The Scary Truth About Kibble

🎃 The Scariest Thing in Your Pantry Isn’t Halloween Candy...

Let’s talk about something truly scary this Halloween season and no, we’re not talking about ghosts, goblins, or even that one neighbour who hands out raisins! 😳

We’re talking about kibble.

Now don’t get us wrong...kibble isn’t the villain. It’s convenient, affordable, shelf-stable and there are even some great quality brands out there (we stock the ones we trust!). But when kibble is the only thing in your pet’s bowl, day after day, meal after meal…it becomes more like the Frankenstein of pet food: a stitched-together science experiment of synthetic ingredients, ultra-processing and lost nutrition.

🧪 Ultra-Processed…Ultra Problematic

Kibble is what we call an ultra-processed food kind of like the fast food of the pet world. It’s heated to extreme temperatures (think 200°C or higher), which destroys the naturally occurring nutrients in the raw ingredients.

To make up for this loss, manufacturers then spray synthetic vitamins, minerals and fat back onto the finished kibble after it’s cooked. Sounds spooky...right? It should. These synthetic nutrients aren’t always as bioavailable to your pet’s body as their natural counterparts, and over time, this can contribute to nutritional imbalances and long-term health issues.

Imagine eating nothing but multivitamin-fortified crackers every day and calling it a complete diet. Yikes! Now that's scary! 🙀

💧 Where’s the Moisture?

Here’s another trick kibble plays on us: it’s dry. Like, really dry. Most kibble contains no more than 10% moisture, while your dog or cat’s natural prey-based diet would be around 70% water content. Our dogs and cats need 70% moisture in their diet, so if their diet consists of kibble only, they are in a constant state of dehydration.

This isn’t just a texture issue...it’s a biological problem.

Like we said, pets who eat dry food exclusively tend to live in a state of chronic, low-grade dehydration. Over time, this can stress their kidneys, liver, bladder, and urinary tract, and can lead to issues like:

UTIs or urinary crystals
Kidney stress or decline
Poor detoxification
Constipation or sluggish digestion
Dry, itchy skin and a dull coat

And the worst part? They can drink a full bowl of water and still be dehydrated because hydration through food is different than drinking water, it absorbs more effectively and helps every organ system function the way nature intended.

🧟 Grocery Store Ghouls: The Scariest Kibble of All

If your pet’s food comes from a big-box grocery store, we need to have a serious chat.

The scary stuff doesn’t stop at synthetic nutrients and dehydration. Many mass-market pet foods contain:

Meat by-products and vague “meat meals” from unknown sources
Corn, wheat, soy and other fillers your pet doesn’t need
Artificial colours, preservatives and sweeteners
Low-quality fats that oxidize and go rancid before you even open the bag

These ingredients have been linked to everything from chronic inflammation to digestive upset and even behavioural changes in some pets.

Just like us, what they eat affects how they feel and most of these foods are the opposite of fresh, nourishing, or health-promoting.

👻 Don’t Be Spooked...Be Empowered

You don’t have to toss your kibble in the cauldron. We’re not asking you to go full raw overnight (though we can help with that too!). The good news is that there are simple, powerful upgrades you can make right now that transform your pet’s bowl from spooky to spectacular.

No witchcraft, no overwhelm. Just a few intentional additions that give your pet more moisture, more fresh nutrition and more support.

3 Frightfully Simple Upgrades for Kibble

(because your furry family deserves more than just crunch)

Research has proved that replacing even just a tablespoon of ultra-processed kibble with less processed or fresh food will significantly improve your pet's health. Making your pet's meal healthier and better for them is easier than the big kibble companies would have us believe! They spread their fear like slime on a goblin cup in hopes of convincing us that our pets should only eat their ultra-processed food, be we've been told our whole life...eat less processed food and more fresh, whole foods. Our pets are the same! So here are some super simple (not scary at all) ways to improve our pet's bowls and their health!

🎃 1. Pumpkin Spice Pupkin Latte
What you need:

Unsweetened canned pumpkin (organic if you can)
Goats milk or raw kefir
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)

How to use:
Mix 1 tablespoon of pumpkin with ¼ cup of goat milk. Warm gently and serve in a separate bowl as a post-meal “latte” or drizzle over kibble like a spooky seasonal gravy.

💡 Why it’s great: Pumpkin is a natural digestive aid and goat milk adds probiotics to support gut health.

🦇 2. Heart-Healthy Goblin Crunch
What you need:

Freeze-dried beef or chicken hearts (or your floof's favourite protein)
Crushed quail egg (shell and all!)
Splash of bone broth (optional)

How to use:
Crumble 2–3 hearts over kibble, crack a quail egg on top and drizzle with broth for extra hydration.

💡 Why it’s great: This combo adds natural taurine for heart health, plus healthy fats and moisture to support energy and skin.

🧛 3. Monster Mash Bowl Upgrade
What you need:

A spoonful of raw food (yes, even just a little helps! Any raw is better than no raw.)
A few thawed sardines or a topper like green-lipped mussel
Optional: your usual kibble

How to use:
Mix your kibble with a few spoonfuls of raw or gently cooked food to create a “Monster Mash” that boosts protein, enzymes and hydration.

💡 Why it’s great: Adding even 10% fresh food can reduce inflammation, support joint health and make picky eaters howl with happiness.

Boo! 👻 Bonus Tip

You don’t need to go all-in to make a difference. Even one of these upgrades can turn your pet’s bowl into a nutritional levelled up meal and we’ll help you find the best ones based on your furry family’s needs.

Pop by and ask us how to monster-fy your pet’s meals this spooky season. We’ve got all the ingredients and spooky charm to help you upgrade without overwhelm.