When a Waltham Nutritional Sciences Symposium highlighted new evidence confirming what raw feeders have observed for decades—namely, that the domestic dog remains physiologically carnivorous—many of us shrugged and thought, “Of course!” Sharp, shearing teeth, a simple stomach, and a short gastrointestinal tract are glaring clues.

Yet in countless vet clinics, prescription bags of corn-heavy nuggets and other recipes still march out the door.

Why?

How can a profession that prides itself on evidence-based medicine cling to a feeding model rooted in the grain silo rather than the hunt?

To understand the disconnect we have to explore canine biology, product economics, veterinary training, and the not-so-subtle power of marketing.

The Biology: Dogs Are Built To Eat Meat And Real Food

A growing stack of peer-reviewed papers leaves little doubt that dogs remain meat specialists who can tolerate starch rather than omnivores who thrive on it.

• Dentition and jaw motion – The scissor bite and pointed premolars slice flesh and crack bone; they do not grind seed the way herbivores’ flat molars do.
• Digestive design – A dog’s stomach is highly acidic, perfect for dissolving protein and killing pathogens but not for prolonged grain fermentation.
• Metabolic flexibility – Like wolves, dogs were shaped by “feast-or-famine” cycles. They store fat efficiently, create glucose from protein, and can fast for days without harm.

Critics often cite a 2013 Nature study that found several gene duplications linked to starch digestion in domestic dogs. Adaptive? Yes. Proof that kibble is biologically ideal? Hardly. The paper itself notes the change was modest—three or four genes out of roughly 20,000—and does not overwrite millions of years of carnivorous evolution.

The Epidemiology: Carbohydrate Diseases Are Rising

If kibble is “complete and balanced,” why are carbohydrate-linked disorders spiraling upward?

• Diabetes mellitus now affects about 1 in 65 dogs—a ten-fold jump since the early 1980s. In most cases the pancreas is still able to secrete insulin; the body has simply grown resistant after years of chronic glucose spikes.
• Obesity hovers around 55 percent of the pet dog population. Excess starch converts readily to fat, a problem worsened by the high feeding volumes required to meet caloric needs when protein is low.
• Dental decay and gum disease are rampant despite dogs’ carnivore teeth. Starch residue fuels oral bacteria that produce acid and plaque.

The conventional answer is more drugs: insulin injections, weight-loss kibble, dental prescription diets. Rarely does anyone ask whether the carbohydrate foundation itself might be the root cause.

The Economics: Kibble Exists For Human Wallets, Not Canine Wellness

Commercial pet food began in the late 1800s when an English entrepreneur watched stray dogs gobble leftover ship’s biscuits—rock-hard crackers made from flour, water, and salt. He saw profit in waste, and “dog cake” was born. Every innovation since—extrusion, synthetic vitamins, flavor sprays—has focused on efficiency and shelf life, not species suitability.

Starch is indispensable to that industrial formula:

• It’s cheap. Corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, peas—whichever is on surplus fills the plant’s silos.
• It’s an adhesive. Without a gelatinized starch matrix the pellets would crumble into dust.
• It’s profitable. Ingredient cost is low, but colorful packaging and veterinary endorsements allow premium pricing.

Meat, by contrast, is expensive, bulky, and perishable. Feeding fresh muscle, organ, and bone cuts deeply into margins unless you pass the cost to consumers—and most mega-brands fear that price ceiling.

The Education Gap: What Vet School Really Teaches About Nutrition

Students in North American veterinary programs receive, on average, fewer than 20 classroom hours on companion-animal nutrition. Much of that content is delivered by lecturers affiliated with large pet-food manufacturers who also donate lab equipment, teaching materials, and even lunch.

The typical syllabus:

1. Life-stage charts created by the kibble industry
2. Disease-management formulas (kidney, allergy, weight loss) branded by the same companies
3. Regulatory basics on AAFCO profiles and feeding trials

Missing are deep dives into evolutionary anatomy, raw-feeding safety protocols, or comparative analyses of fresh vs. extruded diets. By graduation the new DVM has handled hundreds of kibble samples and perhaps dissected a handful of raw carcasses in anatomy lab—hardly equal footing.

The Marketing Machine: Prescription Labels And Fear-Based Messaging

Walk into most clinics and a wall of therapeutic diets greets you at reception. Each bag targets a specific pathology: “Gastrointestinal,” “Metabolic + Mobility,” “Urinary S/O.” Clients see authoritative packaging, trust their vet, and swipe the credit card.

Meanwhile raw food is portrayed as risky:

• “Bacterial danger” – True, raw meat can harbor pathogens, but healthy canine GI tracts handle them far better than human guts. Proper sourcing and safe-handling practices drop risk to negligible levels—less than the danger posed by contaminated kibble recalls.
• “Unbalanced nutrition” – AAFCO numbers were set to offset heat-damage losses in extruded feed. Fresh raw diets preserve natural vitamins and amino acids, reducing the need for synthetic fortification.
• “Bone hazards” – Cooked bones splinter; raw, pliable bones rarely do. Size-appropriate choices and supervised feeding prevent almost all mishaps.

