No research has been reported linking kibble directly to cancer in dogs. After all, who would fund that research? Not the big kibble companies! However, numerous studies link chronic inflammation, the ingestion of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and obesity to the development of cancer in dogs. All of these factors are also linked to kibble. 

In this article, we explore how the manufacturing process and the ingredients in kibble create an inappropriate food for dogs, causing chronic inflammation and deadly disease in them. We will look at alternative fresh food options to enhance or replace kibble.

The high temperatures used to make kibble, which can reach well over 300 ℃, are one of the dangers of commercial dog food. Scorching foods have been shown to induce the formation of free radicals and the release of carcinogenic compounds, in addition to lowering the nutritional value of the food. Dangerous by-products of high-heat cooking include:

Heterocyclic Amines (HCAs): HCAs form when amino acids and creatine (naturally present in meat) react at high temperatures. They are known to be mutagenic (causing mutations in DNA) and are associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer, mainly when meats are cooked at high temperatures.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): PAHs form when fat and juices from meat drip onto hot surfaces and produce smoke. They are found in the charred areas of grilled or smoked meat. PAHs are considered potential carcinogens and are associated with increased cancer risk.

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs): AGEs form when proteins and sugars react during high-heat cooking. While they are naturally present in the body and some foods, excessive consumption of AGEs from highly processed or high-heat-cooked foods has been associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases

Acrylamide: Acrylamide forms when certain carbohydrates are exposed to high temperatures, such as frying or baking. While acrylamide is found in various foods (including some processed snacks and coffee), its potential health effects are still being studied. It's a potential human carcinogen and may have similar implications for dogs.

Trans Fats: High-heat cooking can produce trans fats, considered unhealthy fats associated with cardiovascular disease. While the impact of trans fats on dogs is not fully understood, they are generally regarded as harmful for humans and likely have similar implications for pets.

Oxidized Fats: Cooking at high temperatures can cause fats to oxidize, leading to the formation of harmful compounds. Oxidized fats may contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.

High-temperature processing is a double whammy, as it also decreases the natural antioxidants in the food. Antioxidants are substances that aid in the protection of your dog's body from free radicals. Processed dog food, such as kibble, may induce oxidative stress in dogs, resulting in an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in their bodies, increasing their risk of cancer.

Kibble production involves several processing steps, including mixing, extrusion, drying, and coating. The specific temperatures can vary depending on the manufacturer, the type of ingredients used, and the desired characteristics of the final product.  

Raw ingredients are often mixed and pre-conditioned before extrusion. Temperatures during this phase can range from around 160 to 180 ℉ (71 to 82 ℃).  Fats begin oxidation at these temperatures.

Extrusion is a crucial step in kibble production as it enables the pieces to be shaped and cut into those little kibble bites. The mixture is subjected to high heat and pressure in an extruder. Temperatures during extrusion can range from approximately 300 to 400 ℉ (149 to 204 ℃), though some extruders may reach even higher temperatures. At this step, the HCAs, AGEs,  acrylamide, trans fats,  and PAHs can form.

After extrusion, the kibble is dried to reduce moisture content and improve shelf stability. Drying temperatures typically range from around 200 to 250 ℉ (93 to 121 ℃). Fat oxidation continues at these temperatures.

Some kibbles may undergo a coating process to enhance flavor, texture, or nutritional content. Coating temperatures can vary but usually fall within the drying temperature range of 200 to 250 ℉ (93 to 121 ℃).

With all of the manufacturing steps reaching temperatures over 160 ℉, the ingredients are exposed to dangerously high heat levels at least four times. Fat oxidation and creating HCAs, AGEs, acrylamide, trans fats, and PAHs combine to make a product loaded with harmful chemicals!

Sugar is a Huge Contributor to Cancer Growth

Cancer cells have a unique metabolic behavior, relying heavily on glucose (sugar) for energy. This phenomenon is known as the Warburg effect, named after the scientist Otto Warburg, who first described it in the 1920s. The Warburg effect explains how cancer cells metabolize glucose differently from normal cells.

