Raw, Cooked, or Kibble?
How to Choose the Right Food for Your Pet
If you've ever Googled "best food for dogs" and come away more confused than when you started, you're definitely not alone. Raw, slow-cooked, kibble, freeze-dried, air-dried—the options are endless. And everyone online has a strong opinion about which one is "right."
Here's the truth I've learned after working with pet health professionals and pet parents: there's no one-size-fits-all answer. The best feeding plan depends on your dog's unique needs—and your real-life situation. Progress, not perfection, is what creates lasting health.
Let me walk you through the main options, what makes each one beneficial (or challenging), and how to figure out what might work best for your pet.
Understanding your options
Slow-Cooked (Gently Cooked) Whole Food Diets
What it is: Fresh, whole ingredients—quality proteins, vegetables, healthy fats, and sometimes grains—cooked low and slow (typically in a slow cooker for 8 hours, though you can also use an oven, Instant Pot, or stovetop). The gentle cooking process keeps nutrients intact while making the food easily digestible.
Why I love it: My own pups have thrived on slow-cooked meals—their coats are gorgeous and they're more excited about mealtime than ever. The slow cooking method preserves nutritional value while making the food gentle on digestion. It's flexible, customizable, and you have complete control over what goes into your pet’s bowl.
Pros:
Highly digestible and gentle on the stomach
Retains more nutrients than heavily processed foods
You control ingredient quality and can rotate proteins easily
Great for pets with sensitive digestion or food sensitivities
Flexible cooking methods (slow cooker, oven, Instant Pot, stovetop)
Cons:
Requires time for meal prep
Must be properly balanced with supplements (calcium, multivitamin)
Needs guidance from a certified pet nutritionist or holistic vet to ensure completeness
More expensive than kibble
Best for: Pets with digestive sensitivities, food allergies, or chronic health issues. Also great for pet parents who want maximum control over ingredients and are willing to invest the time.
Raw Food Diets
What it is: Uncooked meats (muscle and organ), raw meaty bones, eggs, and sometimes vegetables and dairy. Based on the idea that cats and dogs' ancestral diets consisted of raw, whole prey.
My take: Raw diets can work for some pets, and if a pet parent really wants to try raw, I can help ensure it's properly balanced. But it's not my first recommendation, primarily due to the increased effort, cost, and bacteria risk. For those interested in raw without the DIY hassle, commercial raw diets are available and can be a good middle ground.
Pros:
Minimally processed with maximum nutrient retention
Can support dental health (raw meaty bones)
Some pets thrive on raw, particularly those with certain allergies
Closely mimics ancestral eating patterns
Cons:
Bacteria risk: Raw meat can contain salmonella, E. coli, and parasites—dangerous for immunocompromised dogs and risky for humans handling the food
Bone hazards: Risk of choking, broken teeth, or internal punctures from bone fragments if bones are not appropriate for the pet or not monitored while eating
Nutritional imbalance: Requires expertise to balance properly; deficiencies or excesses can cause serious health issues
Can be time-consuming and expensive
Not suitable for pets with compromised immune systems or sensitive digestive systems
Requires the most vigilance and expertise
Best for: Healthy pets with strong immune systems whose owners are committed to safe handling practices and proper nutritional balance. Consider working with a professional to formulate recipes.
Kibble (Dry Food)
What it is: Commercially produced dry food made by cooking ingredients at high heat multiple times, extruding into kibble shape, then drying for shelf stability.
My take: For many pet parents, kibble makes sense—it's affordable, easy to store, and fits into busy schedules. But it's important to know what you're feeding and how to make it better.
The reality of kibble processing:
Kibble is made by processing food at extremely high heat, usually being cooked four to five times. Here's what happens: poultry meals (like chicken meal or turkey meal) are made by grinding entire birds—including feathers and feces. This mixture is cooked at high heat to kill bacteria, creating a meat soup. That soup is then dehydrated to make "meal."
The meal gets shipped to manufacturers, combined with cooked grains and other ingredients, then cooked again to make dough. The dough is cooked under high pressure, pushed through an extruder to shape it, cut into kibble pieces, then dried again for shelf stability.
The problem? All that cooking destroys amino acids, essential fatty acids, and vitamins. So manufacturers "fortify" the kibble with synthetic vitamin/mineral mixes—often imported from overseas. Sometimes these mixes contain excessive amounts, leading to recalls when pets get sick.
Pros:
Convenient and shelf-stable
Budget-friendly
Easy to measure and store
Widely available
Cons:
Lacks moisture: Kibble is inherently dehydrating. Dry food pulls moisture from your dog's body during digestion
Heavily processed: Cooking at high heat multiple times destroys nutrients
Often high in fillers: Many kibbles are heavy in grains, carbs, and processed ingredients
Quality concerns: Ingredient quality varies widely; many contain unnamed proteins, by-products, and synthetic additives
Synthetic nutrient fortification rather than naturally occurring nutrition
Making kibble better: If kibble is your choice (or necessity), you can significantly improve it by:
Choosing brands with whole food ingredients, minimal fillers, and named proteins (e.g., "chicken" not "poultry by-product")
Adding fresh whole food toppers (bone broth, cooked meat, eggs, vegetables)
Providing extra hydration (add water to kibble, offer bone broth)
Rotating brands and proteins to prevent sensitivities
Best for: Pet parents who need convenience, are on a tight budget, or travel frequently. Can work well when enhanced with fresh toppers.
