Kibbles ‘n Bits (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Kibbles ‘n Bits receives the Advisor’s lowest rating of 1 star.

The Kibbles ‘n Bits product line includes 8 dry dog foods. However, since we’re unable to locate AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these dog foods on the Kibbles ‘n Bits website, it’s impossible for us to report specific life stage recommendations for these recipes.

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Small Breed
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits ‘n Beefy Bits
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Weight Maintenance
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Bistro Meals Grilled Chicken
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Homestyle Roasted Chicken
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Homestyle Grilled Beef Steak
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Bistro Meals Oven Roasted Beef
  • Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Savory Beef and Chicken Flavor

Kibble ‘n Bits Original Savory Beef and Chicken Flavor was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.

Kibbles 'n Bits Original Savory Beef and Chicken Flavor

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 23% | Fat = 10% | Carbs = 59%

Ingredients: corn, soybean meal, beef and bone meal, ground wheat flour, animal fat (BHA used as preservative), corn syrup, wheat middlings, water sufficient for processing, animal digest (source of chicken flavor), propylene glycol, salt, hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, caramel color, sorbic acid (used as a preservative), sodium carbonate, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), calcium sulfate, titanium dioxide, yellow 5, yellow 6, red 40, BHA (used as a preservative), dl methionine

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis19%8%NA
Dry Matter Basis23%10%59%
Calorie Weighted Basis22%23%56%

The first ingredient in this dog food is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.

The second ingredient is soybean meal. Soybean meal is relatively useful by-product — what remains of soybeans after all the oil has been removed.

Although soybean meal contains 48% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The third item lists beef and bone meal, a dry rendered product from (beef) tissues, including bone, exclusive of blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents”.1

Beef and bone meal has a lower biological value than most other meat meals.

Scientists believe this decreased protein quality may be due to the ingredient’s higher ash and lower essential amino acid content.2

On the brighter side, beef and bone meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh meat.

In any case, beef and bone meal is not considered a better quality dog food ingredient.

The fourth item is wheat. Wheat is nutritionally similar to corn and subject to corn’s same shortcomings and problems.

The fifth ingredient is animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.

Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from almost anywhere: roadkill, spoiled supermarket meat, dead, diseased or dying cattle — even euthanized livestock.

What’s worse, this fat is preserved with BHA, a suspected cancer-causing agent.

We do not consider generic animal fat preserved with BHA a quality ingredient.

The sixth ingredient is corn syrup. Corn syrup consists mainly of glucose, a sugar capable of causing an unhealthy rise in a dog’s blood sugar.

The seventh ingredient is wheat middlings, commonly known as “wheat mill run”. Though it may sound wholesome, wheat mill run is actually an inexpensive by-product of cereal grain processing.

In reality, wheat middlings are nothing more than milling dust and floor sweepings — and an ingredient more typically found in the lower quality pet foods.

After water, we find animal digest. Animal digest is a chemically hydrolyzed mixture of animal by-products that is usually sprayed onto the surface of a dry kibble to improve its taste.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With four notable exceptions…

First, this Kibbles ‘n Bits product contains the controversial food moisturizer, propylene glycol. Propylene glycol has been banned by the FDA for use in making cat food.

But it can still be found to this day in lower quality dog foods.

Next, we’re always disappointed to find artificial coloring in any dog food. Coloring is used to make the product more appealing to you, not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color his kibble is?

Thirdly, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.

And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

Kibbles ‘n Bits Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Kibbles ‘n Bits appears to be a below-average dry dog food.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 23%, a fat level of 10% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 59%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 24% and an average fat level of 10%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate portion size of 58% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 39%.

Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Yet when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the soybean meal, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a limited amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Kibbles ‘n Bits dog food is a plant-based kibble using only a limited amount of beef and bone meal as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 1 star.

Not recommended.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.

However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyze each product, please read our article, "The Problem with Dog Food Reviews".

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt, consult a qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

12/26/2009 Original review
07/31/2010 Review updated
05/17/2012 Last Update

  1. Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for beef published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, 2008 Edition ↩
  2. Shirley RB and Parsons CM, , Effect of Ash Content on Protein Quality of Meat and Bone Meal, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Poultry Science, 2001 80: 626-632 ↩
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  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    The problem is people don’t KNOW of the alternatives available, making a site like this so incredibly valuable.

    There’s so much more to the cost of having a pet than the price of the food. Heck, there’s so much more to the price of the food other than it’s price sticker.

    What about how much of it you feed? One food may cost $10 more, but if you feed less of that then over time the the price difference could actual reverse, meaning the food that has a higher sticker price is cheaper to feed.

    What about the quality of the food? It’s no secret that the better we eat, the less we need to spend on being sick. The same goes for dogs. Vet visits are not cheap at all.

    This thinking is downright lazy, and reeks of somebody trying to justify buying poor food. Do some research!

  • http://www.facebook.com/jack.tripper.3950 Jack Tripper

    i agree with you, however, the point of this site is to be informed and to avoid foods like this one. if you literally cannot afford anything but this, then what is the point of going on this site anyways. if you are absolutely stuck with this food, what is the point of researching? the reality is that its never that simple. you could go to costco and buy nutra nuggets lamb & rice which is $26 for 40lbs and contains more calories and way more nutrients by weight than this “food” and you would probably be saving money. so yes, a one star food is better than starving but its rarely one star or dead like you claim.

  • Earthborn lover

    That’s really ignorant of you. Just because you got lucky once or twice, doesn’t mean you always will. To know how bad a food is and choose to continue feeding it to your four legged companion is shameful. Dogs don’t have a voice, they eat what you give them. Shame on you for knowing feeding such disgusting garbage. Poor dog.

  • Melanie_Samuels

    As long as your dog does not show allergies to this lower grade food, and as long as it is true that you CANNOT AFFORD to pay for a better quality food (or even mixing this with a higher grade of food), then I have to state the following that I think more people need to acknowledge:

    Being fed this crappy food is far better than being stuck in the shelter with a high likelihood of being EUTHANIZED to make space for new dogs. If the shelter is a no-kills shelter, it can still send animals to kill shelters once they run out of space, or turn down animals which can then be sent to kill shelters.

    In consideration of that, I think we need be less harsh on the owners who can only afford to pay for brands like this. A lot of people hardly take care of their own health. Sometimes it’s a lot to expect a person who eats fast food every day to feed their dog a brand like Acana, Orijen, or Fromm.

    The most important thing is if the dog is receiving,

    Exercise ✓

    Love ✓

    A Good Home ✓

    If the owner can afford to feed better, then that’s excellent! That’s the most preferable thing! If not, then we must remember that it’s great that these dogs are not in the shelter. We must also remember that a dog eating Beneful is getting a more balanced nutrition than if it were a stray on the street eating from the dumpster or not eating at all.

  • Melanie_Samuels

    I’m happy to hear that your dogs lived for a long time, but it should be acknowledge that this is IN SPITE of being fed Kibbles ‘n Bits, NOT because of it.

    It is always best to feed healthier foods whenever possible. This is especially true if your dog has allergies to the low quality ingredients. Signs of this may be shedding, itchiness, red eyes, etc. There are also symptoms that you may not notice.

    It’s a different story if your income does not allow an upgrade to a higher quality food. A lot of people do not get information on this beforehand even if they take the time to research to prepare for a dog. And since Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds are popular breeds, it’s likely that a lot of people have large dogs and are not prepared or able to pay $30+ every month for their dog’s food (when considering $15 for heart worm prevention, $15 for flea prevention, and other costs like dog walking services, bark control, training for unprepared behavior problems, etc.) And if they have more than one large dog the money just adds up.

    As long as the dog is in a loving home and getting the exercise it needs, then it is OK for the dog to be eating Pedigree, Beneful, Purina, Kibbles ‘n Bits, and other low grade brands. Nutrition is only a part of the aspect. A dog’s overall well being is based on Nutrition/Exercise/Genetics/Love. Love = a healthy environment, affection, stability, etc.

    I have a friend who has a medium sized mutt who is older than 15. He ate Kibbles ‘n Bits for his whole life. It’s clearly because he was getting a lot of exercise, has good genetics, and is in a good home that he lived to an old age and still acts like a puppy. When I worked a Petco, I had customers who fed their previous dogs IAMS, Pedigree, Purina, etc., and their dog had lived to be toward 20 years old. It is possible for dogs to live a long lifespan on these inferior foods (though it should be acknowledged that they could have likely lived longer if fed higher quality food.)

