Can I Mix Dry And Wet Dog Food

What Are The Benefits Of Mixed Feeding

Dogs love food or, rather, dogs love eating! Some dogs wont eat wet food, some wont eat dry, but almost all will eat mixed food. Like us, they love variety, and mixed feeding adds more tastes, textures and aromas to their bowl.

Mixing wet and dry dog food means your dog gets the best of both worlds. It can make mealtimes extra special and win over the pickiest of eaters.

Mythbuster: dogs dont get bored with eating the same thing over and over

Guide To Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food

Mixing wet and dry dog food is another option that may provide the best of both worlds. However, it is very important to ensure you are still providing the proper daily feeding amount to prevent overfeeding.

The best way to do this is to have your local vet calculate your furry friends daily calorie requirements for maintenance. Then you can calculate how much dry and wet food your dog should have each day to reach that number of caloriesand dont forget to factor in any calories from treats.

Royal Canin Canine Wet Dog Food

Royal Canin Canine Wet Dog food refreshes the dogs skin with its nutritious content. It has a fantastic mix of natural ingredients that makes up a delicious stew. A perfect formula for canines with an aversion for drinking water, the food contains enough moisture cover. An excellent food formulated for dogs of various ages and sizes.

• A good formula for healthy joints and teeth
• Contains omega-3 fatty acids for shiny skin and coat
• Moisture content helps to maintain hydration

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Comparison Of Dry Vs Wet Dog Food

Okay, so now have a better understanding of both wet and dry dog food. However, if youre still confused as to which food will be the best choice for your dog I have pulled out all the information and added it to this easy-to-read comparison table.

You should be able to clearly identify the benefits of both types of food.

Mixing Up Textures And Tastes

The textures and tastes are the most impactful factors of dog food, especially for finicky eaters. Mixing up the texture of dry food is easily done by adding pâté- or gravy-based wet foods. It also makes it easier to swallow and digest.

The mixing of wet and dry food instead of feeding them individually helps counteract a few of their more negative aspects. For example, wet food adds moisture and thus takes away the dryness of dry food. Dry food helps wet food and absorbs the oiliness that could unpleasantly settle in your dogs mouth.

Tastes are enhanced in wet foods because their texture tends to make them more available to a pups taste buds. The enhanced flavor in most wet foods attracts pickier eaters. Combining the two does the same.

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Add Some Peanut Butter For Protein And Healthy Fats:

If youre looking for something healthy to add to your pups diet, peanut butter is a great option. It contains lots of protein, healthy fats, vitamin B6, and niacin, promoting cellular health.

Just make sure you buy unsalted natural peanut butter made with 100% peanutsnot sugar, salt, or hydrogenated oils.

You can also add some peanut butter to your pups food as a way to increase their protein and calorie intake.

Just make sure you dont give them too much, as peanut butter is high in fat. Too much can lead to weight gain and other health problems.

Adding a variety of healthy foods to your pups diet is a great way to ensure they get the necessary nutrients to stay healthy. These 15 foods are all high in protein, fiber, and vitaminsand most are low in calories and fat.

So add them to your pups diet today and help them reach their ideal weight and health. Remember to always consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your pups diet.

And if youre ever unsure about what to feed them, ask your vet for a recommendation. They will be able to help you choose the best foods for your pups individual needs.

Best Food To Mix With Dry Dog Food:

If you decide to feed your pet a mixture of dry and wet food, here is what we suggest:

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Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Puppy Dog Food Best For Puppies

The puppy stage of life is the most important in a dogs life regarding their growth and continued health. Feed your puppy the best with Blue Buffalos formula specifically made for puppies.

Puppy food typically needs more protein, and this one has a crude protein of 10% and 7.5% crude fat. Its first ingredients are quality, as are most of Blue Buffalos recipes. They feature chicken and chicken broth, then chicken liver, followed by carrots and peas.

The formula includes DHA, an essential ingredient to support the young dogs brain and eye development. It is a pâté-style food, easy to separate in the can and then mix with dry food. Even though the recipe is balanced, some puppies wont eat it.

• Some puppies turn their nose up at unmixed food

Why Would You Want To

First of all, when you do a mix feeding for your dog, you are giving him or her a balanced meal. It gives them a chance to enjoy both textures and to get the benefits of both food types. When they see they have a choice of both dry and wet, this may encourage them to lick that bowl clean. With a fussy dog, the smells of the mixed plate can draw their attention to at least trying it. Mixing wet and dry dog food can be very nutritional for your pet. If you want more clarity, it doesnt hurt to reach out to your local veterinarian for advice.

