Kibble is the most common form of pet food today, but many pet owners don’t know how it came to be. Unlike fresh, species-appropriate diets, kibble is a highly processed product created out of convenience, cost-efficiency, and industrial food production. But why was kibble invented, and how did it become the standard for feeding dogs? Let’s explore its origins.
1. The Rise of Processed Pet Food
Before the late 1800s, dogs were typically fed table scraps, raw meats, and bones. While not always nutritionally balanced, these diets were far more natural than the processed foods that would later dominate the market.
The first major shift in pet food came in 1860, when an electrician named James Spratt created the first commercial dog biscuit. Inspired by the hardtack biscuits eaten by sailors, Spratt developed a formula using wheat, vegetables, beetroot, and beef blood. These biscuits became popular among wealthy dog owners, and soon, mass production of pet food began.
2. Post-War Industrialization & Mass Production
By the early 20th century, major food manufacturers realized they could profit from animal byproducts that were deemed unfit for human consumption. Instead of wasting these materials, they were ground up, cooked, and repurposed into pet food.
In the 1920s and 1930s, canned wet dog food became widely available, often made from horse meat. However, during World War II, metal shortages led to the decline of canned pet food, pushing the industry toward dry, shelf-stable alternatives.
3. The Invention of Kibble
The biggest advancement in dry pet food came in the 1950s, when the extrusion process was introduced. This method, which was originally developed for making breakfast cereals, involved:
🔥 High Heat & Pressure Cooking – Turning ingredients into a uniform dough.
🔄 Extruding Into Shapes – Cutting and baking small, bite-sized pieces.
🛢️ Spraying with Fats & Synthetic Vitamins – Enhancing palatability and replacing lost nutrients.
This process allowed companies to mass-produce dog food cheaply, using grains, starches, and rendered meat meals as the primary ingredients.
4. Marketing & the Normalization of Kibble
As kibble became more affordable, marketing played a huge role in making it the “gold standard” for pet food.
📢 Major pet food companies partnered with veterinarians, funding nutrition research that promoted kibble as the best option.
📢 Convenience was heavily marketed, making fresh feeding seem unnecessary or impractical.
📢 “Complete & Balanced” claims reassured pet owners that kibble provided all the nutrients dogs needed—despite its highly processed nature.
By the 1970s and 1980s, kibble had become the norm, with brands like Purina, Pedigree, and Iams dominating the industry.
5. Why Kibble Continues to Dominate
Even today, kibble remains the most popular form of pet food due to:
✔️ Low Cost – It’s cheaper to produce than fresh or raw diets.
✔️ Long Shelf Life – Kibble lasts months (or years), making it convenient for storage and shipping.
✔️ Veterinary Endorsements – Many vets are trained with curricula funded by major pet food brands.
✔️ Mass Marketing & Habit – Most pet owners grow up feeding kibble and see it as the “normal” way to feed dogs.
6. The Downsides of Kibble
Despite its popularity, kibble comes with several major drawbacks:
❌ Highly Processed – Cooking at high temperatures destroys natural nutrients, requiring synthetic vitamins.
❌ High in Carbohydrates – Many kibbles contain 40-60% starch, which dogs don’t need.
❌ Low-Quality Ingredients – Often made from byproducts, rendered meats, and artificial preservatives.
❌ Linked to Chronic Disease – Obesity, diabetes, allergies, and even cancer rates have skyrocketed since the rise of kibble.
7. The Shift Back to Fresh Feeding
As more pet owners become educated about species-appropriate nutrition, there’s a growing movement toward fresh, raw, or minimally processed diets. Many are realizing that kibble was not invented for optimal pet health—it was created for convenience, profit, and industrial efficiency.
What’s the Best Alternative?
🐾 Raw or Lightly Cooked Fresh Food – Mimics what dogs evolved to eat.
🐾 Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated – Retains nutrients while being convenient.
🐾 Whole Food Supplements – Supports balanced, natural nutrition.
Final Thoughts
Kibble may have been invented for practicality, but that doesn’t mean it’s the healthiest choice for dogs. Understanding why kibble was created helps pet owners make more informed decisions about what they feed their furry companions. With so many healthier alternatives available today, it’s time to rethink pet nutrition and prioritize real, species-appropriate food over industrialized convenience.