  • MyPrecious

    My dog, Precious, is a Doodle – miniature dachshund/toy poodle. She loved Kibbles ‘n Bits. She started having a ton of issues including major “allergies” and constant infections, mainly on her skin. Her eyes started getting cloudy. She chewed her fur off and rubbed her face on the carpet and furniture almost incessantly.
    The vets were not helping. Allergy medicine and antibiotics were not doing the trick. Finally, I looked her symptoms up online.
    Turns out, her food was the problem. Because of the high carb content from the corn and the syrup, she had developed a systemic yeast infection.
    I immediately changed her diet! They say to do it gradually, but I was so afraid that Precious would die soon from her condition that I made an abrupt change. She did not suffer most of the effects cited from abruptly changing a dogs diet, and she loved the new food.

    We now make her food from real meat (cooked – either beef, turkey, chicken or pork), a little rice and eggs. We add yogurt and vitamins. Additionally, she gets bathed with a bit of apple cider vinegar in her bath water and we put tiny amount of ACV in her drinking water.
    She began recovering very quickly. She still has bouts of itching when we supplement her diet with canned dog food, but she is remarkably improved, much happier, and has put on a healthy weight (before, she was losing weight even though she was eating a lot!)
    Her eyes have also improved, but she damaged one so badly, that she is blind in that eye.
    I cannot tell you what a difference diet makes. It seems that when I was a kid, dog food was better. We fed our dogs a mixture of dog food and fresh ingredients and they thrived. I now realized that another dog I had that was diagnosed with “allergies” probably had the same problem – diet.
    The fresh food is easy to make and inexpensive. It’s far worth the time to make and has saved us a ton of $$ in vet bills.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jack.tripper.3950 Jack Tripper

    i made the terrible mistake of feeding my 2yr old pitbull this garbage for the first month after getting him because his previous owner was feeding him this and i just kept doing it. i meticulously read ingredients and nutritional content on human food but i stupidly didn’t read the ingredients on this until after i took him off of it. i was in shock. i was mad at myself and even madder at del monte for producing this crap. needless to say, i will never, ever feed my dog this or anything else with less than 4 stars ever again. since getting off this food, he has put on 15 lbs of lean muscle, his coat is a thousand times better and he is no longer bloated. its shameful that this stuff is even on the shelf at all.

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  • I_Love_Lily

    You really shouldn’t post your name, address, and phone number on an internet forum.

  • Truth be told

    The 1st ingredient CORN,come on people,corn is not good for dogs.When have you ever driven past a corn field,and seen dogs eating it.Dogs are carnivores,though they do eat some grain,but,this dog food has no meat.This food has dyes,which are not good for dogs.Smarten up,and feed your dog a better,nutritious dog food,that is good fro them.Just becasue,your dog looks good on the outside,you do not know,what its doing to their insides..

  • http://www.facebook.com/catrina.mckechnie Catrina Cole McKechnie

    My puggle nearly died on Kibbles and Bits and Beneful… They are POISON!!

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  • JellyCat

    Shelties, slightly more expensive food is not expensive at the end. You dogs will eat less of better food as better food is more nutrient dense. Also, good foods contain glucosamine, chondroitin and good quality fish oils that actually substantially reduce inflammation in arthritic joints. You dog’s quality of life will enormously improve just because of that. Pain of arthritis is really-really bad. It is on my opinion very cruel not to intervene.

    Also, as animals get older they are less able to digest and utilize poor quality protein like one derived from plant matter. You dogs at this age must have high good quality protein food to be healthy and happy. And like I said, it is actually not more expensive to get 4 star kibble recommended by Hound Dog Mom. They will definitely eat LESS of it and at the end the price will be either the same or pretty close.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    I use and recommend a number of brands. Which one depends on the needs and wants of the dog. Some of my favorites include Fromm, Acana, Orijen, Merrick, Nature’s Variety Instinct, Nutrisource, Zignature, and Evo.

    Of course, I believe in the ancestral diet, so a raw diet would be most ideal. Whether that be home made or commercial (think Primal, etc.).

  • ada

    can I ask what food you give your dogs, thank you for your help

  • InkedMarie

    Hi, fellow sheltie person! Hound Dog Mom gave you some great advice. Even on a budget, there are some foods that are better than Kibbles & Bits. Your shelties are a bit older, with arthritis; do you have them on a joint supplement? It would be a good idea.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Shelties –

    I agree, the most important thing is for a dog is a loving forever home. However, there are a couple of foods out there that are much better quality than Kibbles n Bits that wouldn’t cost you a whole lot more. At my Walmart a 35 lb. bag of Kibble n Bits is about $22. There’s a new line of food at Walmart called “Pure Balance” it’s rated 3 1/2 stars and the Chicken variety costs around $32 for a 30 lb. bag. If you have a Tractor Supply near you – they sell 4Health (4 stars) for $32 for a 35 lb. bag and Diamond Naturals (4 stars) for $32 for a 40 lb bag. Also, if you have any feed stores near you, you could see if they carry Pro Pac (4 stars) it runs about $30 for a 33 lb. bag. If your dogs go through a large bag each month this would equate to only around $10 more per month or about $2.50 per week (and keep in mind they also will likely eat slightly less of a better quality food). If you must stick with the Kibbles n Bits there are some cheap fresh foods you can buy and mix in to boost the quality – fresh eggs, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, tinned sardines or any lean left over meat you have from dinner – a little bit of real food is better than nothing.

  • Shelties

    I have 2 shelties, 10 and 15.The older one has always avoided anything crunchy, but after we got the younger one, we found. Kibble and Bits worked for both-she picks out the soft parts, the younger likes the crunchy. I understand good nutrition, and wish I had the resources to buy the best for my girls. We know it works the same with people food-try to make a good salad in the winter without spending 2/3 of your grocery money. Years ago,when we were first married, we had a cocker and she was on the cheapest Blue Barn dog food, what we teenagers could afford. But she had the worst gas, and we learned we just had to buy at least a name brand food, which took care of that. So I learned that cheapest isn’t always worth it. But, in our case, our girls are healthy unless you count deafness or arthritis at their ages. We know that If we feed them table food, we can count on cleaning up a mess.Otherwise, they rarely have stomach issues. So the only time they get that is taking medicine with crunchy peanut butter and crackers. The older one does have bad breath, but considering she has a nasty habit of recycling, we’re not surprised. We know the day is coming when we will be looking for shelties again, as we love having them and wouldn’t like to be without a furry family member for very long. I guess I can only say that we do what we’re able to, and no, we don’t pop out dogs without thinking of how to afford to care for them,but at least they’ve had a forever home since they were puppies, and the older one came from a puppy mill broker, so she definitely had a better life than she might have otherwise.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Dobermans are one of the breeds most predisposed to lipomas. Most holistic veterinarians believe the formation of fatty tumors is directly correlated with how well the dog metabolizes fat. Feeding a healthy food is definitely a must for keeping a dog’s metabolism and immune system functioning at its peak well into the dog’s senior years. If a dog gets a fatty tumor an immune boosting supplement in conjunction with a natural, minimally processed, species appropriate diet would be best. A supplement I’ve read great things about is “Integrative Theraputics Cellular Forte Max” – it contains IP6, inosotil, maitake and cat’s claw – all ingredients that boost the immune system, have anti-tumor properties and strengthen the B and T cells that combat abnormal cell growth. Turmeric and bromelain are also noted for their anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties.

  • Pattyvaughn

    For some dogs, the formation of lipomas are genetically predisposed, but nutrition does affect the degree to which they show up. I’ve had lipomas disappear from a dog when I switched foods, and it wasn’t to a lower fat food either, but rather a lower carb one. Some people maintain that lipomas are the body’s way of dealing with toxins and that giving the dog a better quality of food makes them more able to eliminate toxins on their own thus shrinking the lipomas.

  • Tasha

    Mike,
    I was wondering about the formation of “fatty tumors” developing on the bodies of aging dogs. Both my sister’s dog and now a friend of mine’s dog have developed these benign tumors as they’ve aged. Even though they don’t really cause much damage at first, eventually they will invade the body cavity and overtake the bodies organs. That is why my sisters dog had to be put to sleep. He was a 12 year old doberman, but still.
    Does feeding low quality dog food contribute to this condition?

  • Pattyvaughn

    Mary

    This site is not affiliated with any dog food.  It is a dog food review site.  And it pretty clearly tells you that this is a BAD dog food.  Do you really think Kibbles and Bits would actually admit to that on their own site?

