Wet Food Provides Comfort During Dental Pain
We often think of dental problems as striking elderly dogs, but the truth is, periodontal disease strikes 85% of dogs by the time they turn 5 years old. During treatment and recovery, a switch to a softer canned diet helps afflicted dogs eat in comfort. Meanwhile, discover more about the prevention and treatment of canine dental problems.
Wet Dog Food: What To Look For
There are endless wet dog food options on the marketbut certain brands and formulas significantly outperform others in terms of quality of ingredients and nutritional value. Heres what to look for when shopping for the best wet dog food:
Seek out the AAFCO statement: AAFCO stands for the Association of American Feed Control Officials, which is an organization that checks to make sure that the food your pet is eating is formulated correctly to support health. There will be a statement on the can that says this food is certified by AAFCO to be complete and balanced for all life stages. If that statement is not present, Wooten suggests choosing a different food.
High-quality meat: Canned food should be primarily meat and water, so look for canned food that has an identifiable meat source as the first ingredient, and water or broth in the first three ingredients, Wooten recommends.
Avoid gluten: Gluten is often used as a binder in canned foods, but Wooten suggests avoiding it if you can. Choose foods that do not have corn gluten, wheat gluten, or white riceyou just dont need it in canned food. Instead, choose foods that use potato starch or potatoes, just make sure these ingredients are listed after the top 6-7 ingredients , she says.
Fruits and veggies: Fruits and veggies are good to have in canned food as well, but the same rule appliesthey need to be further down the ingredient list.
What Food Is Best For Dogs With Skin Allergies
Once you’re sure that your dog has food allergies through an elimination diet or a vet, the next step is to give your pet the right food. Avoid food with ingredients that trigger any symptom.
You can use prescription dog food from your vet, make food from scratch, or try various types of allergy-safe food until you find what’s best for your pup.
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Kibble Offers Flexibility And Convenience
A kibble diet fits a variety of schedules and lifestyles, with less worry of spoilage. Its easy to pack on outings and road trips. And if your dog prefers snacking and grazing, kibble can stay in the bowl all day long, without worry about bacteria growth and spoilage! And theres no need to bother with refrigerating leftover portions. Scoop, measure, fill and youre done.
Keep an eye on the portion and make sure youre measuring the right amount of food for your dogs size. A serving of kibble appears smaller than that of canned, with more calories per ounce, which means overfeeding can happen all too easily.
Top Reasons For Heating Canned Dog Food
Having read through the above methods of heating canned canine food, youre probably wondering why you have to go this extra mile. Here are the top legitimate reasons why heating canned dog food is essential:
- Heating canned food awakens its smell and flavor, which is vital for rousing a dogs appetite. Who doesnt like the inviting aroma of food? Therefore, if your dog doesnt like eating canned food, try heating it and wait for the outcome.
- Heating makes the food highly palatable. In a nutshell, heating makes the canned food soft for the puppies and older dogs.
- Evenly heated food fights conditions such as tooth sensitivity and recurring stomach upsets in your canine friend.
- Finally, heating canned food makes your pup enjoy and yearn for his mealtime since eating warm food is more enjoyable than chilled or cold food. If your pup is happy, youre also pleased.
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Solid Gold Leaping Waters With Cold Water Salmon
The Solid Gold Leaping Waters wet dog food is free from unhealthy fillers like corn and wheat and has no artificial ingredients. Real, fresh salmon provides beneficial Omega 3 to support your pets brain and coat. Solid Gold has an added benefit of probiotics to help balance out your dogs gut.
- Solid Gold is made from fresh salmon to provide a lean and easily digestible source of protein.
- Solid Gold contains no fillers, including corn, wheat or soy, artificial colorings or preservatives.
How To Store Frozen Dog Food
As you may expect by the name, theres a natural place to store frozen dog food: your freezer. This option allows you to thaw out these bags in your fridge so that you can feed your furry friend a fresh meal. Once a bag thaws, you should keep it refrigerated until mealtime and keep it in the refrigerator as long as it stays fresh.
As with dry dog food, youll want to buy the appropriate bag size for your dog. If its your dogs primary food, a smaller dog means a smaller bag of food. If you are feeding it as a topper, the same rule applies. Larger dogs would need a bag that is 5 lbs. Note the instructions on your food for storage. For Bil-Jac Frozen, once thawed, it should be used within seven to 10 days. While it may be tempting to simply refreeze the food, that should be avoided for food safety reasons.
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How To Store Dry Dog Food
Even though it is so easy to handle, dry dog food does pose some storage challenges. Unlike most wet dog food, dry food isnt readily available in single serving containers.
Exposure to air, moisture, and high temperatures can take their toll on dry dog food over time. Identifying the right storage solution not only protects your dry food from the elements, it can also help prevent your canine companion from sneaking a bag of treats or breaking into a whole bag of dog food for a midnight snack. As such, youll want to consider a few different factors for dry dog food storage.
How Much Water To Add To Dry Dog Food
The amount of water to add into your dog food depends on three factors:
For example, when the climate is warmer, your dogs will have higher hydration needs. Therefore, you will have to add more water, to ensure that it is properly hydrated.
