Is Commercial Dog Food Really Safe? A Closer Look at Vet-Recommended Kibble in India

Are Vets Recommending What’s Best—or Just What Sells?

Walk into most vet clinics in India, and you’ll likely be handed a bag of commercial kibble—even if you didn’t ask for it. It’s pitched as “balanced,” “prescription,” and “scientifically backed.” But many pet parents are now asking: Is kibble really the best choice—or just the most profitable one?

How Big Pet Food Brands Influence Indian Vets

Behind the “vet-recommended” labels is a system built on incentives:

• High Profit Margins: Kibble provides steady income for clinics.

• Sales Rewards: Bonuses, certifications, and even international trips for vets who meet sales targets.

• Clinic Freebies: Brands supply diagnostic tools, fridges, and furniture in exchange for exclusive promotion.

• Syllabus Sponsorships: Vet students are taught nutrition via brand-sponsored content.

This ecosystem ensures kibble is frequently recommended not because it’s the best option, but because it’s deeply entrenched in the veterinary system.

Why Kibble Isn’t the Healthiest Option – What’s Really in That Bag of Kibble?

Most commercial kibble may look harmless on the outside—shiny packaging, vet-endorsed labels, and claims like “complete and balanced.” But flip it over and read the ingredient list, and you’ll find a very different story. Kibble is often highly processed at extreme temperatures, stripping away natural nutrients and leaving behind a shelf-stable product that prioritizes convenience over nutrition.

It’s low in moisture, which can be especially harmful for dogs and cats prone to kidney or urinary tract issues. A closer look often reveals a mix of fillers like corn, wheat, soy, and excess carbohydrates that our carnivorous pets don’t need. These ingredients are cheap, easy to produce, and help bind the kibble—not chosen for your pet’s health.

Then there are the ingredients you can’t even pronounce: ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, propylene glycol, and meat “meal” or “animal derivatives” from unnamed sources. These vague by-products and synthetic preservatives are added to extend shelf life for years—not to nourish your pet. The more complex and unfamiliar the label, the more likely it is that the food is chemically preserved, heavily processed, and lacking the kind of real, whole nutrition your pet thrives on.

Sure, kibble is convenient. It’s easy to store, measure, and serve. But convenience shouldn’t come at the cost of your pet’s health. You wouldn’t eat ultra-processed junk food every day—so why should your pet?

“Homemade Food Is Dangerous” – A Scare Tactic?

Many Indian vets warn against homemade or fresh food. But here’s the truth: poorly made kibble can be just as harmful. Globally, more vets and certified pet nutritionists are supporting balanced fresh diets like raw, gently cooked, or air-dried food.

These fresh feeding options can:

• Improve digestion

• Promote shinier coats

• Boost energy

• Reduce allergies and intolerances

Fresh food isn’t dangerous when done right—it’s responsible.

The Shift: Indian Pet Parents and the Need for Change

Across India, more pet parents are becoming conscious consumers. They’re reading ingredient labels, seeking out preservative-free, species-appropriate options, and demanding more transparency from brands and clinics alike.

With growing awareness around pet nutrition, many are exploring fresh, real-food alternatives to commercial kibble. However, when they raise questions or show interest in better feeding practices, they’re often met with judgment or guilt-tripping at veterinary clinics.

This kind of gatekeeping—where pet parents are discouraged from making informed choices—has no place in modern pet care.

To build a healthier and more ethical pet food system in India, key changes are needed:

• Unbiased vet education rooted in independent science—not shaped by corporate sponsorships

• Respectful, open conversations about fresh food diets

• Stronger regulations to ensure clear labeling and sourcing transparency

• Recognition of responsibly formulated fresh, raw, and air-dried diets as valid, science-backed options

In Conclusion – Choose Better. Choose Real.

Not all veterinarians have bad intentions—most genuinely care. But the reality is, the system they operate within is shaped by commercial influences, limited nutritional education, and heavy brand partnerships. As a result, pet parents are often steered toward kibble as the only “safe” or “scientific” option. But that’s far from the full picture.

You deserve better. You deserve the right to ask questions, explore alternatives, and make informed choices about what goes into your pet’s bowl. Choosing fresh, balanced meals isn’t rebellious—it’s responsible.

At Wags and Paws, We Stand With Pet Parents Ready to Choose Better

Our philosophy is simple: real food, real ingredients, and zero compromises. From our air-dried treats to fresh, preservative-free meals, everything we create is made with your pet’s health in mind.

Because your pet isn’t just another consumer—they’re family. And family deserves food that’s honest, nourishing, and thoughtfully made