  • doggonefedup

    probably to keep it from “outgassing” and getting everybody in the house from getting sick……JMO

  • Mary

    I was wondering why you have a wonderful zipper close bag on the kibbles and bits bistro meals and not on any other dog food. Why? It’s so hard to keep big bag’s fresh. I don’t know why you do it for one style and not all. I would love it on all. Thank you.

  • InkedMarie

    sorry your dogs are sick but glad you won’t be using it again.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=750972229 Rea Lyn Donner

    The dogs in my house ate kibbles n bits for the first time and all of them are pooping red diarrhea and puking all over. Will never purchase this product again

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140685339 Betsy Greer

    If you like them both, why not alternate between the two. It’s better for your dogs to have a variety of proteins and not have prolonged exposure to a single protein (or other ingredients) at the risk of developing an intolerance or allergy.

  • tonya

    And i did find the whole earth farms dog food for a great price we are interested in that but our dogs are doing good on chicken soup so we’ll prob just stick with that.

  • tonya

    I know nutro isn’t diamond–i didnt mean to sound like i was saying it was.

  • tonya

    We are currently feeding chicken soup for 42.99 35 lb.

  • BryanV21

    Good, you read it. Now point me to the word “starch”.

  • M Ward1993

    “Thank you! I will look into those. He needs to stay away from potatoes sweet potatoes yeast high sugars high carbs. I don’t know what it is he’s allergic to, maybe it’s the grains?”

    Like
    Reply

  • BryanV21

    “He needs to stay away from potatoes sweet potatoes”

    There’s more to issues with potatoes than their level of starch. Besides, the person I was replying to didn’t even say the word “starch”, so I don’t understand the point of your reply to me. If it was just to add information… thanks. Otherwise, please read through a conversation first.

  • M Ward1993

    sweet potatoes are not high in starch. 

  • LuvMyMutt

    Fromm’s Gold is also a great price – I pay $34 for 30 pounds.

  • BryanV21

    Merrick does use sweet potatoes, however I believe Instinct does not (uses peas instead). Not sure about Core, but worth a look.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Tonya –

    It is too bad that the majority of the reasonably priced 4 and 5 star foods are made by Diamond. There are a few reasonably priced non-Diamond options out there though. You may want to check out: Healthwise (4 stars, ~$40/35 lbs.), Merrick’s Whole Earth Farms (4 stars, ~$40/35 lbs.), Native (4 & 5 star formulas, ~$50/40 lbs.), NutriSource (4 stars, ~$45/33 lbs.), Eagle Pack (4 stars, ~$35/30 lbs), Victor (4 stars, ~$32/40 lbs.). My mom’s on a budget so I’m always on the lookout for quality reasonably priced foods for her dog, these would be my top picks.

  • M Ward1993

    Well Nutro isnt Diamond. And Wellness and Natural Balance left Diamond, or are in the process of doing so. I feed Natural Balance, it runs $50 or so for a 30lb bag, not that bad. Wellness is a bit more.

  • tonya

    When my dog was a young we had him on kibbles and bits. We hadnt yet known about the bad brands. This food tore his stomach up and gave him diarihia. We now feed taste of the wild, chicken soup, or nutro natural choice. We cant bring ourselves to feed this, any purina products, or any other junk food. we have 4 dogs. 1 husky, 1 beagle and 2 mixes. although dog food can be quite expensive (totw running $42.99 and up for 30 lbs in our area) we dont always like feeding a diamond made food brands but they make up a lot of dog food brands. wish there could be good brands for not so expensive.

  • Ltchorse8

    Thank you! I will look into those. He needs to stay away from potatoes sweet potatoes yeast high sugars high carbs. I don’t know what it is he’s allergic to, maybe it’s the grains?

  • BryanV21

    PetCo carries some good foods, so I’d go there. As for brands/formulas I’d look into Merrick Grain-Free, Nature’s Variety Instinct, or Wellness Core. 

    Are there any ingredients you need to stay away from? I ask because some ingredients, for example chicken, are not tolerated by some dogs and cause allergic-like reactions. 

  • Ltchorse8

    I would like advice! Right now my 3yr old boxer is on Victor. He has a yeast infection in his toenails, he’s had it for some time but I just now found out what it is. I would love to go raw but don’t have the resources. So, what’s a good grain free dog food I can purchase from petsmart petco tractor supply etc?

  • InkedMarie

    This is not a good food. Would you like some advice on a good food? If yes, tell us about your dogs: their ages, do they have any issues (ear infections, overweight, not a good coat, etc) and we can help.

  • LabsRawesome

     Hi Ebellwien, Yes, the dyes are harmful to pets. I could suggest some budget friendly foods, that are much healthier options. If you want. Do you have Costco, Tractor supply, Petsmart, or Walmart close by?

  • Ebellwien

    I have just switched my dog to Kibbles and bits and he did not tolerate it and thruw up during the night.The problem now, since there are three definite Dyes in the food, the stains in the carpet will not come out no matter what was tried including Capt Cleans products.What really concerns me is , is that dye harmful to dogs? it sure seems to be pretty potent. I will ask my Veterinarian also.
    Thank you, Erika Bell,1969 Holly POnds Dr.Sheridan WY 82801
    307-673-1964

  • Melissaandcrew

     Hi Coco-

    Sometimes, when you are an adult, you realize that things can change in life, and it can change in the blink of an eye. While I believe people should feed a food that is healthier to their pets, I also understand that sometimes these foods are the best that they can do, for the time being.

  • http://www.facebook.com/coco.no.54 Coco NO

     it you cannot feed your dog a decent food you are not supposed to have a dog. just like if you cannot afford having kids you are not supposed to just pop them out and go for a public assistance!

  • EvesHumanMom

    One other thing occurred to me, if you find something you really want to try, you might contact the maker or the pet food store (generally, the feed store or pet food store will have a better range of dog foods than a big box store or  supermarket) manager and ask if they have any samples.  It doesn’t hurt to ask.

  • EvesHumanMom

    The thing is, though, that Gromettbc wanted suggestions for healthy food that would appeal to her dogs, so she wouldn’t have to keep buying bags and throwing them out.  The budget consideration was assumed because of the Walmart mention.

    Another point is that the low glycemic foods suggested are not prescription foods but foods that are appropriate for all dogs, Merrick and Origen are considered very good foods , in general.
    Additionally, while the Healthy Mix is not a “bad” food, it contains even higher than average carbs, which is not recommended for good canine health, especially for diabetics.  I am pretty sure a palatable food can be found that has average to lower carb content, some more reasonably priced, especially if one considers online options.

  • http://www.prairie-creations.com/ Krissy

    I’ve not owned a diabetic dog, but if the dog won’t eat anything else, it’s at least an option for food that the dog will eat.  Better to eat the “healthy mix” than to not eat at all.   Look at it like the worst of two evils instead.  Sometimes you have to make that choice.

    Granted yes Merrick has several low glycemic canned options, But there is the question if the dog will eat it or not.  But the other issue is if it fits in the owners budget. So those are important factors.   So it’s good to have plenty of choices. 

    If it was me I would have to order online just because I don’t live anywhere close that sells Merrick.  So looking at the one site where I do order canned dog foods and Merrick is one that I do feed my Golden Retriever but your looking at $2.50 a can and up.   While many can afford that there are also a lot who can’t. 

    It’s the older dog that is diabetic.  But the other younger dogs as well need a healthier diet as a general rule.  So the Healthy Mix would work for those dogs regardless if they like it.   And there isn’t anything wrong with feeding one dog one thing and another dog another.  I do that with my crew the bigger dog has a completely different diet than the smaller two.

  • Melissaandcrew

    Krissy-

    I have to disagree. One of her dogs is diabetic, and there are two important things that need to happen-The dog needs to eat(necessary to measure the glucose levels and give the insulin) and 2) the dog needs to eat a low glycemic food if possible.

    Regulation of the insulin levels are just so important in diabetics, and foods can have a major impact on whether or not the dog is considered regulated. When they are not regulated, organs fail, they can self mutilate, develop pica, become PU/PD etc etc.

    If it were my dog( its been MANY years since I owned a diabetic, and low glycemic dog foods where not available then) I would look for something “marked” as low glycemic-Unfortunetly, there is a higher price tag with these foods.

    If the dog is regulated on that food, then yay! stay with it-

  • http://www.prairie-creations.com/ Krissy

     No need to wait it out for your dog to eat!  why not find a food that they do like and will want to eat.  It’s not always easy as I have one dog that likes the Healthy Mix the best out of all the others I’ve given her.   And believe me I’ve bought more brands than I care to admit!  But even still she has meals where she skips and I don’t sweat it because she will come around and eat at the next meal.  Where with other brands there was something about them that she avoided like the plague.

