Meat By-Products in Dog Food: What They Are and Why It Matters
If you’ve ever flipped over a bag of kibble and noticed “meat by-product” on the label, you might assume it just means meat. The truth is very different. What goes into this ingredient is a mix of animal leftovers most people would never consider food, and once you understand what it really is, you’ll start questioning what’s in your dog’s bowl.
The Truth About Meat By-Products In Dog Food
Meat by-products are not the prime cuts you’d expect. They’re the leftover parts of animals that people generally don’t eat: heads, hooves, bones, tendons, and scraps of tissue. All of these leftovers are collected and boiled together in giant vats at extremely high temperatures.
From there, the fat that rises to the top is skimmed off and sold as animal fat. The rest of the mixture — boiled bones, tissue, and whatever else went in — is dried, ground down into a gritty powder, and labeled as meat by-product or animal by-product.
That powder is then added back into processed foods like kibble (dry biscuits), forming the base of what many dogs are fed every single day.
Where Meat By-Products in Dog Food Really Come From
At Raw & Fresh we meet all food safety regulations and only use meat that’s safe and healthy for pets. Any meat we cannot use for health or hygiene reasons (for example, if it falls on the floor during mixing) is placed in a bin for disposal. That bin is collected weekly under strict regulations.
Here’s the disturbing truth: after speaking with our waste supplier, we discovered that this discarded meat is not destroyed. Instead, it’s processed into animal by-products and re-sold as part of commercial dog food ingredients. Most owners have no idea that these low-quality by-products are ending up in kibble.
Why Animal By-Products Harm Pet Health
Processed foods built on meat by-products are one of the biggest contributors to long-term illness. Nearly half of dogs and almost 40% of cats die from cancer, with increasing cases of heart, kidney, and liver disease. Many of these issues are linked to highly processed diets made with animal by-products, fillers, and additives.
Feeding a fresh, biologically appropriate diet helps reduce the risk of obesity, allergies, digestive problems, and chronic disease. By avoiding by-products and choosing real ingredients, you give your pet a better chance at a longer, healthier life.
FAQs About Meat By-Products in Dog Food
Are meat by-products bad for dogs?
Meat by-products are not inherently toxic, but they are low-quality ingredients compared to fresh meat. Because they are rendered scraps, they lack the nutrient density and bioavailability of whole cuts. Over time, relying on them can increase the risk of chronic illness and poor digestion.
How can I tell if dog food contains animal by-products?
Check the ingredient list closely. If you see terms like “meat by-product,” “animal by-product,” or “animal digest,” it means rendered leftovers are being used instead of whole proteins. Brands that use human-grade meat and list the specific protein source (like “chicken breast” or “beef heart”) are usually more transparent.
What should I feed instead of dog food with by-products?
The best alternative to dog food made with meat by-products is a fresh, species-appropriate diet built on real meat, organs, bones, and vegetables. This approach provides natural nutrition without fillers or rendered waste, helping support better digestion, stronger immunity, and long-term health.
Make the Switch: Say No to Meat By-Products in Dog Food
Knowing what meat by-products in dog food really are changes everything. What looks like a harmless ingredient on a kibble label often hides rendered scraps and waste that were never meant to fuel a healthy animal. Over time, these low-grade fillers take a toll on your dog’s body, leading to higher vet bills, chronic illness, and a shorter life.
Choosing fresh, species-appropriate food is one of the simplest but most powerful ways you can protect your pet’s health. Every meal you serve is either investing in their wellbeing or quietly undermining it. By avoiding animal by-products and feeding whole, unprocessed ingredients, you give your dog the nutrition they were built to thrive on.
Your dog can’t read the back of the packet, but you can. Make the change today and see the difference a truly fresh diet makes.
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