, Kidney, Obesity, Digestive, Recovery) - These are diets that are given only if your dog is diagnosed with a disease. It is important to note that feeding these diets will not prevent your pet from getting that disease. Prescription diets should only be used under veterinary guidance.

Now that you know the different types of Dog, let's learn how to read the diet chart and ensure we feed the right quantity to our dogs.
Dog food with dog paws
Right food for the right paws

How do you read the Diet Chart on Kibble packets

Every reputable packaged dog food brand will have a diet chart with feeding guidelines printed on the back of the packet. If your dog's diet is only kibble, then following the diet chart is an easy and great way to ensure that you are feeding your dog the correct quantity of food.
Diet Chart for Puppy Dog Food
This is what a puppy diet chart usually looks like -
puppy dog food chart behind kibble packets
A typical Puppy Food chart on Kibble packets
  1. On the (y-axis) left scale is your dog's estimated weight- you can get this information from your breeder. If your dog is a rescue or a mixed breed, you can get an estimate from your veterinarian while on the (x-axis) top right scale is your dog's age in weeks.
  2. All you have to do is find the intersection of your dog's estimated adult weight and their age in weeks.
  3. The point of intersection will give you the total amount of kibble you should feed your dog in a day. This value can be in grams or cups. If it is in cups, then there's usually a line indicating how many grams a cup will have.
  4. This total value has to be divided into the number of meals you plan on giving your dog during the day.
Diet Chart for Adult Dog Food
This is what a puppy diet chart usually looks like -
adult dog food chart behind kibble packets
A Typical Adult Dog Food chart on Kibble packets
  1. On the (x-axis) left scale, they give you a scale for the activity level of your dog. (Low, medium, high) while on the (y-axis) top right scale, they mention the ideal weight of your dog
  2. How to estimate activity levels? For example, a dog that's working outdoors (a sniffer dog or a herding/farm dog) will need more energy and food compared to an apartment dog.
  3. How to estimate ideal weight of your dog? This should be what your dog's appropriate weight should be, given his breed and age. You may need your Vet's guidance on this because being Underweight / Obese in dogs isn't as obvious as it is in humans.
  4. Find the intersection of your dog's ideal adult weight and their activity level.
  5. The point of the intersection will give you the total amount of kibble you should feed your dog in a day. This value can be in grams or cups. If it is in cups, then there's usually a line indicating how many grams a cup will have.
  6. This total value has to be divided into the number of meals you plan on giving your dog during the day.
Do note that some packaged dog foods don't account for activity levels and simply have a single row with your dog's ideal weight. In that case, just feed the amount mentioned under the correct weight category.

Balancing Packaged Dry Food with Home cooked or Wet Food

Now, let's say you want to feed your dog a mixture of kibble and fresh food. It's not as simple as cutting down the kibble in half and adding the same amount of home-cooked food. This requires some amount of expertise and pretty good math skills, so we do recommend consulting a canine nutritionist for this.
But on a high level, this is how it works-
  1. Calculate the total amount of kibble you should feed your dog per day from the diet chart.
  2. At the bottom of the chart, you will notice a section that says K Calories per kg or cup. This will help you estimate how much calories you are giving to your dog via the kibble
  3. For convenience sake, let's assume that as per the diet chart, your dog is recommend to be given about 100 grams of kibble per day. The calories section says that every 100 grams of kibble contains 500 K Calories. This means that your dog needs 500Kcalories per day.
  4. Now let's say you wish to give your dog - 25% dry food and 75% fresh food. This means that kibble should provide 125 K Calories and you need to provide 375 K Calories using fresh food.

This is not easy to calculate for an average pet parent, given that you need to know how many calories each component of your fresh food meal contains, measure it out, and then feed your dog. Additionally, you also need to meet the protein, fat, mineral, and vitamin requirements in a similar manner. Seems complicated right? That's why it's best to leave this wonderful science of dog nutrition to the experts!

Dog food balancing kibble
Balancing your Dog's food is not easy

How to Store Packaged Dry Food / Kibble

Last but not the least, always remember to store dog food properly. Yes, most brands add preservatives and kibble is usually dehydrated to help it stays fresh longer. However, do not be careless about storing and using kibble. It can go bad. When the kibble gets moist, it can grow mold which produces toxins that can make your dog very sick.
  1. Make sure kibble is stored in a cool, dry place.
  2. Always seal the bag properly after use, or better still, transfer it into an airtight container.
  3. Never use a wet cup or hand to take out the kibble.
  4. Avoid leaving kibble out in your dog's bowl for too long. Only fill the bowl during meal times and take it away if your dog does not eat it.
  5. Never put half-eaten kibble back into the container or bag.




Good food for a Good life
We hope that this article was helpful in giving you a basic understanding about Kibble and how to get started on the same for your dog. Always remember that, to ensure that our dogs lead long & happy lives, it is important to consult your vet or canine nutritionist while planning their meals, whether it is packaged dog food or home-cooked meals.
Have questions? Let us know and we will get back to you soon.

Happy Parenting! 🐶

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