    But if they like the Healthy Mix is that affordable to you to feed rather than a kibble?  Wet is a bit more expensive (depending on brand) but it’s also better for the dog because of it’s moisture content.  Of course that is subject to the quality of the food in question of course!    But if your dogs like it for several meals in a row I wouldn’t feel bad about feeding them the Healthy Mix.  But I agree with Jan the food at walmart is junk.  But the Healthy Mix is decent quality and Ol’ Roy also has a kibble out called Pure Balance that is also 3.5 stars, but it’s almost a 4 star but not a 4 star.  But it’s almost more expensive than the 4Health kibble so if you have a TSC close that might be another thought to try as well.  The 4Health kibble is 4 star. 

    While 4Health also has canned at .99 cents it’s the consistency of it that my littlest dog didn’t like.  She likes the stew like consistency of the Healthy Mix with the grains of rice, peas and other veggies.  But the 4Health stews (beef stew and chicken stew) are more like chunks of meat mixture in a gravy and she doesn’t like that.  They also have a chicken version and a lamb version that are pate consistency which my dogs don’t care for.   But some dogs do prefer that style of food.

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Hi again, Gromettbc.  I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I see that you’re shopping at Walmart. While I admit I do shop there for various things, I do know that they generally don’t have a very good selection for our canine/feline friends.  Some Walmarts have Newman’s Own, but imho, it’s pretty expensive for what you get.  Ol’ Roy just came out with a dry food called Pure Balance that might not be too horrible.  Some Walmarts carry a food called Lamaderm that’s not too bad. Another food that my local Walmart sells is Freshpet. It’s a refrigerated food. I feed my cat the Roasted Meals from this line.  I do wish you could shop elsewhere, though, as Walmart doesn’t have a very good track record of quality foods.  I know it’s hard, but do your research and you should be able to find a decent, quality food that won’t break the bank, especially from Petsmart of feed stores, like Tractor Supply.  Please take some of the suggestions from this site and check them out.  Let me know how they do.

  • http://www.prairie-creations.com/ Krissy

     For some reason comments are showing up on the Expand Recent Comments page but not on the page they are posted on.   I hope it catches up.  

    But the Ol’ Roy healthy mix isn’t a 4 star food it’s a 3.5 star food.  Here is the link to the rating for this food so you can look it up!
    http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/ol-roy-healthy-mix/
    It’s NOT like the rest of the Ol’ Roy line that is junk!  It’s at least decent.  I feed two dogs this food because it’s THEIR preference!   But I also feed some raw diced up beef roast (not ground beef) or diced chicken breast.   I cut this meat up myself and leave it raw.  They like it raw and it’s less work for me.  About 22% of their meal is extra meat that I add.  They each get different amounts since they are different sized dogs.

    So if this is a food that your dog likes you can feel good about serving it.  Chances are it’s much better than the hills canned your vet gave you! 

    With my two dogs it’s what they like so that’s what I’m feeding them.   I’ve tried feeding other brands but one will turn her nose up completely while the other one may or may not eat a few bites.  So it’s just easier to feed him what he likes and he does the happy dog dance as I call it before I put down his dish. Also less wasteful as well.   There are 4 varieties but I only serve three of them.  I serve the chicken, beef and lamb types but I don’t use the chicken and beef combo dinner as I figure they get both of those proteins in the individual meat dinners.   While our other dog gets other brands that are 4-5 star canned and grain free kibble.  She’s also a 99 lb dog! 

    I hope this post eventually makes it to the B&P page.

  • Gromettbc

    Will do , and Thanks so much !

  • Gromettbc

    Thanks again Jan for all your help ! Today I bought the dogs Ol’Roy Healthy Mix. I thought I saw that it was 4 stars. I can’t find it on here, but its not looking good with some of the Ol’roy dry. Of course, they love it. I let them taste it , and they were whining for more. I’ve copied the dog foods you suggested, and am going to try to get some samples. My Vet says to just wait it out, but thats hard to do. Thanks again for all your help ! Wish me luck ! :-)

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    I’ve noticed that some feedstores have the sample sizes of different foods.  Might want to call and ask.  Also Merrick,  Acana, Orijen sell a small trial size as well.

  • M Ward1993

    Merrick is sold at petco and they have some low glycemic canned and dry food. The canned food comes in all these different recipes like “grammy’s chicken pot pie”, they are so neat.

  • EvesHumanMom

    Hi, Gromettbc,  if you have a diabetic dog, you might want to check out the foods mentioned here:  http://www.gripetfoods.com/  The other dogs could eat the food too.  Also canned foods with low carbohydrates, as mentioned here on DFA:  http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/frequently-asked-questions/diabetic-dog-food/

    I hope this helps.

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Since your poodle is diabetic, maybe someone else with knowledge about it (there are plenty on this site!) will help you with a food selection that might work.   

  • Gromettbc

    Thanks so much !!

  • Gromettbc

    I’ve never heard of it, but I sure will look into it. My vet even gave me “Critcial Care” canned dog food , when they go to long without eating, but she said not to feed that unless necessary. Thanks so much for your help !

  • Gromettbc

    I wondered if it might be the Eukanuba,  I told my husband I didn’t think they liked it. Its what , (I was told what they were eating when I got them. I bought the Kibbles & Bits today, and just gave them a few pieces, hoping they would think it was a treat, & they love it. Then later (DA !) I researched it, so they won’t be getting any more. I have a 12 yr. old poodle, that has diabetes, probably from what I fed him. Hes blind now, and has 2 insulin shots a day. I sure don’t want to make the same mistake with my younger ones. My daughter has 4 dogs, and they will eat any dry dog food…wonder what that would be like ? :-) Thank you so much for all the info., you have been a BIG help !

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Wow…you’re pretty lucky that they carry all those brands.  I actually just have TSC where I live.  But I have some wonderful pet specialty stores! 

  • InkedMarie

    Our local feed store sells an assortment: Diamond stuff but also Blue, Eukanuba, SD, Orijen, Acana, Loyall, Fromm, Earthborn,,,

  • 3isenough

    My dogs are very picky and they LOVE Dogswell Vitality or Happy Hips. It’s a 4-star food (according to this site) – we like that Happy Hips includes glucosamine/chondroitin for our dogs joints. 

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    InkedMarie….yes, I thought about suggesting a feed store, but I thought that maybe most of the foods carried might be made by Diamond (at least the feed stores around me) and I don’t want to recommend them, if at all possible…but, yes, these stores do have some good selections at times.

  • InkedMarie

    a feed store is also sometimes a good place to go

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Hi again…just wanted to say that you need to remember to watch for ingredients like “salt, garlic, etc.” when feeding baby food to your pets.  Sometimes there are ingredients in the food that may not be suitable for them.  I’ve actually never fed Eukanuba, but something tells me (if you read the rating on this site) that it might be kinda bland for your dogs.  I also remembered some other foods that always seem to have wonderful ratings and that’s Orijen/Acana.  They are available online or from specialty petstores.  Merrick, Fromm, Acana/Orijen, Earthborn…those are some foods that seem to appeal to picky eaters.  I have 2 pretty picky eaters and they love, love Simply Nourish (especially the canned, but the dry, too).  I am using Holistic Select Grain free and Fromm for their kibble.  I just placed an online order with k9.cuisine.com and they do offer free samples.  I think you might have to pay a shipping fee, though, if you don’t have any other items in your order.  Also, sometimes the samples are not “out in the open” and if you ask the manager of the petstore they might just have some samples on hand.  Remember, too, that most petstores and food brands will allow you to return a bag even if it’s opened.  I always keep my receipt and the bag until I’m sure my dogs are okay with the food.  This helps in case there’s a recall, as well….hopefully that won’t happen!  Again, good luck to you and I hope this has been helpful. :)    

  • Valerie Noyes

    Gromettbc, I’ve never met a dog that didn’t go crazy over green tripe.  You can find it in cans as Tripett.  It’s sold in better pet stores but you can also find it on Amazon.com.  I’ll bet if you mix some of this into whatever good kibble you choose they’ll love it.  Hope that helps!

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Gromettbc –

    Checkout naturalk9supplies.com and k9cuisine.com – both sites have free samples of high quality foods and trial sized bags for sale. Also, oftentimes if you email a company they will mail you some samples – it never hurts to ask.