Cancer cells tend to consume glucose much faster than normal cells. This high glucose consumption supports their rapid growth and division.

In the presence of sufficient oxygen, normal cells primarily use aerobic respiration to convert glucose into energy. However, cancer cells rely more on anaerobic glycolysis, which converts glucose into lactic acid even when oxygen is available. This process is less efficient in energy production but provides cancer cells with the building blocks they need for rapid growth.

The Warburg effect contributes to biomass production, in which cancer cells must replicate and form tumors. This altered metabolism helps cancer cells evade some of the normal regulatory mechanisms that control cell growth.

So, how does this make kibble a contributing factor in cancer cell growth? Dry food normally contains over 50% carbohydrate ingredients to achieve a biscuit-like consistency. As your dog digests kibble, all those carbohydrates are immediately converted into sugar. Cancer cells use anaerobic glycolysis to metabolize this sugar, which fuels cancer cell development.

Grains like rice, corn, and wheat are kibble's primary sources of carbohydrates. What about grain-free kibble, though? Even grain-free kibble needs a high starch content to achieve a biscuit-like consistency, and most contain non-grain carbohydrates like potatoes, chickpeas, legumes, or peas. 

Chronic Inflammation Increases Cancer Risk

Chronic inflammation and cancer are linked through complex biological processes that involve the immune system, cell signaling pathways, and tissue microenvironments. While inflammation is a natural and necessary response to injury or infection, chronic inflammation that persists over time can create an environment conducive to cancer development and progression.

Chronic inflammation involves the release of various signaling molecules, such as cytokines and chemokines that attract immune cells to the affected area. These signals can promote cell growth, survival, and tissue repair.

Prolonged inflammation also leads to cellular damage due to the production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These molecules can cause DNA mutations and other genetic changes that contribute to cancer development, which changes tissue structure and function, creating an environment that supports the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Chronic inflammation leads to immune system dysfunction over time, as the immune cells lose their ability to recognize and eliminate abnormal cells, including cancer cells. This can allow cancer cells to evade immune surveillance and proliferate.

A benefit of inflammation is stimulating the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the inflamed tissue. However,  this process also supports the growth and spread of cancer cells by providing them with the blood vessels to support tumor growth.

With chronic inflammation, your dog’s body produces inflammatory cytokines that promote cell survival, proliferation, and resistance to apoptosis (programmed cell death). These factors are also crucial for cancer cell survival and growth.

Cancers Directly Linked to Chronic Inflammation

Several types of cancer that are common in dogs are directly linked to chronic inflammation, including:

Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer more common in large and giant dog breeds. Chronic inflammation of the bone or surrounding tissues may contribute to developing this aggressive cancer.

Mast Cell Tumors: Mast cell tumors are skin cancer in dogs. Inflammation can lead to the release of histamine and other compounds from mast cells, potentially contributing to tumor growth and progression.

Hemangiosarcoma: Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer that originates from blood vessel cells. Inflammatory processes that affect blood vessels and surrounding tissues may play a role in the development of this cancer.

Bladder Cancer: Chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder, often caused by urinary tract infections or other conditions, may increase the risk of bladder cancer in dogs.

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This type of oral cancer can be linked to chronic irritation and inflammation of the oral tissues and is often associated with dental disease or other oral health issues.

Gastric Cancer: Chronic inflammation of the stomach lining, often due to factors like Helicobacter pylori infection or other gastrointestinal conditions, can be linked to the development of gastric cancer in dogs.

Alternatives to Kibble: Air-dried, Fresh, and Lightly Cooked Diets

There are commercial alternatives to kibble for your dog, and homemade fresh whole-food meals can be created. 

Commercial pre-made raw diets are available as frozen, dehydrated, air-dried, or freeze-dried. These diets are minimally processed without the high-heat rendering process of kibble diets. Most of them require rehydration before feeding.

