Raw Resource Center

One of the most glorified benefits of switching your pet to a raw fed diet is without a doubt…….smaller, drier stools that make for a quick and easy clean-up. Sounds great, right?

Have you ever wondered why raw poo is so different from kibble poo? Your pet’s stools are a good indicator of their health. Additionally, your pet’s waste has major impacts on the environment…learn why below.

What our pet’s poo tells us.

The color, size, and consistency of stools tell a story about our pet’s health. Whether you are feeding a raw or kibble diet, it is important to check your pet’s stools. Below are the differences in raw and kibble stools.

Color

• Raw fed: Depending on the protein you are feeding; the color of stools will change. For example, poultry produces lighter color stools, while red meats produce darker color stools.
• Kibble Fed: Artificial colors are added to kibble making stools a consistent dark brown.

Size

• Raw fed: In this case, less is more! Smaller stools mean more food has been properly digested and absorbed by your pet.
• Kibble fed: Large, prevalent stools are a staple of a kibble fed diet. Kibble can include many processed ingredients that are not digestible for pets and offer very little nutritional value; leaving you with more to clean up.

Consistency

• Raw fed: The consistency of stools can tell you what you need to adjust in your pet’s feeding routine. If stools are hard and slightly chalky, incorporate the Healthy Variety Mix, Green Tripe, Protect: Soil Based Probiotic to soften them up. If the stool becomes too soft, scale back on probiotics, add pumpkin or more bone. For acute diarrhea, we recommend Gut Guard to soothe and repair leaky gut. Gut Guard is for temporary use and should not exceed 60 days.
• Kibble fed: Due to kibble packaging and processing, the ingredients are highly susceptible to denaturation and oxidation. These processes can alter the chemical makeup of the food, invite unwanted pathogens, and create unstable stool consistencies.

Don’t take our word for it…the proof is in the poo!

Can you guess which stool was produced by a raw fed dog and a kibble fed dog?

As highlighted above, your pet’s stools paint a picture of what they are eating, how well they are digesting, and their overall health.

Pet waste and a happy environment.

Research indicates that cleaning up pet waste is one of the most impactful habits to ensure clean waterways. The US Department of Agriculture states: “Dog waste contains nitrogen and phosphorus, which can deplete oxygen that fish and other water-based life need to survive, as well as encourage the growth of harmful algae.” Scooping pet waste stops excess nutrients and bacteria from washing into storm drains and into local streams, creeks, rivers, and oceans.

Picking up your pet’s waste can drastically improve the health of our waterways and minimizing that waste makes a big difference too.

The article Dog Poo – Let’s Probe Further published by David Brock, Raw Pet Food Consultant – discusses an experiment conducted by a woman that measured her dog’s waste on both kibble and raw diets. She found that 70% of her pet’s waste was produced from a kibble diet and 30% was produced from a raw diet. That is a 40% reduction in pet waste! Although 40% may not seem extraordinary for one day, the amount saved on spending, energy, and resources over the course of the year versus those on a kibble diet is incredibly valuable.

Another factor that can play a role in pet waste are the ingredients in the food. A diet full of artificial ingredients can present more difficulties decomposing in nature.

Take a close look at a kibble ingredients list and what can show up as in the body. 

1. Carbohydrates/Starch (whole grain corn, barley, whole grain wheat, corn gluten meal)
2. Denatured Proteins (chicken by-product meal)
3. Mycotoxins (whole grain corn, soybean meal, corn gluten meal)
4. GMOs (dicalcium phosphate)
5. Artificial enhancements (iron oxide, salt)
6. Sugar (dried sweet potatoes)

Kibble contains manufactured ingredients that show up in the body as excess carbohydrates, sugars, denatured proteins, mycotoxins, GMOs, and artificial enhancements that lead to poor pet health and digestion. As a result, your furry friend is not getting the adequate nutrition they need, and more pet waste is generated.

Feeding a Top Quality Dog Food, Distributed by (Raw Dog Food Complete) raw meal includes natural ingredients sourced from reputable farms and processors. A pet that consumes muscle meat, bone, and organs digests more and produces less pet waste that breaks down faster in a natural environment.

Important takeaways.

Feed your pet the best nutrition to ensure healthy poo and a healthy life. Save money, resources, and poop by switching your pet to a Raw Fed Diet. Be a model steward and scoop the poop!

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for educational purposes only. You are responsible for your pet(s) health and safety. We encourage you to research topics further and consult with your Veterinarian or Pet Nutritionist before modifying your pet(s) diet.