  • Gromettbc

    Not preachy at all, I need all the help I can get. I really wish dog food companies,would sell sample sizes. This can really get expensive. I am trying to feed them Eukanuba right now, but always have to put something in it, like jarred baby meat. I try to add a bit of canned dog food, but they sniff it & walk away. I do believe they would live on milk bones, but common sense tells me , not a good idea. Thanks so much for your help, and I guess I will start at the top of your list. I think I would feel like I won the lottery if I coud find a food that they just gobbled down. :-) Thanks again sooo much !

  • Jan_Mom2Cavs

    Well….I apologize in advance if this sounds “preachy”, but I do know you will probably have to go to a petstore to buy a better food.  Sometimes grocery stores carry some foods that are what I call “decent” but not always and petstores will have a better selection.  If you have access to Petsmart, they carry some pretty good foods.  I would recommend Blue Buffalo, Wellness, Innova, Evo, Simply Nourish, Castor & Pollux, Avoderm (although they did just have a recall for salmonella on one formula, so Idk).  These foods have dry and canned formulas that may appeal to picky eaters and all are popular foods.  If you have access to Petco, they have a few different foods, as well as the ones mentioned above (except Simply Nourish, which is Petsmart’s own brand).  Petco carries Natural Balance, Solid Gold, Merrick, Nature’s Variety, Pinnacle, Avoderm, Innova, California Natural, Evo, Blue Buffalo, and perhaps some others I can’t remember right off.  I would do some research beforehand (and it looks like you’re off to a good start since you are on this site).  Oh..there are some other foods not available at either Petsmart or Petco but may be found at smaller pet boutiques or perhaps you could order online.  Fromm and Earthborn are great foods, as well as Holistic Select that I recommend.  I hope this helps some and is not too overwhelming.  I’m sure others will have suggestions, as well.  :)

  • Gromettbc

    Good grief ! I just bought a bag of this stuff ! I have 2 small dogs, a poodle , and a Bichon/ shih tzu mix. They are very picky eaters !! After reading this, the bag goes in the trash !! Does anyone have any ideas of a dry dog food that is healthy and picky eaters will eat ??? I’m at my wits end.

  • BryanV21

    I gotta add my two cents here as well, as this is not a good food at all.

    Of course they are going to eat it. I’d eat candy all the time too if I didn’t know better. The problem is it’s up to the parent to do what’s best for the dog, not up to the dog, which is all you’re doing by letting them pick the food for you based on taste.

  • LabsRawesome

     Sorry. Actually Pure Balance is rated 3.5 stars, but still a huge step up from Kibbles & toxins. Pure Balance is available at Walmart too!   :)

  • InkedMarie

    it sounds like you think you are talking to whomever makes Kibbles & Bits; you’re not, this is the DogFoodAdvisor, who reviews pet foods. 
    You should be looking for a new food, Kibbles & Bits is very very very low quality food. We can advise you of some foods to look at if you tell us if any of your dogs have any issues (overweight, underweight, frequent ear infections, dry coat, paw licking etc)

  • LabsRawesome

     Hi Martha, glad to hear that you are switching brands!! Hopefully you will get your dogs on a better food. Try one that doesn’t have like 15 red flag ingredients next time. Hey Ol’roy has a new food out called Pure balance, it says from the makers of Ol’roy really small on the bag. It is rated 4 stars on this site. 100% better than Kibbles & death.  :)

  • Martha Pursley

    We have had our 5 dogs on this for years…about the only thing they eat. I just want to let you know that you cut the 40 pound bag to 35 pounds for the same price….did you think we wouldN’T notice…we buy our at WALMART WHERE THEY HAVE LOWER PRICES….BUT THEY DONT THINK WE NOTICE THE BAG IS SMALLER ….SO  AS OF TODAY WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR A NEW DOG FOOD….THANKS BUT NO THANKS…

  • melissa

    I have fed my dog kibbles and bits for five years. A few months ago he started biting and chewing on himself leaving bloody bald spots. I happened to notice my neighbors two dogs had the same ailments. Turns out they also fed their beloved pets k & b. Once all three dogs were switched to another brand the chewing and agony stopped.

  • melissa

    U-

    What exactly is a “lkely fact?” I have never heard of such a beast- its either fact or opinion. The dogs may or may not have lived beyond the reported 17 plus and 15 plus years.And any way you slice it, that is a good long time for many dogs these days.

    Personally, I would not feed anything with this ingredient content, but I can afford to do otherwise.

  • BryanV21

    I’m tired of this “well my dog lived to be this age on it” stuff. There are humans that have lived to be 90+ years old while smoking every day of their lives, so does that mean you’re going to let you kid take up the habit as soon as he’s old enough to hold a cigarette in his hand?

    God no! 

    If you can’t afford to feed your dog better food I can at least understand a bit (for the record, I don’t totally buy that reason, as most people can find a way to feed better food), but in no way did you say that here. 

    You say “until something proves different”. Well, hell! Look at the list of ingredients! There’s not one good ingredient in the list. Heck, there isn’t even a “so-so” ingredient there. It’s all junk. What more proof do you need?

    For the love of all that’s good in this World, give your dog something good.

  • Umakekityscared6

    You are fortunate and it is great that your dogs lived a long time, however, I noticed that you mentioned a Puggle, a small designer breed. These dogs tend to live much longer, and are often genetically less prone to disease. It is a likely fact that those dogs may have lived even longer and had an even better quality of life had they not been eating garbage. An abnormal case is no guideline. Do right by your dog and give them the best you can. The knowledge to make an informed decision is right in front of your face.

  • My Opinion

    I researched this as my vet keeps telling me to change. I admit, I had not the slightest clue it was made like it is BUT I will not be switching anytime soon. I had 2 dogs, completely diff breeds. My first lived to be 17.5, and my second who I have just put down was 15. Neither cost me any money for any type of medical issues. God bless they both went peacefully due to nothing more then old age. I have a 6 year old puggle now, again not 1 medical issue and will continue to feed her Kibbles and Bits until something proves different.

  • http://twitter.com/Lottoya Lottoya Marrast

    In my opinion, Orijen. Visitthe champion pet foods website and watch the video for details on what’s in it and everything. That brand is one the best ones out there.

  • Jess

    I always wanted a Mexican hair less dog. I bet this would work getting there.

  • trigirl9

    My experience with Kibbles n-bits mirrors others. I had no idea this was so bad..my dogs got really finicky at age 11 so I switched and switched and finally landed at KnB which they gladly ate.  3 months  later one of my dogs got really sick–$1000s later turns out she had an abscess growing behind her eye effecting her sight and her jaw (she couldn’t eat since her jaw wouldn’t open).  A friend told me about this website and I did a little research and switched immediately to Kirkland.  They ate that no problem and then there were the salmonnella recalls so I switched to pinnacle salmon/potato with some tripe topper. My dogs are happy, healthy, no sign of any abscess, hotspots and friends have commented how good and healthy they look now.  Thanks to this website for disseminating the information I needed.

  • Personalfailure

    Look at any of the 4 or 5 star foods. Wellness, Taste of the Wild, Blue Diamond, Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul, Kirklands, the list goes on.

    Also keep in mind that foods like Wellness aren’t as expensive as you think. Because they contain no fillers, you feed less. You also save on vet bills, and your dog will produce less poop that doesn’t smell as bad.

  • Msbarnard

    sooo, what is good for my dogs to ear?????

  • Eve’sHumanMom

    Natural Balance Synergy seems to work pretty well on poop consistency.  We’re on it now (we rotate foods) and she is down to twice a day, nice and firm.  It is, however, a brand that uses and continues to use Diamond, although they say they test every lot before it goes out.  And the Synergy and Alpha recipes are not made in those factories.  Hope this helps.

  • Moosey

    How about SALT? Dogs can’t sweat, so salt will accumulate in their system & kill them at the end.

  • Kip

    Its because it is like crack is to humans, or craving McDonalds cheeseburghers every day.  Addictive like sugar.  The very fact they advertise this crap amazes me.

  • Kip

    we need a minus star rating here, oh and just so you know the dyes in this food is a known carcinogenic.

  • Kip

    Well just another example of cute marketing and tom foolery in the pet food industry.  These crap foods have been around forever and noone ever even paid attention to the disgusting garbage that’s in it.  If you want your dog to go quickly feed this food!!!! 

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  • joe305

    Brothers Complete 5 star rating !

  • Jamiep409

    Thanks Bette

  • Bette Hyde

    Dear Jamie,

    I don’t know how old your lab is, mine is 11. Always ate Kibbles/bits. The vets recommend getting dry, 1st ingredient on the bag is some form of meat. If it isn’t, it is not good for them. As they get older, they need better food, for their joints and coat. I don’t know what is going on with the fungal infection with mine, and the procedure for a sinus cavity flush, is $1100.00/1200.00. I wish I had switched to a better food a long time ago. The Kibbles/bits is moist, and I did not know about the mold/mildew. If really is your call.

