21/05/2026
🥩 Why Raw Feeding Outperforms Low‑Quality Kibble.
At Gallipots, we work with dogs every day - grooming them, supporting their owners, and helping solve the same recurring issues: itchy skin, upset stomachs, dull coats, endless ear problems. Over time, one thing becomes impossible to ignore: diet is at the centre of so many of these challenges.
Fresh, raw feeding isn’t a trend. It’s simply closer to what dogs are built to eat. And when you compare it to low‑quality kibble, the differences are stark.
Here’s why raw consistently comes out on top.
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1. Fresh Food Contains Real, Intact Nutrition (1)
Raw feeding provides:
• Naturally occurring amino acids
• Bioavailable minerals
• Enzymes that support digestion
• Healthy fats essential for skin, coat, and cognitive function
Low‑quality kibble is heated to extreme temperatures, which destroys many of these nutrients. Synthetic vitamins are added back afterwards to meet minimum legal requirements — but “minimum” is not the same as “optimal”.
Dogs recognise and utilise nutrients from real food far more effectively.
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2. Raw Supports a Healthier Gut (2)
A dog’s digestive system is designed for:
• Moisture‑rich food
• High-quality proteins
• Natural fats
• Low carbohydrate loads
Cheap kibble is often:
• High in starch
• Low in moisture
• Bulked out with fillers
• Preserved with additives
This combination can irritate the gut and disrupt the microbiome, leading to soft stools, gas, itching, and inconsistent digestion. Raw-fed dogs typically show smaller, firmer stools and better nutrient absorption because the food is biologically appropriate.
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3. Skin and Coat Improvements Are Common (3)
We see this constantly in the grooming salon.
Raw diets naturally contain:
• Omega‑3 fatty acids
• Collagen
• Zinc
• B‑vitamins
These nutrients are fragile and don’t survive high‑heat processing. That’s why so many kibble-fed dogs struggle with itching, hotspots, dull coats, and recurrent ear issues.
Switching to fresh food often brings visible improvements within weeks.
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4. Behaviour Often Improves Too (4)
Food affects mood and behaviour. Fact
Highly processed, carbohydrate-heavy diets can cause:
• Energy spikes
• Restlessness
• Poor focus
• Increased reactivity
Raw feeding provides steady, species-appropriate energy. Many owners report calmer, more settled dogs with better concentration and improved training responses.
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5. Dental Health: Raw Has a Clear Advantage (5)
Appropriate raw meaty bones help:
• Clean teeth
• Strengthen gums
• Reduce plaque
• Freshen breath
The idea that kibble “cleans teeth” has been repeatedly disproven. If dry biscuits cleaned teeth, dentists would hand out crackers.
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6. Better Nutrition Means Fewer Problems Down the Line (6)
Fresh feeding supports:
• Stronger immunity
• Better joint health
• More stable weight
• Lower inflammation
Owners often report fewer ear infections, fewer skin flare-ups, fewer digestive issues, and fewer vet visits overall. Good nutrition is preventative care.
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Where Does That Leave Kibble?
Not all dry foods are equal. We stock cold‑pressed foods and lightly steamed trays and tins because they’re gentler, more nutritious, and far closer to fresh feeding than traditional kibble. They’re ideal for owners who want to transition gradually or need a convenient alternative.
But low‑quality kibble - high heat, high carbs, low moisture, synthetic nutrients - simply isn’t what dogs are built to eat.
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The Takeaway
✅ Fresh, raw feeding aligns with a dog’s natural biology.
❌ Low‑quality kibble aligns with manufacturing convenience.
When you choose fresh, you choose:
• Better digestion
• Better skin
• Better behaviour
• Better long‑term health
And ultimately, a dog who thrives - not just copes.
🧼 A Quick Note on Food Hygiene
Whether you feed raw or processed diets, good food hygiene is essential. Always wash hands, bowls, utensils, and surfaces after handling dog food (especially raw meat) and store products at the correct temperature. This protects both you and your dog, and ensures the nutritional quality of the food stays intact.
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Footnotes
(1) https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.70053
(2) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9329806/
(3) https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.552251/full
(4) https://edepot.wur.nl/2619
(5)https://rawmeatybones.com/pdf/Marx_et_al-2016-Australian_Veterinary_Journal.pdf
(6) https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/10/676
