Last Updated: 11/02/2026
How Dry Pet Food is Made
Ever wondered how kibble is made? Discover the extrusion process and safety measures used to create high-quality dry food for your dog or cat.
Author: Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 4 minutes - short read
The convenience of pouring a scoop of crunchy kibble into a bowl is a daily ritual for most Australian pet parents. However, the science behind how those ingredients are transformed into shelf-stable, nutritionally complete nuggets is quite a feat of engineering. Most modern dry diets are created through a specialised process called extrusion, which uses heat and pressure to ensure every bite is safe, digestible, and packed with the essential nutrients pets need to thrive.
The extrusion process explained
The process of dry food production is a precise blend of science and safety. Here is how dry pet food is made, step by step:
- Mixing the base: Primary ingredients are pulverised and blended thoroughly to create a consistent, nutrient-rich dough.
- Cooking and expanding: This dough enters a machine called an expander. Here, it is cooked quickly using pressurised steam or hot water at very high temperatures.
- Shaping the kibble: While under extreme pressure, the dough is forced through specially shaped holes called dies. As the dough emerges, a rotating knife cuts it into individual pieces.
- Drying: The fresh kibble passes through a hot air dryer to remove excess moisture, ensuring the texture is crunchy and the shelf life is stable.
- Nutrient coating: Once cooled, the kibble is sprayed with a specialised mist of oils, fats, vitamins, and minerals. This "top-dressing" replaces any nutrients that might have been sensitive to the initial cooking heat.
- Sealing for freshness: Finally, the finished product is sealed into airtight packaging, to prevent spoilage and lock in the nutritional value. The packaging usually has fat- and oil-resistant liners to maintain food quality, prevent spoilage, and preserve nutritional value. These liners are crucial for protecting the healthy fats and oils in the kibble from escaping or oxidising (going rancid) due to exposure to air, light, or the packaging material itself. It is for this reason we always recommend storing the dry kibble in it's original bag, even after opening.
Learn more about the natural variations in the manufacturing process in Why Does My Pet's Kibble Look Different?
Quality control and safety standards
High quality and premium pet food brands take the quality and safety of their products very seriously.
Good pet food producers will undertake a number of steps before, during and after the manufacturing process including:
- Testing and examination of primary ingredients for signs of harmful microorganisms, chemicals, foreign objects and other potential contaminants.
- Constant checks at various points in the manufacturing process to ensure quality and safety standards are being adhered to.
- Examination and testing of the finished product to ensure that it is safe, consistent and meets quality standards.
Benefits of choosing dry food
While canned foods can make a great compliment to your pet's diet, they have a much higher water content than dry food and so much more is needed to meet your pet's daily nutritional requirements if fed exclusively.
Feeding your pet a high quality dry food is a convenient and much more economical way to ensure that they are receiving a complete and balanced meal with all the nutrition they need for a long and healthy life. Whether you are looking for a premium scientific formula or a natural, grain free alternative diet, there are a wealth of high quality dry foods available to suit the unique nutritional needs of every pet.
FAQs
While the manufacturing process is complex, the goal is simple: to provide a safe, convenient, and balanced diet for our furry companions. By understanding how kibble is made and the rigorous testing it undergoes, pet parents can feel confident that they are providing a high-quality foundation for their pet's health and longevity.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed 11 Feb 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