  • Jamiep409

    Quick question for you guys. I feed my lab chicken soup for the dog lovers soul but i find that he is easier to “clean up” after him by mixing in some cheaper food. I bought a bag of this and i mix a small portion into his “quality food” and it helps tremendously!  I would guess its like a 10:1 ratio.  Anyone see a problem with this long term?  Does anyone have an economical alternative? 

  • Bette Hyde

    My dog has been suffering from what the Vet thinks is a fungal infection. He is on anti-biotics. He has always ate Kibbles and Bits. My daughter had a problem with her dog last night. Went to Vet, He said the Kibbles and Bits may be the problem, as it is moist, grows MOLD and FUNGUS. She was originally feeding her dog, Pedigree, switched to Kibbles and Bits, and now there is a problem, with her dog, lethargic, shaking…. My dog has nose bleeds. I am switching right now, from Kibbles and Bits. It does make sense, it is moist and mold grows……

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  • Candiferous

    Feed this stuff to your dog if you want him or her to develop bald spots, bad breath (a sign that something’s wrong) and cysts.  This crap is poison.

  • M Ward1993

    It was hard to get my dog off this terrible food, too.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brianna-Young/100002503657783 Brianna Young

     I admit, I used to feed Kibbles N Bits. My late Shetland sheepdog mix (who passed January, 2011 – may she rest in peace) loved this food. For several years, it was ALL she would eat. Any line of it, it didn’t matter. She loved Kibbles N Bits. Knowing now what I didn’t know then, it makes sense. It is FULL of addictive ingredients. Corn syrup? Why does a dog food need corn syrup? Except for the fact that it is as addicting to dogs as it is to us, there is no reason at all for it to be in dog food. Still, she loved this food. She did horrible on it, but I fed it because it was all she would eat. When I finally discovered proper nutrition, it was hard to switch her to a better diet. It took several months to get her off Kibbles N Bits. She would snub every new kibble I put in front of her. The only one I could ever find that she liked (though ate begrudgingly) was Blue Buffalo. She fancied Iams, as well, but it is not the best quality, either. So, I stopped feeding it after a while, too. This dog food [Kibbles N Bits] is horrible. The ingredients are terrible, your dog will most likely have a rough coat on it, runny eyes, smelly farts, runny stools, and the food itself REEKS. I mean, it stinks up to high heaven. It smells like waste, that’s the only accurate way to describe it. And most dogs who eat it (if they touch it in the first place) will become so addicted that it will be hard to switch them off it. I really wish they would stop making this horrible food. It has no place on shelves anywhere. It is almost as bad (if not just as bad) as Ol’Roy.

  • Aimless

    I wish I would have know what I know now! All those years of my (now passed) dog constantly scratching and chewing his paws!  I wish I would have ignored the vets “it’s just allergies to his surroundings” & did some research.  We are now in the process of finding the right food for the 2 new family members so they don’t have to go thru the same.

  • M Ward1993

    I know, its terrible. It makes you feel like you did something wrong.

  • Bltprf@netzero.net

    been feeding my 8yr old akita kibles and bits for about 7months now..poor guy is screwed.. hair loss big time..wobbles a bit when he walks.cute photos on the bag just don’t get it…

  • M Ward1993

    My parents fed this nasty food to my dog. When I reached 6th grade I found out how bad commercial foods really are. My dog had huge patches of missing fur and bleeding skin. We tried to get rid of the skin problem but nothing worked. Finally I did some research and made my parents buy avo derm. Of course everything was better after that. Today my dog is 12 and looks and feels better than he did when he was 2. We feed him natures variety prarie.

  • Toxed2loss

    Nicholas P,
    If you have now read the review at the top of the page, and possibly checked out the recall page, you might have an idea of why your pups got sick.

    What were you feeding before this bag of Kibbles -n- bits?

    Do you wish to improve the quality of the dogfood you’re feeding?

  • Bob K

    Nicholas P – Please spend a few minutes and read the detailed report this product above.  Why would you feed this to your dog?  There are many affordable 3 and 4 star dog foods that provide better nutrition for your pet.  Buy a larger bag and save some money.  Often these foods are about $1.00/lb or less if you shop wisely and do your homework..  What was your dog eating before?  Why the change?  Remember to transition to a new dog slowly and read the bad for portion size.  

  • Nicholas P

    I have an Austrailian shepard and a boxer and I bought  a bag of kibbles-n-bits and evrytime they have eaten it within minutes they are vomiting.

  • Deb

    When we first got our husky (then 6 years old) he was being fed Kibbles n Bits. His coat was disgusting – coarse, dull and brittle. He was so thin you could count ribs through his winter fur, and he had frostbite from how poor his (lack of) circulation was.

    We immediately switched him to our dog food of choice (which is Acana) and though it took him nearly a year to achieve a healthy weight, his next shed revealed a dramatically improved coat! He’s also supplemented with fresh meat, but I attribute his glowing vet check-ups to the high quality food he’s been getting. The visible differences from good food were so dramatic that it left little doubt in my mind that grocery store products like Kibble n Bits are the McDonald’s of dog food.

  • Giovanni

    WOW really i never knew and i just bought a big bag of this stuff i’m shocked thats a waste poor my dog :(

  • Jonathan

    Lisa, don’t be so fast and loose with your personal information on an open forum. Plus, this is not the manufacturer’s of Kibbles ‘n’ Bits website, this is an independent dog food reviewing website. Why would Kibbles ‘n’ Bits rate itself as 1-star? lol

  • Lisa Featherston

    I bought a 17lbs bag of your dog food and at least half of the bag was crunched to the point it looked like dust. It seemed every hard chunk was powder. I buy this dog food all the time and never had any issues. The bag was not damaged in anyway so I know the store I got it from didn’t damage it in stocking. They won’t let me return it to them because there was no damage to the bag. They said to contact you. Can you help? Address is [address deleted by the editor]. I have no home phone or cell to contact you in person. Thank you.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Sheri… As long as these are truly grain insects (weevils?), your dog is probably safe. I’ve been told by many that it’s possible even bread and other flour goods can contain parts of these insects. Hope things work out for you.

  • Bob K

    sheri ehr – Please read the detailed review of this product above and decide if you want to continue feeding your dog this produce. Is this the best you can afford for your loved one?

    Just beacuse it has a well known mane on the bag does not mean its good for your dog. The bugs are probably a benefit to your dog as the protein level may increase a bit.

  • sheri ehr

    OMG i just opened a bag a week ago and have been feeding my dogs kibbles and bits mini bits and I found bugs in there dish I dumped some in a large bowl and found tons of nasty bugs in the bag… I called the hotline and they acted as if they new about this I am very angry they are sending me a coupon I will never feed my babies this again I almost threw up…. pass this along. They said my dogs could not get anything from these bugs they are just wheat bugs I dont care they are gross is this true that they cannot get anything from these bugs???
    Help me , Concerned parent

  • Kathleen

    Mike,

    Thank you so much for posting what is in these dog foods. I have known what is in regular dog foods for a while but this website has helped prove it to my friends. I was petsitting a friends 95 lb. lab and he was itching himself so much he was bleeding and it was just because of this dog food. Now I go to your site and print out what you say about the dog food and give it to my friends so they know what I am telling them is true. My friend has now switched to “good” dog food and now the lab now has a beautiful coat and has lost about 10 lbs.

    Thank you so much,

    Kathleen

  • Shirley

    I cant belive my mom is still bying this kind of dog food for my preciouse Pediey!! I know for sure that I will NOT be bying this kind of dog food for my dog. It is disgusting what is in this food. I had only been looking for cases of worms or bugs found in the food because twice now we have found theis worm/bug things in his food and we dont know what they are. I am glade I found this though. Now I know how horrible to food is.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Barbara… I’ve already reviewed Mighty Dog. It’s on my list when you “Search by Brands”. Hope this helps.

  • Barbara DeVille

    Hi Mike,

    I work at a dog daycare & kennel where we try and educate our clients on good nutrition for their pets. My last client just checked her dog in for boarding with Kibbles n Bits and Mighty Dog canned!!! Would you mind reviewing Might Dog canned food so I can show it to her? I didn’t even know they still made that disgusting food!!