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Do Consider Mixing Pet Foods With Different Shapes Textures And Aromas

The shape, texture and aroma are among the most important pet food attributes that entice your dog or cat’s appetite. Try to shake things up a bit by offering your pet a mix of foods with different shapes, textures and/or aromas. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover how much your dog or cat will enjoy the adventure that is eating again.

Can You Add Warm Water To Dry Dog Food

I would not recommend adding water to the dry dog food because it can soften the food and encourage dental plaque. Hot water will kill the probiotics on the food and should never be used. Also, if you add water and your pet does not eat it all right away, the food can spoil and cause gastrointestinal issues.

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Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food Many Options Are Possible

Being a responsible dog parent, it is your responsibility to provide the best food to your dog. Food plays the most important role in maintaining the health of your lovely friend.

There are plenty of benefits of mixing wet and dry food. Before we move to mixing food types, lets look at the different pros and cons of both food types.

Is Mixing Dry And Raw Dog Food Safe

There is a lot of confusion over this point, which is a result of the following point. If I suddenly feed a large amount of fresh meat to a dog that has never eaten it before their guts will not be ready to digest such food. Dry fed dogs have stomach acids of around pH2.5 as this acidity suits the enzymes and digestive juices necessary for a cereal cased dry diet. Hes probably been eating it for years and his stomach has become digestively conditioned to the whole process. Just before dinner time you hear all the gurgling and squirting in his belly?! Thats all the digestive juices being released in anticipation of the dry meal. In some dogs, if you introduce a large amount of raw food at this time it will fail to digest properly. Raw dog food requires a more natural and acidic gut environment of pH1.5, as we see in all carnivores.

When people see a dog at this point bringing up his new raw meal at this time they incorrectly conclude that the dog didnt like his food or that you cant mix raw and dry. You can, but you should do it gradually, slowly acclimatising the gut to the new lower acidity level. Once down there hell be able to eat anything at all!

For more on the digestive anatomy of the dog check out our video below!

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Can Dogs Live On Dry Food Only

Dogs seem to like dry dog food, and most live happy, healthy lives on almost any brand of dry dog food. Fortunately for pet owners, dogs are just fine eating dry dog food. While many pets prefer wet dog food, because it is more palatable, that doesnt mean that dry food isnt a healthy option for dogs.

Why You Must Not Mix Dry Food With Raw

There is absolutely no need to mix the two diets together. They get everything they need from a BARF raw diet. Many dog owners have the misconception that mixing foods will help to give them the valuable nutrients that they need or that it will bulk out their food. It will in fact have an adverse effect and could potentially make your dog very unwell.

The process required to cope with the digestion of kibble is completely different to that required to break down raw. Kibble contains a large amount of starch which increases the PH of the stomach. In order to break down the protein in raw food, this level needs to be below a certain level. If you mix foods you send the digestive system into confusion which can lead to an unhappy and unwell dog. Increasing the PH of the stomach means that bacteria like E coli and salmonella are more likely to survive. The dogs PH level needs to be acidic to protect them from these bacteria and also to break down the chicken bone in their raw meals.

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Can I Mix Both

Yes. You can have the best of both worlds by mixing both types of dog food. This can help dogs that find it difficult to eat a beneficial yet unpalatable dry diet.

If your dog is on a veterinary prescription diet we advise you to do this with caution. In such cases ask your veterinarian how you can best approach mixing wet and dry foods without compromising the prescription diets health benefits.

Reputable prescription dog food manufacturers often produce a wet and dry food version of the same product line. In such cases, we suggest you mix dry and wet dog food from the same product line.

Benefits Of Wet Dog Food Compared To Dry Dog Food

Wet dog food, or canned food, sometimes provides benefits that dry food doesnt offer, such as:

• Higher moisture content: Wet food may be a good choice if your dog doesnt drink as much as they should, or if they have a medical condition that could benefit from proper hydration. One example would be a dog with a history of urinary or kidney disease.

• Palatability: Canned dog food is often more aromatic and flavorful when compared to dry food. This may entice sick or older dogs to eat if their appetite is decreased.

• Satiety: Wet dog food tends to create a longer-lasting feeling of being full. Increased satiety is useful in weight management, especially in dogs that seem to have a never-ending appetite.

• Easier to chew: Dogs that have dental disease or other oral abnormalities may find wet food easier to chew than dry food.

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Want To Change To A Mixed Diet

• Any changes need time
• Dogs digestions are sensitive
• Its easy to inadvertently cause an upset stomach
• Just take it slow
• Introduce new food gradually, by adding a bit more each day.

