Have you ever wondered Can I feed kibble and raw dog food together? I recently had a reader email me and ask my opinion about just that.
Unfortunately, I got a notification from the mail delivery software saying that my email reply couldnβt be delivered, so I decided to turn this topic into a blog post. Itβs certainly an interesting topic, so thanks for asking the question, Jesus!

From βRaw Or Dieβ To Open-Minded Feeding
I’ll be honest and admit that had Jesus asked me the same question 2 years ago, I would have given him a different reply than today. Back then, I would have been a narrow-minded βraw or dieβ feeder and said something along the lines of βhell no, it has to be 100% rawβ.
I have since then come to the conclusion that adding a little fresh, raw food to a dogβs regular, dry meals is better than no fresh food at all.
So by all means, go ahead and mix kibble and raw if you canβt afford raw by itself.

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links. I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
How To Feed Kibble & Raw Together
There are a few different options for feeding kibble and raw together.
One approach would be toΒ top off your dogβs dry foodΒ with some raw dog food.
For example, add some green tripe.
Itβs highly nutritious and drool worthy because itβs chock-full of digestive enzymes.Β I like the kind from Raw Paws Pet Food and Raw Feeding Miami.
Tip: You can save 15% off your Raw Paws Pet Food order with my affiliate discount code K9Savings at checkout. You can also save 15% off your Raw Feeding Miami order with my referral link.


Good to know: Add a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar to the mix of kibble and raw dog food
Dana Scott, editor-in-chief of Dogβs Naturally Magazine, suggests adding a tablespoon full of organic apple cider vinegar to a mixed meal of kibble and raw for easier digestibility.
However, I will admit that green tripe is some pretty smelly stuff.
Or add some bone broth
Alternatively, add a few spoonfuls of homemade bone broth. It’ll be soothing for your dogβs stomach. It also contains organic apple cider vinegar. Check out myΒ bone broth recipe here.Β
Try adding a raw egg
Another option is to add a raw eggΒ to your pupβs dry dog food. Eggs contain lots of minerals, vitamins, and omega-3s and are a nutrition powerhouse.
Add sardines
Or, as Steve Brown (founder of Steveβs Real Food) tells pet food blogger Rodney Habib, add someΒ canned sardines:

My pups Missy & Buzz LOVE canned sardines by the way. I share some with them several times per week.

Feed separate meals of kibble and raw dog food for easier digestibility
You could alsoΒ feed separate meals of dry and raw dog food. For example, dry for breakfast and raw for dinner, or vice versa.
Since dry and raw dog food digest at different rates, they can cause upset stomachs when fed together.
That’s why this might be a good option for dogs with sensitive stomachs.Β
Feed raw dog food as meals and treat with kibble
Another way of feeding both options would be to feed raw meals for breakfast and dinner. You can thenΒ treat, train, or play with kibble throughout the day.
What I like to do with my pups is play nose games in the yard. I’ll throw a handful of dehydrated dog food on the grass in the backyard and let the pups sniff it out.Β
I also use dehydrated food when we’re playingΒ inside on crappy daysΒ β we especially love our stair games.
For this game, we go upstairs and then I throw a piece of dehydrated food down the stairs. The pups run after it, come back up the stairs, and we repeat this several times. Itβs a fab energy burner, a super fun game, and the pups are extremely willing to work for the food reward.Β

Weβve been using Alaskan Wild Salmon by Grizzly Superfoods a lot lately. I found it at an independently owned pet retail store not far from us, Naturally Unleashed in Fayetteville.
Whenever I use the dehydrated food in between breakfast and dinner, IΒ feed a few ounces less of the pupsβ daily raw dog food allowance. I do that to avoid packing on extra pounds.
A Word On Which Kibble To Feed Along With Raw
There are a gazillion different brands of dry dog food out there. Of course it’s up to everyoneβs personal preference and budgets to choose the right one for their pups.
I would suggest not feeding kibble that comes with the artificial preservatives BHA, BHT, TBHQ, & Ethoxyquin. Also, don’t feed the ones with artificial colors like reds, blues, yellows, & caramel color. All of them can cause neurological or cancerous issues. You’ll typically find them in the cheap brands on grocery store shelves and large retail stores like Walmart.
Independently owned pet retail stores typically carry a healthier selection of dry food. If you can afford to, Iβd opt forΒ dehydrated or freeze-dried dog foodΒ instead of kibble.
That’s because its ingredient list tends to be shorter. You also shouldn’t find harmful synthetic components or cheap fillers like corn and soy on the ingredient list.
I personally have fedΒ Dr. Harveyβs,Β Sojos,Β Grandma Lucyβs,Β Stella & Chewyβs, andΒ Grizzly Superfoods.
Can I feed kibble and raw dog food together? Bottom Line
Even if you canβt afford to feed your pups raw dog food exclusively, you can still add a nutritional booster.
Just offer a little raw dog food once a day or even just a few times per week.Β
Raw dog food can definitely get pricey when youβre the proud owner of several large dogs.
Tip: You’ll save the most money on raw dog food when you make your own. Learn how to do it here!
A little raw or fresh food can make a difference, so give it a shot! Canned sardines or organic eggs will do wonders for a dull, itchy coat.
Thanks for your question, Jesus!
Leave your comments or questions in the comment section below!
Join the K9sOverCoffee Community today! Get your free raw dog food recipe, excerpted from β20 Raw Meals for Dogsβ!Related Reading:
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Bone broth recipe for you and your dog
How to keep raw dog food affordable
Recipe for single ingredient green tripe dog treats
Can I feed my dog raw duck eggs?
How to make raw dog food at home
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