    Thank you,

    Barbara

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Sue… Gosh, that looks awful. But the TV commercial and the marketing are impressive (as usual). This is certainly unfortunate for less-informed (and innocent) consumers. In any case, I’m adding this product line to our To Do list. I’ll get on it soon. Thanks for the tip.

  • Sue

    Hey Mike,

    Have you reviewed Kibbles n Bits Bistro Meals? The ingredients are pure garbage and the commercials for it are driving me absolutely crazy!!! Have you seen them yet? They show chefs, nutritious vegetables and cuts of beef that look like London Broil. They claim there is “oven roasted beef, spring vegetables, and a touch of baked apple (directly from TV commercial) in these new dog foods. The vegetables and apple are listed below the corn syrup and salt!! What a joke! It really makes me furious because the marketing is all some people use to choose their food and this is marketing to the extreme. I wish they would spend some of the marketing money on the food!

    Here are the ingredients listed on the website:

    corn, soybean meal, beef and bone meal, ground wheat flour, animal fat (BHA used as preservative), wheat middlings, corn syrup, water sufficient for processing, animal digest (source of roasted flavor), propylene glycol, salt, apple, hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, caramel color, vegetable medley (peas, carrots & green beans), sorbic acid (used as a preservative), sodium carbonate, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), titanium dioxide (color), calcium sulfate, red 40 lake, yellow 5, red 40, BHA (used as a preservative), blue 2 lake, yellow 6 lake, blue 1, DL methionine, yellow 6.

    By the way, I LOVE your website and recommend it to people all of the time! Thanks for giving people the tool to find out truth about dog food without the marketing gimmicks

  • Melissa

    Tricia-

    There is something for all of us to learn everyday. : ) People are often shocked to learn that the food they feed can be a source of not only physical ailments,but behavior. There are many higher quality foods that are available with a reasonable price tag..one just has to have the motivation to switch!

  • Tricia

    I just wanted to share my experiences with Kibbles and Bits. My pomeranian grew up on Kibbles and Bits. It was the only food she would touch. I had NO IDEA about dog food. The bag said it was nutritionally complete so why would I think anything differently? I read in a book once about how there were cancerous tumors and dead animals in pet food and I threw the book in the garbage thinking the author must be nuts surely that cannot be legal!
    In 2007 I decided that helping animals is my passion and decided to become an animal behavior consultant. My trainer was certified in canine nutrition (sadly she lost a 7 year old dog due to IAMS and that is how she learned about commercial dog food) and told me all about dog food and had me take a close look at my poms coat. It was dull full of dandruff and had bald spots on her legs and she was a tad over weight. I was shocked! I went home and threw Kibbles and Bits in the trash! (I didn’t know about the whole gradual switch thing). And started her on a series of dry foods and ended up on pre-made frozen raw diets (which I am very happy to find the ones I rotate through all have 5 stars). Now my dogs could not be healthier they are good weights with coats that you can almost see your reflection in! On a recent trip to the vet my veterinarian said my cat had the softest most beautiful coat she’d ever seen!
    Everyday is a learning process and I have actually recently learned things from this site! I have been lucky enough to help people with dog behaviors stemming from diet alone! I have people who complain about the price but its so worth it! I always tell them it really is cheaper in the long run! Better food means less eating (you’d be surprised how much less they eat when the food isn’t full of fillers!), less pooping, less shedding, fewer trips to the vet and the cost of replacing your dog when it dies prematurely from crap food! Also to be aware there are quality dog foods that are affordable!

  • Jonathan

    That’s not a bad thing!! :-)

  • “Ryo”

    Sorry, I must’ve gotten carries away. I hate this food….. way too much!

  • Jonathan

    So Ryo, you’re saying this is actually Kibbles OF “Bits”? Ohh, too soon? lol

  • “Ryo”

    Hydrochloric acid?!?!?!?!?
    I’m. Gonna. Faint.
    How dare Del Monte (yeah, that canned fruit company) put this industrial waste on the market?!?
    Just a future reference: Don’t feed it. On a petter note, don’t buy it. On an even better note, don’t touch it. On the very very best note, don’t even look at it: it had the second highest percentage of the euthanazia used in cats and dogs in 2000. :(

  • Jonathan

    Well, I get it from my store… we have the Pet ‘n’ Shape brand and Nutri Vet.

  • Meagan

    Jonathan-Where do you get your alaskan salmon oil? Do brand names matter? I think I am going to order a 32 oz bottle off amazon.

  • Mike P

    good advise melissa .. i think 3 diff brands are the way to go . totw is out for me .. gave her a sample pack and she puked 2 hours later ..

  • Jonathan

    Dogs don’t know it’s not bacon… “it’s BACON!”.

    Yeah, and People don’t know it’s not made from ingredients recognised as food!

  • Melissa

    “Make it and they will buy it” Unfortuently that is the truth. As long as the products are available with catchy advertising, someone will fall prey to the hype. Let;s face it..who here doesn’t recognize their tag line.. from the commercials? Its as recognizable as the treat that screams “”"”BACON!”"”"”" LOl.

  • Jonathan

    You know, this is one of those foods where one star just doesn’t seem low enough. I mean, there are other one-star foods that seem notably better than this utter trash-heap of sugar and chemicals. But what do you do, right? lol

  • Melissa

    Mike P-

    Thats up to you-the foods you choose sound all good. For me, I never rotate within the same brand from the same companies as I worry that if one flavor is lacking or too high in something, it would be across the board-hence my three different foods from different companies-But, that is just me. Many people rotate within the same brand, just varying the protein sources.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Melissa… As Jonathan mentioned, propylene glycol is assuredly red flagged in all my reviews (including this one). Hydrochloric acid is an approved food additive. It is the main digestive agent secreted inside a dog’s stomach. Although there’s no way to know for sure, HCl in small amounts is usually used for adjusting the final acidity of a finished dog food.

  • Jonathan

    Melissa, propylene glycol is a red flagged ingredient… he even has an article about it!

    http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/red-flag-ingredients/propylene-glycol-dog-food-aid-or-automotive-anti-freeze/

  • Jonathan

    Mike P, your rotation sounds great to me. Sadie is currently on Natural Balance Organic, life4K9, and Earthborn Primitive. I’m topping with three pumps of wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, and since starting that only about 4 days ago, there is already a noticeable difference in the look and feel of her coat.

  • Melissa

    I emailed k&b a while ago to inquire about the propylene glycol and the hydrochloric acid. The reply stated that the fda allows a certain amount of propylene glycol in dog food. But nowhere in the reply was any explanation for the hydrochloric acid. The prop. Glycol is to make it sweet but I’m wondering why it isn’t in red in your ingredients list.

  • Mike P

    Jonathan, and I hate to bother Mike , but I’m confused . Ok here goes . I am feeding Merrick b4 grain buffalo , salmon , and fromm beef frattata . Is that a good rotation ? Or should I go with , say Blue wilderness or TOTW to replace one of the merrick foods in my rotation ? So far so good on my present rotation . I just want a variety of animal protein in every different bag . Any thoughts ???

  • Jonathan

    You and your dog are lucky! …Must be one tough mutt to be in good shape on this stuff! ;-)

  • Chet

    Not here to bash but my dog has lived on kibble n bits for 13 years. He has great energy and has always been healthy. Never had a problem. Although. after finding your site, I will make some changes on my next dog. As of now I will make some changes with my dog. Doing my research for alternative food for his golden years.

    Great site

  • Bob K

    Ted – If you love your pet – find another food and transition your loved pet slowly. There are many better foods that cost less. So you get a better more nutritious food and save money at the same time – a win for both you and your dog. This website evaluates hundreds if not thousands of dog foods based on ingredients. You can do much better and don’t have to break the bank. There are many 3 and 4 star dog foods that are the same or cheaper in price than the stuff you are currently feeding your dog.

  • Ted

    Theres a new kind of kibbles in bits called kibbles n bits bistro meals. It has apple in it but I wonder whats the diffrence?

  • Candy

    thank you Mike : )

  • Mike P

    good luck candy ..

  • Candy

    I almost lost my yorkshire terrier to kibbles and bits, he is still not 100%. he started getting very bloated about 20-30 minutes after eating k&b, we did not know what was wrong with him, he was in severe pain. we rushed him to the animal emergency hospital and they did xrays , which showed his liver was very enlarged, they told us since his vitals were okay, to take him to our regular vet in the morning, which we did. they did an ultrasound on him and found out that his liver, spleen, and his adrenal glands were all swollen and he was producing too much cortisol, which made them think he had cushings disease…well, $1000 later we find all of his tests had came out negative. thankfully he did not have cushings, and the problem had been caused by his food. i have filed a complaint with Kibbles and Bits and am trying to get some of the money back which i put out for all of the testing and vet visits. i would hate to think what would have happened to the poor little guy if we had not figured out what was making him so sick…

  • Meagan

    I saw a commercial for a new formula of kibbles and bits. they need to stop this brand altogether. not make more.