The ideal pre-made raw has all the essential ingredients, often combined with probiotic supplements. Many pre-made raw diets contain fresh meat, ground raw meaty bones, vegetables, and fruits purchased from surrounding farms and blended in small batches to maintain freshness. 

Commercial raw diets are not necessarily better than kibble if they contain poor ingredients, high levels of starchy carbohydrates, synthetic preservatives, or other additives. Many products contain rice, peas, corn, and even pasta! You must read the list of ingredients to ensure you get a high-quality product for your dog. 

Frozen raw dog food primarily comprises raw meat, bones, organs, and sometimes vegetables. This approach aims to mimic a dog's ancestral diet. Because the ingredients are not heated, the nutrients of the whole foods used in the diet are retained. A commercial raw diet's components are of higher quality than kibble's. Many frozen raw diets contain fatty fish to supply your dog with essential Omega-3 fatty acids. The main disadvantage to commercial raw dog food is that all ingredients are ground or chopped, including the raw meaty bones. Your dog derives many benefits from chewing on bones, including improvement of oral health and mental stimulation. 

Dehydrating dog food involves using low temperatures to gently remove moisture while preserving the nutritional content of the ingredients. The temperature used in the dehydration process can vary depending on the manufacturer and the dehydrator type. However, generally, the temperature range for dehydrating dog food is around 110°F to 160°F (43°C to 71°C).

This range of temperatures is considered safe for preserving the ingredients' enzymes, vitamins, and minerals while effectively removing moisture. The slow and controlled dehydration process helps maintain the overall quality of the final product, ensuring that it remains nutritious and palatable for your dog.

Before feeding, these foods are typically rehydrated by adding water or another liquid, such as bone broth. The amount of liquid required varies based on the product and the manufacturer's instructions. Rehydrating dehydrated dog food offers several benefits for your dog, including enhancing palatability, digestibility, and hydration. 

Rehydrated food is softer and more palatable, making it more appealing to dogs, especially those with dental issues, elderly dogs, or picky eaters. Your dog can digest dehydrated food more easily if it has been rehydrated because the added moisture helps prevent the food from expanding too much in the stomach, reducing the risk of discomfort or bloating.

Keeping your dog well hydrated is essential for overall health but crucial during cancer treatments. Rehydration of the dehydrated food will aid in keeping your dog hydrated. You can use bone broth to rehydrate the food to encourage your dog to eat.

Rehydration allows you to adjust the food's texture and consistency to your dog's preferences. You can make it soupy, mushy, or just slightly moist. 

When dog food is air-dried, all the moisture is removed from the food through evaporation via the air-drying process. Still, enough moisture remains in the product to make it easier to eat and more palatable without rehydration. Air-dried dog food is dried using a controlled process that utilizes airflow and temperature to remove moisture while preserving the nutritional content of the ingredients. 

The temperature range used in air-drying dog food is much lower than that of conventional cooking methods, which helps retain more natural nutrients. While specific temperatures can vary among manufacturers, air-drying typically involves temperatures around 120°F to 140°F (49°C to 60°C). Drying times depend on the ingredient's thickness, moisture content, and chamber conditions, including temperature, humidity, and airflow rate. 

Air-dried dog food offers several potential benefits, making it an increasingly popular option among dog parents looking for high-quality and convenient feeding choices. Air drying is a gentle method of food preservation that removes moisture from raw ingredients while retaining many nutrients. The benefits of feeding your dog air-dried food include nutrient retention, minimal processing, convenience, and transparency of the ingredients.

No research has been reported linking <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/kibble">kibble</a> directly to cancer in dogs. After all, who would fund that research? Not the big kibble companies! However, numerous studies link <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/chronic">chronic</a> <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/inflammation">inflammation</a>, the ingestion of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/obesity">obesity</a> to the development of cancer in dogs. All of these factors are also linked to kibble. 

Kibble and Cancer

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