Kibble Can Be Difficult to Digest for Some Dogs – Here's Why

Kibble has been a staple in dog nutrition for decades. It’s affordable, convenient, and widely available, making it a popular choice among pet owners. However, many dogs struggle to digest kibble, often leading to issues like vomiting whole pieces, bloating, and stomach discomfort.

If you’ve ever noticed your dog throwing up undigested kibble an hour or so after mealtime, the reason could be linked to how kibble is made and its impact on digestion. Let’s break down the key reasons why kibble can be hard on a dog’s stomach.

Kibble’s Natural Enzymes are Processed Out at High-Heat

Unlike cold-pressed dog food, which is gently processed to retain nutrients, kibble is extruded using high heat and pressure. This process:

• Denatures proteins, making them harder to digest.
• Destroys natural enzymes, which are crucial for breaking down food.
• Reduces nutritional value, requiring artificial additives to compensate.

When digestion is impaired, food doesn’t break down properly in the stomach, leading to vomiting, bloating, and digestive discomfort.

Kibble Contains Fillers and Byproducts

Many kibble brands contain low-quality ingredients to cut costs. These often include:

• Grain fillers like corn, wheat, and soy, which some dogs struggle to digest.
• Meat byproducts that provide low-quality and sometimes unknown protein sources.
• Artificial additives and preservatives, which can trigger sensitivities and digestive upset.

By contrast, Nextrition cold-pressed dog food uses natural, high-quality ingredients that support better digestion and nutrient absorption.

Kibble Hard Puffed Texture is Hard to Digest

Kibble is a hard, dry food with a puffed texture, meaning that it will float in water and in your dog’s stomach. This presents challenges because:

• Kibble will float in the stomach and bloat before it starts to get digested. This can cause discomfort leading to vomiting or digestive distress. 
• The stomach needs to work harder to break down the food and extract the nutrients from the food. 

Cold-pressed dog food is more dense so it will sink to the bottom of the stomach, a more comfortable position, and quickly breakdown so the digestive system isn’t overworked. 

Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs Struggle with Kibble

Some dogs have food sensitivities or intolerances that make kibble even harder to digest. These dogs may experience:

• Vomiting undigested food.
• Diarrhea or constipation due to poor digestion.
• Gas and bloating caused by fillers and artificial ingredients.

Because cold-pressed dog food is made with natural ingredients, lower heat processing, and no artificial ingredients, it’s often better tolerated by dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Is It Time to Switch to Cold-Pressed Dog Food?

If your dog frequently vomits undigested kibble, experiences bloating, or struggles with digestion, it might be time to consider a better alternative.

Nextrition cold-pressed dog food is:

• Made with natural ingredients and no unnecessary fillers.
• Processed at low temperatures to retain more natural nutrients and flavors.
• Easier on the stomach, reducing bloating and digestive discomfort.
• Packed with prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics to support a healthy gut and digestive system.

Switching to cold-pressed food could be the solution your dog needs for a happier, healthier digestive system. If kibble is giving your dog trouble, it might be time to make the switch!