  • jason

    I tried to transition my lab from Nutro puppy to K&B adult. He had no problem eating it however I am a bit embarrassed to explain what the “outcome” was. I will just say a toxin landfill would have been more pleasant. So needless to say that experiment went wrong. I tried Purina Dog chow which he actually seems ok all around with but I know it is not the greatest of dog foods either. Now he has been on Harmony Farms for over a year and doing awesome! I see HF has a good rating here and I would suggest it as well.

  • Jonathan

    What’s scary to me is that they claim this stuff is “food”. And what I can’t understand is, when a company makes a decent grain free food AND they make this… they have to know that this food is poison. They have to. Yet they shamelessly spend millions of dollars advertising this hot trash as healthful dog food. They don’t spend anywhere near as much advertising Nature’s Recipe. Probably because it would be almost like an admission of guilt. Shame on them, and to hell with all their products.

  • http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1061031 Foxxy

    I find it interesting that Del Monte makes both kibbles ‘n’ bits and also Nature’s Recipe. nature’s recipe grain free would be good food if it wasn’t for menadione in it, yet there is no menadione in Kibbles ‘n’ bits, which is pretty much trash and candy for dogs. Why does the higher quality food have such a controversial ingredient in it, yet the cheap stuff does not? What’s going on Del Monte?

  • tanya

    Thank you Ray and Mike! I have been scouring the site for hours trying to find the best food for him. I called our local agway and was told that they can order the diamond naturals for him. The person I talked to actually recommended the Blue Buffalo and said they have samples for me to try so I am going to go and order the blue diamond and take some samples of the other and see which one he likes. Again thank you for all your help and for the wonderful site!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Tanya… Why not browse our list of 3, 4 and 5 star dog foods. You’re sure to find something better than Kibbles ‘n Bits.

  • Ray

    Tanya, if you want to try Diamond, but can’t find it you can always order it online. Amazon and Petfooddirect are good places to start. If you wish to look at food before you buy it, then you’ll find very wide selections in the pet specialty stores. (I’m sure there’s a few where you live). In switching from Kibbles n Bits when I first got my dog, she transitioned nicely to Blue Buffalo Life Protection. Now I give her BB Wilderness. But many commendations for taking this site seriously and wanting to give your new member of the family better food!

  • tanya

    I just adopted a dog that is being fed kibbles and bits. I know this food is no good for him. He has very dry skin and itches constantly. This site is wonderful, as it contains alot of wonderful information. My problem is I don’t know what to feed him. I was really leaning towards Diamond Naturals, but its very hard to find where i live. I like the price of the diamond naturals as well as the quality ingredients. Anyone have any suggestions?

    Thanks you!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Carl… Yes, I agree. These are slightly better ingredients. But at 23% protein using soybean meal as a plant-based protein booster, there’s not much meat in this food. Two stars.

  • Carl

    What about Wholesome Medley which is sold under the K&B flag, but seems a lots better than base K&B? Ingredient List is: whole grain corn, poultry meal, soybean meal, beef fat, brown rice, apples, etc… What star rating would you give this product specifically? Thanks!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Jasmine… Unfortunately, I cannot provide health advice or specific product recommendations. Please see our FAQ page. Or check back for a possible response from one of our readers.

  • Ray

    Jasmine, as someone who gave his LATE dog K&B his whole life (he lived just short of his 13th birthday), I would simply suggest you read the ingredients and ask yourself if this is indeed what is BEST for him. My kids would eat candy and Mcdonalds all day, every day if I let them, but I know that’s not what’s good for them. Best wishes!

  • jasmine

    my dog eats kibble and bits and he loves it nothing happens to him.my dog is a chiuhua.anyway i think i would make a swich just to see what he will do.If he likes it than maybe i will stick with it.please tell me wat i should do!

  • Jonathan

    Heck, Shirley, Burger King would even be a step up from K&B’s! K&b is like eating out of a dumpster every day. ;-)

  • Shirley

    I used to have a schnauzer that was on K & B. When I told her vet what she was eating the vet said it was like eating at Burger King every day.

  • Jonathan

    That is a great transition story, Ray! And in the face of us being told by another reader the the “failure rate” of transitioning to Blue is 95%. Which I knew was non-sense from many first-hand stories like yours. :-)

  • Ray

    I started trying to transition our little dog we got in October to this food because we fed it to our old dog who lived to be almost 13 and ate it his entire life. After reading this and a few other websites, I immediately threw away the Kibbles n Bits and replaced it with Blue Buffalo Lifeline that I now mix with Blue Buffalo Wilderness canned food. The Blue Buffalo is definitely agreeing with her for she has so much energy and has regular poo. So looking back at my old dog while feeding him K&B, he had welts, dry skin, ugly coat of hair, and quite the attitude. He also had many accidents in the house that were runny, and he overall was not a happy dog having back problems and constant digestive issues. I have now come to realize that I killed my former pet feeding him this garbage and have vowed not to make that mistake ever again. I’ve also taken to warning people about “dog food” like this and have been begging them to research what they feed their pets. I’ve gotten mixed reactions at best. I hope more and more discover this and other websites like it!

  • Logan

    my dog ate this for over 4 years of his life, until I switched him to halo, I’m thankful he instantly transitioned to halo (no runny poo, not eating etc) and I switched him over completely. I’d never recommend kibbles n bits, first off, dog food doesnt smell good but this stuff smells so bad we put it in a container in the garage. The halo smells kinda like chicken biscuits to me (the crackers) not my fav smell, but because of the resealable packaging and the little smell it has, we keep it in the pantry inside the house. He doesnt like the little lamb bits in halo, so I’m going to try the salmon or chicken next time. But I’m def only going to buy it again. I’m so thankful he never got sick eating that garbage kibbles n bits, it should come with a warning on it. And IMO shame on the company for trying to sell this crap for our animals to eat.

  • Jonathan

    @Janell Hey is this twitter? lol but really, once again, just don’t feed ‘em this food. Best advice.

  • Janell

    @Jessica my dog picks out the same ones!!

  • Jonathan

    Jessica, just don’t feed this food to them. That’s where i’d start.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Jessica… Not sure why they pick out these specific bits. I would guess these are the pieces that contain the nutrient supplements (not usually known for their flavor). Just a guess. Anyway, maybe the company can tell you what’s in these “unpopular” bits.

  • Jessica

    I have two yorkies, and they both pick at their food and will not eat the light brown pellets or the little brown bones.. why??

  • Karen W.

    My dogs won’t eat the round red and brown pellets ot the little brown bones. I can tell you the vivd details of the bad about feeding your dogs KibblesNBits. There are wartlike moles on my old dogs. My youngest has seziures and they itch I bath them and they still itch. They have fragile bones too. This stuff is a dark construct. I have 4 days left of my dogs being on KibblesNBits Mike. I am going to go with the Diamond Naturals Product despite the fact they get four of their ingredients from other countries. I found out its simply cheaper because of so much reg/tax in this country. Happy to say only acetic acid comes from China. I have blogged everything for days about them and I must say dispite the recalls on their standard products having large amounts of grains and by-product their Naturals does not. I think the only reason after 3 yrs on the stuff they survived was the Iams dry catfood they ate too most of their lives having been raised with the cats. I will have a problem because I want to make the switch on both the cat and dog food at one time. Money prevents me from waiting out one at a time. I suppose if it was best I could wait to translate the Iams next month and do the dogs this month. So how would I do this knowing its got to be gradual and they eat both foods? Do you have some advice Mike?

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Daisy… That is a very good question. And it is the main reason I created this website. There are plenty of very good dog foods out there. Just browse the 3, 4 and 5-star dog foods on our website and find one that you think your dog would like and give it a try. Please be sure to transition very GRADUALLY to the new dog food. Start with just 20% new food and slowly increase to 100% over a 7 to 10 day period. Hope this helps.

  • Daisy

    What Dog brand should I buy for my four year old poodle schnauzer Candy??? I don’t want to “POISON HER” with unhealthy garbage like purina, kibbles n bits…etc. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Claire… I’ve only been monitoring dog food recalls since the Fall of 2009. I’m not aware of any recent recalls for this product.

  • Claire Sellers

    did Del Monte ever make a recall for kibble n’ bits??