8 Dog Health Issues That Can be Fixed by Switching from Kibble to Fresh Food

June
Jun 2
4 min read

Updated: Jun 9

Hey, fellow doggos and hoomans!

It’s me, June — a spunky Shihtzu with a lot of opinions, especially about food.

I know many of you think dogs just eat whatever is put in their bowl, but let me tell you: what’s in that bowl can make or break our health.

As a dog who’s been on both kibble and freshly cooked food, I’m here to spill the (bone broth) tea on why ditching ultra-processed kibble was one of the best things my hoomans ever did for me.

Let’s sniff out the common health problems that can dramatically improve when you switch to a species-appropriate, fresh food diet.

1. Bad Body Odour

The Problem: Ever notice your dog smells a bit...funky, even after a bath?

The Diet Link: Kibble is packed with fillers, preservatives, and synthetic stuff that can mess with our gut and overload our bodies with toxins. These toxins come out through the skin, making us smell bad.

The Fix: A fresh, species-appropriate diet supports our liver and detox pathways, so we smell like soft, clean doggos — not like soggy socks.

Quote from Expert Hoomans:“When we feed dogs what they’re meant to eat, their skin and coat health reflect that within weeks—less itching, fewer hotspots, and no smell,” — Dr. Karen Becker, Integrative Veterinarian.

2. Mouth Odour (Bad Breath)

The Problem: If your pup’s kisses smell like a garbage bin, that’s not “normal.”

The Diet Link: Kibble’s carbs turn into sugar, feeding bad bacteria in the mouth and gut. This bacteria causes stinky breath.

The Fix: Fresh, low-carb diets plus raw meaty bones help balance oral bacteria and naturally clean teeth.

Research Sniff:A 2020 study published in Veterinary Oral Health showed that dogs on raw diets had way less tartar than those on kibble.

3. Plaque and Tartar Buildup

The Problem: Endless dental cleanings and yellow teeth.

The Diet Link: Kibble is not a toothbrush! In fact, its starch content fuels plaque-forming bacteria.

The Fix: Raw bones (never cooked!) and fresh foods help scrape teeth and stop feeding harmful bacteria.

Did You Know?Wild wolves and dingoes don’t need dental cleanings — their diet keeps their teeth naturally clean.

4. Tear Stains

The Problem: Especially for us Shihtzus, those reddish-brown stains under the eyes.

The Diet Link: These stains are often linked to yeast and inflammation — both made worse by high-carb, processed diets.

The Fix: When you feed us clean, fresh food, you lower inflammation and support proper tear drainage.

Expert Insight:“Tear stains often vanish within 30–45 days of switching to fresh food. It’s one of the clearest signs of internal healing,” — Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM, Certified Food Therapist.

5. Chronic Ear Infections

The Problem: Scratching ears, head shaking, stinky ear smell.

The Diet Link: Kibble’s starches feed yeast, which loves to take over warm, moist ears.

The Fix: A fresh or raw diet reduces sugar intake, starving yeast from the inside.

6. Itchy Skin and Hotspots

The Problem: Constant scratching, licking, rashes.

The Diet Link: Many processed foods have hidden triggers (like chicken meal or artificial additives) that spark allergies. Plus, kibble’s omega-6 heavy fat balance fuels inflammation.

The Fix: A fresh, home-prepared diet lets you control ingredients and add anti-inflammatory goodies like sardines.

7. Dull Coat and Shedding

The Problem: Dull, brittle fur and hair everywhere.

The Diet Link: Kibble lacks fresh, bioavailable fats and nutrients that keep coats shiny and skin supple.

The Fix: Real meat, organs, and healthy fats deliver the essential nutrients we need for that Instagram-worthy shine.

Study: A Finnish study in BMC Veterinary Research (2022) found dogs on fresh or raw diets had shinier coats and less shedding than their kibble-fed friends.

8. Digestive Troubles (Gas, Bloating, Loose Stools)

The Problem: Runny poop, smelly farts, sensitive tummies.

The Diet Link: Processed foods can be hard to digest and often include low-quality ingredients.

The Fix: Fresh food is easier on the gut, leading to smaller, firmer, less smelly poops (yay for hoomans too!).

Shih Tzus Like Me Need Extra Care!

We Shih Tzus are special (obviously!), but we also come with:

Shallow eye sockets → more prone to tear stains.
Crowded teeth → more prone to dental issues.
Delicate tummies → sensitive to low-quality proteins and fillers.

Switching to a home-cooked diet made a huge difference for me. My tear stains faded, my breath improved, and my vet visits dropped dramatically.

Real Life Sniff:“I switched my 5-year-old Shihtzu from kibble to a home-cooked diet. Within a month, her tear stains disappeared, her breath improved, and she stopped scratching her ears daily. I wish I’d known sooner,” — Priya M., Pet Parent from Bengaluru.

Final Thoughts 🐾

Kibble may be convenient, but it’s not what we dogs were meant to eat. When you feed us real, species-appropriate food, you support our bodies the way nature intended.

Trust me — as a Shih Tzu who’s been there — the change is worth it.

How Can You Trust This Information?

This article is based on guidelines from trusted organisations and contains references wherever applicable from sources such as:

BMC Veterinary Research, 2022 – "Survey of Diet and Coat Health in Domestic Dogs."
Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 2020 – "Effect of Raw vs Dry Food Diet on Canine Dental Health."
Dr. Karen Becker & Rodney Habib — The Forever Dog.
Dr. Judy Morgan – From Needles to Natural: Learning Holistic Pet Healing.

Learn how switching dogs from kibble to fresh food can fix bad breath, tear stains, itchy skin, ear infections, and more common health issues.