How do you choose what’s right for your pet?
Start by honestly assessing two things: your pet's needs and your realistic capabilities.
Consider Your Pet’s Health
Healthy adult pet with no issues? Most feeding styles can work
Sensitive digestion or chronic GI problems? Slow-cooked or high-quality kibble with toppers
Severe food allergies? Limited-ingredient approach (raw, slow-cooked, or limited-ingredient kibble)
Immunocompromised or cancer patient? Avoid raw; slow-cooked is ideal
Senior pet? Easily digestible slow-cooked or quality canned food
Chronic health conditions? Work with a holistic pet health coach, nutritionist or vet to tailor nutrition
Consider Your Lifestyle
Be honest about what you can sustain:
Do you have time to prep meals regularly?
What's your budget for pet food?
Are you comfortable handling raw meat?
Do you travel frequently with your pet?
Do you have freezer space for batch cooking?
You're not failing if you don't have time to cook daily meals. Adding even a spoonful of real food on top of kibble is still a positive change!
Watch for Signs a Food Isn't Working
Your pet’s body gives you clues:
Chronic itching or skin issues
Frequent soft stools or diarrhea
Excessive gas or bloating
Low energy or lethargy
Picky eating or food refusal
Dull, dry coat
Chronic ear infections
If you're seeing these signs, it might be time to reassess your feeding approach.
Important: Homemade Diets Require Balance
Here's something crucial that often gets overlooked: homemade diets—whether raw or slow-cooked—cannot just be thrown together.
They should be formulated by a certified pet nutritionist and/or veterinary doctor to ensure they're complete and balanced using a variety of whole foods and appropriate supplements. "Winging it" with homemade food can cause serious nutritional deficiencies that harm your dog over time.
If your vet expresses concern about home-cooked or raw diets, they're often right to be cautious—improperly balanced homemade diets are genuinely dangerous. The key is working with a professional who understands nutritional requirements and can create a complete, balanced plan.
What "Balanced" Actually Means
A properly formulated homemade diet includes:
Appropriate protein sources (rotated for variety)
Proper calcium supplementation
Complete multivitamin
Healthy fats
Vegetables for fiber and phytonutrients
Sometimes appropriate grains or starches
One of the biggest benefits of home-cooking? You can rotate proteins, oils, and carbohydrates between batches, which helps prevent food sensitivities from developing.
Transitioning Between Foods Safely
Whenever you change your pet’s diet—whether switching proteins, brands, or feeding styles—do it gradually to avoid digestive upset.
For healthy eaters without GI issues: Transition over 7-10 days:
Days 1-3: 25% new food + 75% current food
Days 4-6: 50% new food + 50% current food
Days 7-9: 75% new food + 25% current food
Day 10+: 100% new food
For sensitive pets or picky eaters: Go slower—up to 2 weeks or more. Start with just 25% new food and increase very gradually over several meals or days.
It Doesn't Have to Be All-or-Nothing
One of the most freeing realizations? Feeding styles don't have to be all-or-nothing. You might:
Feed kibble during busy weekdays and slow-cooked meals on weekends
Use commercial raw for convenience with fresh toppers
Feed primarily slow-cooked with kibble as backup when traveling
Start with kibble plus fresh toppers and work up to home-cooking
You might also go through phases depending on your pet’s health needs and what's practical for you at different times in your life. That's completely okay.
Simple Ways to Upgrade Any Bowl Right Now
Even if you're not ready to switch feeding styles completely, you can boost your dog's nutrition today:
💧 Add bone broth or raw goat milk for hydration and gut health
🌿 Sprinkle fresh herbs like parsley for breath and digestion
🍳 Add a lightly scrambled egg once or twice a week
🐟 Top with sardines (in water, no salt) for omega-3s
🥩 Mix in plain cooked meat (chicken, turkey, beef)
🥦 Add steamed, mashed veggies like pumpkin or green beans
Small additions make a real difference!
The Bottom Line
The "best" food for your dog is the one that:
Meets their individual nutritional needs
Addresses any health issues they have
You can afford and sustain long-term
Is properly balanced (especially for homemade options)
My role isn't to tell you what you "should" do—it's to help you understand your options so you can make informed choices that work for both you and your pet.
If you're feeling overwhelmed about what to feed your pet, you're not doing anything wrong. You just need support that's clear, kind, and grounded in real-world practicality.
Ready to create a personalized feeding plan for your pet? I'd love to help you figure out what will work best for your unique situation. Book a free Discovery Call here and let's talk through your options—whether you're ready for a complete food plan or just want a little clarity.