Get those mixed portions right

The way dry food is baked means that it has more calories per mouthful than wet food. So when it comes to mixing wet and dry dog food, it may appear that theres a bigger portion of wet food than dry.

But its the number of calories, rather than the amount of food, thats important when feeding your dog a mixed diet.

When youre a tails.com customer you dont have to think about serving sizes, as you get a total feeding plan as part of your monthly delivery. Because our customers tell us everything about their dogs when they sign up , we tailor their dogs food down to the last mouthful.

• the right nutrition
• and great for you, too.

The Benefits Of Dry Food

Dry dog food has a long list of benefits for dogs and their owners. Dry kibble stores better than wet food once its been opened. For dogs, the biggest benefit of dry food is how it influences their oral health. The texture of some dry kibble is designed to promote a brushing effect on your dog’s teeth when they chew.

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Beneful Wet Dog Food Feeding Tips

Feeding 3 oz Cans of Wet Dog FoodGive your dog one 3 oz can per 3 – 3½ pounds of body weight daily, divided into two or more meals. Adjust this amount as needed to help maintain your dog’s ideal body condition.

Mixing 3 oz Cans of Wet Dog Food With Dry Dog FoodIf mixing with dry food, remember that one 3 oz can replaces about ¼ cup of dry dog food.

Feeding 10 oz Tubs of Wet Dog FoodGive your dog one 10 oz container per 10½ – 12½ pounds of body weight daily, divided into two or more meals. Adjust this amount as needed to help maintain your dog’s ideal body condition.

Mixing 10oz Tubs of Wet Dog Food With Dry Dog FoodIf mixing with dry food, remember that one 10 oz container replaces about ¾ – 1 cup dry dog food.

Feeding Wet Dog Food To PuppiesIf feeding wet food to your puppy, don’t forget that he/she needs up to 2x as much food per pound of weight as an adult dog!

Providing Fresh WaterFor your dog’s health, don’t forget to provide adequate fresh water in a clean container daily and to see your veterinarian regularly, for a healthy and happy pet.

Storage TipsAfter opening, refrigerate and use within 2 – 3 days.

Benefits Of Dry Dog Food Compared To Wet Dog Food

Dry dog food, or kibble, often offers certain benefits that wet food doesnt provide, such as:

• Dental health benefits: Dry food encourages dogs to chew their food, which aids in preventing tartar buildup and secondary periodontal disease.

• Convenience: Compared to wet food, dry diets are much easier to pre-portion, and they wont spoil if left out all day. This can be beneficial for dogs that are grazers.

• Financially feasible: Depending on the brand of food, dry diets may be less expensive to purchase and store long-term.

• Food enrichment: Kibble is easier to integrate into food puzzles and slow feeders that may improve a dogs quality of life through cognitive stimulation.

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Don’t Begin Mixing Your Pet’s Food Without First Consulting A Veterinary Expert

A lot of pet foods are formulated for different life stages, lifestyle or a particular health condition. Before feeding your dog the mixture of different pet foods, do consult your veterinarian to make sure you are giving your pet the right combination and right amount for his age and health condition. Mixing pet food should not be taken lightly as it can bring negative effects such as weight gain and excessive intake of vitamins. Therefore, it’s always worth to consult your veterinarian to determine whether which diet can be a better solution for your picky eater.

Before we end off, here are some frequently asked questions!

Get The Prescribed Diet For Your Pooch

Especially for dogs on a prescribed diet because of some food intolerances, ensure to get the corresponding prescription diet. For instance, if a dog is on a diet with a particular brand of dry food, its only logical to get that same brands wet or canned food.

Its very risky to assume that all wet and dry foods are the same, and then mixing them without caution. Thats calling for trouble. So, ensure that both wet and dry dog foods used in the mix are corresponding brands of the dogs prescribed diet.

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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain

For this beef and chicken grill recipe, you can get 12 cans of dog food. All of Blue Buffalos formulas are grain-free, including their cans of wet food.

Blue Buffalo wants to encourage dogs to live an active, strong life with the growth and energy that they need to maintain themselves. It provides them with a formula of high-quality protein made from grilled beef and chicken.

The total percentage of protein is 10%, and fat is 9%. These increased portions mean good things for active dogs but can cause weight issues in lazier pups.

The first ingredient is beef, followed by chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver. There are no ingredients that contain gluten and no by-product meals from meat either. The texture of the food is pâté.

• Formula for active dogs can cause weight issues in lazy pups