Fear sells—and keeps the average guardian buying carb-heavy pellets instead of biologically appropriate food.

The Conversation No One Wants: Admitting The Myth

Imagine a vet turning to a longtime client and saying:

“I’ve been reading new research. Max’s itchy skin and weight gain may stem from the dry food I recommended. Dogs are carnivores after all, and this bag is 40 percent starch.”

That confession is uncomfortable. It threatens professional authority, clinic revenue (those shelves), and decades of standard-of-care dogma. Yet many forward-thinking veterinarians are having exactly this conversation—and watching patient outcomes soar when meat replaces meal.

What Evidence Does Raw Feeding Have?

Skeptics demand randomized, double-blind, lifelong studies proving raw diets outperform kibble. Funding such trials runs into the millions—well beyond the scale of most raw producers. Still, data are accumulating:

• Short-term feeding trials show improved coat quality, cleaner teeth, and normalized stool volume within weeks.
• Blood-panel research demonstrates stable or enhanced taurine, vitamin B12, and fatty-acid profiles compared with kibble-fed controls.
• Microbiome studies reveal richer gut flora diversity in raw-fed dogs, a marker linked to stronger immunity.

Add countless case reports of chronic illnesses resolving once carbohydrates are removed, and the anecdotal mountain becomes hard to ignore.

Transitioning The Resistant Vet—And Your Dog To A Raw Diet And Natural Ingredients

If your veterinarian still calls kibble “balanced,” you don’t have to abandon the relationship. Instead:

1. Present peer-reviewed papers on canine carnivory and raw-diet outcomes. Keep tone collaborative, not confrontational.
2. Ask for specific concerns—bacteria, bones, nutrient ratios—and address each with best-practice protocols.
3. Suggest a trial period. Six to eight weeks on a reputable raw brand gives objective data via weight, coat, and blood work.
4. Be prepared to shop elsewhere for nutrition advice if the clinic remains closed to discussion.

For your dog, switch gradually: start with 25 percent raw, 75 percent current food, and increase over 7–10 days. Include meaty bones sized for safe chewing, organ meat for micronutrients, and perhaps a green-tripe boost for natural probiotics.

The Future: Will Kibble Become The New Fast Food?

Human nutrition is moving away from ultra-processed “calories in a box” toward whole foods. Pet guardians are following the same arc. Boutique raw, freeze-dried, and lightly cooked services are exploding. Large conglomerates respond with “ancestral” lines—still pressure-cooked pellets but now advertising wolf silhouettes and buzzwords like “instinct” or “backcountry.”

Real change may hinge on three forces:

• Consumer education – The more guardians read ingredient panels, the less grain-laden feed will satisfy them.
• Veterinary courage – Each practitioner who embraces raw shifts the standard of care.
• Regulatory evolution – AAFCO nutrient tables could differentiate fresh and extruded products, acknowledging heat-loss adjustments.

Until then, the burden falls on us—people with the wallets—to choose meat over marketing.

Final Thoughts On Raw Pet Food Vs. Kibble

Dogs did not morph into omnivores when they began trailing human campfires; they adapted just enough to survive leftovers. Thriving is another matter. Mounting scientific, clinical, and real-world evidence says thriving requires meat, bones, and minimal starch.

Veterinary resistance is less about ignorance and more about inertia, economics, and the discomfort of overturning entrenched practice. Yet every bag of kibble is a relic of convenience, not a badge of nutritional wisdom.

So, the next time you hear that dogs handle grain “just fine,” remember the soaring diabetes charts, the carnivore dentition, and the centuries of evolutionary design.

Then ask the only question that really matters: Does this food honor the animal in front of me?

If the answer is no, skip the bag, open the freezer, and give your dog what nature intended—meat.

FAQ

Is raw food actually good for dogs? Yes, raw pet food made with natural ingredients and free range meats provides adult dogs with real food that supports better digestion, more energy, and overall wellness compared to processed diets. Feeding a quality raw food meal plan can help picky eaters, including a picky girl or german shepherd, thrive on a diet their bodies are naturally designed for.

Do vets recommend raw dog food? While some traditional vets are cautious, many holistic veterinarians now recommend high quality food like raw pet food for dog owners who want the best dog food made from real food and natural ingredients to support their pup's health. It's important to choose brands offering great customer service and a meal plan that ensures balanced nutrition with a mix of plenty of veggies for dogs and even cats.

Is it cheaper to buy raw dog food or make it? It can sometimes be cheaper to make your own raw pet food using vegetables, free range meats like chicken, and extras like shiitake mushrooms, but buying quality raw food from trusted brands is super easy and often includes discounts like a first box offer off the regular price. For many busy dog owners, buying pre-prepared raw or frozen options ensures consistent, safe nutrition without the hassle of sourcing and balancing homemade meals.

What are the best raw ingredients for dog food? The best food for a raw diet includes free range meats, organ meats, fresh vegetables, and nutrient-rich foods like shiitake mushrooms, which mimic the prey model raw diet dogs love. Choosing high quality food packed with natural ingredients ensures your pups receive a meal plan that's ideal for adult dogs, providing real food and more energy in every bite.