When it comes to choosing the best food for your dog, you might focus on the ingredient list or scan the guaranteed analysis.

While everything could look great on paper, the next best thing to consider is how those ingredients are digested and what ends up on your lawn. To make sure your dog is getting the nutrients it needs in the right proportions, let’s dig into digestibility. 

 

What Is Digestibility?

The dog digestive system isn’t too different from how you might think about how humans digest food. So similar to us, dog food digestibility reflects how food is broken down, absorbed, and used by your dog’s body. An ingredient list might not paint a clear picture of ingredient quality or processing, so products with very similar ingredients can have very different digestibilities.

Overall, pet food digestibility is increased by the inclusion of high-quality ingredients. For example, digestibility is decreased when a recipe includes poor quality protein, high amounts of fillers like wheat and corn, and certain types of dietary fibers.

Because easily digestible dog food provides a higher proportion of absorbed nutrients than a less digestible food, digestibility provides a key indicator of a food’s nutritional value and quality. 

In general, as the quality of ingredients in the food increases, so will the food’s digestibility and nutrient bioavailability.

 

Why Does It Matter?

Digestibility not only impacts stool quantity and quality (how much your dog poops and how the poop looks and smells), flatulence (you know what we mean), but most importantly, a dog’s long-term health and wellness. Better digestibility = higher absorption of nutrients = healthier dogs.

 

 

Easily digestible food for dogs will result in a normal amount of firm, well-formed stool in an otherwise healthy dog. The more digestible the food, the less waste and less bathroom breaks there will be. 

Digestibility ultimately affects your dog’s long-term health and well-being. If you’re paying the price for premium food, you want to make sure your dog is actually able to utilize the nutrients included.

Classifying Poorly vs. Highly Digestible Dog Food

Usually to compare digestibility between recipes, dog nutritionists and vets factor in fiber, ingredient quality, and overall recipe ingredients to determine the food’s digestibility. In addition to the nutrients a certain recipe contains, understanding the digestibility is also an important factor that will help you know the quality of the food.

What Influences Digestibility?

Real, high quality ingredients aren’t just tastier for your pup. They’re also easier for them to digest, meaning they’re better able to absorb essential nutrients. That means whole grains, real, lean proteins, and a fiber level that’s appropriate for dogs.

Pro Probiotics

Probiotics can also help your dog better digest their food and absorb key nutrients. That’s why Jinx kibble includes patented probiotics that promote gut health. Our recipes are made with naturally occurring pre- and probiotics that aid in digestion and help to regulate your dog’s microbiome, so your only job is to find the recipe your pup likes best!

Our Key Ingredients

Jinx only uses high quality, easily digestible ingredients in our kibble, wet food, and treats. Here are some key players you’ll see on our ingredient list.

Keep in mind, if your dog has a known dietary intolerance, this may also impact how they digest their meals. If you notice they experience larger or softer stool, you can try switching to a different protein or carb source to see what works best for them. 

Sweet Potato

Sweet Potatoes are excellent natural sources of fiber, essential vitamins and antioxidants. Our Beef & Sweet Potato Kibble helps your dog sustain energy and maintain healthy digestion.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a source of antioxidants, along with essential vitamins and minerals. It is most well-known for its fiber content, which helps support healthy digestion.

Blueberries

Blueberries are antioxidant-rich fruits that are a great source of essential vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin C, which help support a healthy immune system. 

Apples

As they say, "An Apple a day, keeps the vet away" Apples are a great source of vitamin C and fiber.

Organic Chicken

A leading protein source loaded with calcium and phosphorus to support healthy bones and teeth. Our Grain-Free Organic Chicken & Carrot Kibble contains premium proteins and functional superfoods to fuel your dog’s overall health.

Fresh Salmon

Atlantic Salmon is a high quality, easily digestible protein that provides essential nutrients, which help maintain healthy organs and lean muscle mass. You can find this ingredient in our Grain Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Pate Wet Food and our Salmon, Brown Rice & Sweet Potato Kibble.

Brown Rice

Brown Rice is a highly digestible carbohydrate that is an excellent source of essential B vitamins and wholesome fiber. It supports healthy digestion while also giving your dog consistent energy all day long.

 

How to Choose Highly Digestible Dog Food

Your pup’s digestive health is one big puzzle piece of their holistic health, so what you choose for their meals is important. Be sure to take a look at the ingredient list for high-quality ingredients that promote healthy digestion, and try to steer away from hard-to-digest fillers like corn, wheat, or soy. Today, there are dog food recipes formulated specifically for that purpose, like Jinx’s range of dog- and vet-approved kibble.