Raw meat vs. kibble: How diet reshapes dogs’ metabolic health in months

A new study has compared the effects of two diets on dogs' metabolic health. Researchers fed 46 Staffordshire Bull Terriers either a high-carbohydrate kibble or a low-carbohydrate raw meat diet for nearly five months. The findings reveal stark differences in blood sugar, weight and other key health markers.

The study split the dogs into two groups. One received a standard kibble diet, rich in non-fibre carbohydrates. The other ate a raw meat-based diet, high in fat and free from non-fibre carbs.

Dogs on the kibble diet showed higher long-term blood sugar, elevated blood lipids and increased bodyweight. Their results pointed to poorer metabolic health over time. In contrast, those on the raw food diet had lower blood glucose, reduced blood lipids and decreased glucagon levels. This group also saw a drop in the triglyceride-glucose index, a sign of improved insulin sensitivity. Both diets led to higher ketone bodies, but the raw food group had significantly greater levels. Researchers noted that the kibble diet was linked to unfavourable metabolic changes, while the raw food diet produced more positive responses. The study suggests dogs could serve as useful models for human metabolic research. However, the team emphasised that more work is needed to fully grasp the long-term health effects of these feeding strategies.

The results highlight clear metabolic differences between kibble and raw meat diets in dogs. While the raw food group showed improved markers, the kibble group experienced changes tied to poorer health. Further research will be required to explore the lasting impacts on canine—and potentially human—wellbeing.