Science Confirms It: Human-Grade Dog Food Is More Digestible — Here’s Why That Matters
What Makes Human-Grade Dog Food More Digestible? New Research in 2019 Might Have Answers
What Makes a Pet Food Truly Worth It?
As pet parents, we all want the same thing: food that fuels our dogs & cats with real nutrition - not just filler calories. But beyond marketing buzzwords like "premium" or "natural," how do we really know what works best in a pet’s body?
The answer lies in digestibility - and thanks to new peer-reviewed research, we now have scientific evidence showing that foods made with human-grade ingredients deliver a clear advantage.
Why Digestibility Matters
Digestibility refers to how well a pet’s body can break down and absorb the nutrients in their food. The more digestible a recipe is, the more real nutrition your pet receives - meaning:
- Better energy levels
- Healthier skin and coat
- Stronger muscles and immune system
- Smaller, firmer stools (less waste!) —> Small Stools = BIG NUTRITION!
It also means better value for you: food that’s actually feeding your dog, not just passing through as waste.
What a 2019 Study Found
In a December 6, 2019 study published in the January 2020 issue of Translational Animal Science, a team of researchers led by Dr. Patrícia M. Oba, Pamela L. Utterback, Carl M. Parsons and Dr. Kelly S. Swanson set out to compare how well dogs might digest various diets made with human-grade vs. traditional feed-grade ingredients.
To do this, they used a proven scientific method known as the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay - a model that accurately measures amino acid and nutrient digestibility across different foods.
The Results?
Dog foods made with human-grade ingredients were significantly more digestible than conventional pet foods - especially when it came to crude protein and essential amino acids like lysine, methionine, and leucine.
These are the building blocks of life for dogs — needed for everything from tissue repair to immune health. When food is more digestible, more of those nutrients are actually absorbed and used, rather than wasted.
Why This Matters for Your Dog
Many pet foods on the shelf — even the ones with "meat first" labels — use feed-grade byproducts, mechanically rendered proteins, and high-ash ingredients that aren’t always easy for dogs to digest.
What this study confirms is what many pet parents have noticed firsthand: when you feed a dog food made from real meat, real quality, and real care, it shows in their health.
Dogs fed human-grade diets may absorb more nutrition per bite, leading to:
- Reduced food volume needed
- Less digestive stress
- More visible health improvements
Our Take at Identity Pet Nutrition
At Identity®, we’ve always believed that pets deserve the same quality we’d want for ourselves — and this study reinforces why we go the extra mile. Our gently cooked and canned recipes are:
- Made with 95% meat, poultry, or fish
- Crafted exclusively from human-grade ingredients
- Free from rendered meals, mechanically deboned & mechanically separated meat (MDM/MSM), byproducts, and fish/seed oils
- Gently prepared to retain maximum nutrient bioavailability
We don’t cut corners. And now, science shows why that matters.
Real Food. Real Results.
Digestibility isn’t just a technical term - it’s the difference between a shiny coat and a dull one. Between vibrant energy and sluggishness. Between waste and nourishment.
Want to see the difference for yourself?
👉 Explore Our High-Meat Recipes
Because when you feed for true absorption, your dog doesn’t just eat better - they live better.
Identity® is family-owned and operated. We don’t answer to shareholders, venture capitalists or private equity groups - only to you and your pets.
Citation: Patrícia M Oba, Pamela L Utterback, Carl M Parsons, Kelly S Swanson, True nutrient and amino acid digestibility of dog foods made with human-grade ingredients using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay, Translational Animal Science, Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2020, Pages 442–451, https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txz175