You also need to test what texture your dog likes. Some dogs like it very sloppy whereas others prefer a drier texture. In the case of the latter, add only a bit so it is hardly noticeable. Keep increasing it eat to test the tolerance levels of your pet.
Finally, the more food you serve, the more water you will have to add. Evident we know, but again, the two previous factors come into play. In conclusion, it depends on your own judgment.
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Benefits Of Dog Food Toppers
Dog food toppers are designed to make regular dog food taste better and can provide a nutritional boost, Dr. Coates says.
Finicky eaters benefit the most from the use of toppers, she says. Not only can the topper itself provide a little nutritional boost, but it can also increase the amount of the regular diet that the dog takes in.
They can especially be helpful for picky eaters who need a specific diet due to a health reason, but who dont find that particular diet palatable, says Dr. Satchu. Others who can benefit are ill dogs who need to be enticed to eat more or dogs who need a specific nutritional supplement thats in a topper, Dr. Satchu adds.
Dog food toppers can also be looked at as a treat.
As long as a dog or cat is on a well-balanced diet, it can be viewed primarily as a way to give our pets a little exciting treat without completely changing the core diet theyre on, says Dr. Romine.
Wet dog food toppers can also serve as a source of hydration, which your pet may need.
For example, pets with kidney disease may benefit from the increased water content of wet food toppers, Dr. Satchu says.
Some pets may also benefit from topper with a supplement added in. For example, senior pets may benefit from a topper supplemented with glucosamine for arthritis, Dr. Satchu says. Of course, check with your veterinarian when choosing a topper for a medical benefit.
Pick Out A Cool Dry Safe Spot For Your Dog Food Containers
Once you have your preferred dog food storage containers, its time to figure out where you want to keep that container. A good container will do a great job of shielding your dogs kibble from moisture and air, but its also important to find a good cool, dry spot to keep that container.
In general, dog food should not be exposed to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Warm, wet places can enable bacterial growth that will spoil your dogs dinners. Even with a sealed container, heat, light, and moisture can potentially cause challenges. As such, try and store your dog food container somewhere that will stay cool and dry, preferably less than 80 degrees F.
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Your Guide To Dog Food Toppers: What They Are Benefits And More
If youd like to encourage your pup to eat more of their dog food or want them to get more hydration, dog food toppers are an option to consider. While food toppers are primarily intended to enhance the palatability and nutrition of regular dog food, some can also double as a complete and balanced meal.
Its important to understand what dog food toppers are and their benefits so you can choose the best dog food toppers for your pups specific needs. As always, be sure to check with your veterinarian before changing your pets diet.
Choose The Right Dry Dog Food Storage Container
Sealing food away in a resealable container allows you to keep your dogs dry food as fresh as possible once you open a new bag. There are different lengths that you can go in terms of food storage. The simplest is to try and reseal the original bag.
Resealing the original bag.
A few bag clips are the quickest solution to dog food storage. Rolling or folding down the sides and closing them up is a relatively easy solution if you dont have other storage methods. However, this method isnt nearly as airtight as the following storage solutions.
Airtight tubs.
Arguably the best storage option is to invest in some plastic or stainless steel containers with resealable lids. Youll want to buy a tub that will accommodate the size of dog food bags that you regularly buy. Some people opt to place the whole bag in these containers and just have an opening to scoop out the food. If you decide to pour your dogs food in the container, make sure to keep part of that empty bag on hand to keep track of the feeding recommendations and any best used by/manufacturing dates for the product. Those date codes can be very helpful if you have any questions about the food.
Resealable bags.
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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.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Trays High Protein Grain Free
Blue Buffalo honors the wolf spirit in the creation of their dog food mixes. Real meat is always the first ingredient and it is made without corn, wheat, artificial ingredients and preservatives. This formula is also grain-free and fortified with vitamins and minerals.
- Real meat is the first ingredient.
- The recipe is high protein and grain free, enhanced with vitamins and minerals.
- Blue Buffalos recipe contains no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives.
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Determine The Right Portion Size For Your Dog
Using the questions below to guide your thinking, determine the right amount of food for your pup. For example, lets say your dog is a 45-pound 2-year-old mixed breed dog who is on the leaner side. The can suggests for dogs who are 35-45 pounds that they eat 2 cups of food per day, you may decide to feed your dog 2.5 cups, as that is the recommendation for dogs 45-55 pounds and you think your dog needs a little more food to keep his weight stable.
On How To Soften Dog Food At Home
Whether your dog has fragile teeth or it goes through a medical issue that makes its teeth sensitive, chances are you will need to switch to soft food. But what happens if your dogs diet? What happens if you cannot find soft food that meets its requirements?
On the other hand, some male dogs can be quite picky. If they are used to canned dog food, they will not find kibbles too appealing. Sure, dry food is much cheaper than wet food, but your old dog refuses it.
All in all, whether it comes to a medical condition or your dog is too picky, Should I soak my dogs dry food? There are a few ingenious ways to trick your little one into eating the right food you have to do it right. Here are a few tips and ideas.
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What Is Wet Dog Food
The fundamental difference between wet and dry food is the water content. Dry food has a moisture content of between 3 – 12%, while wet food is between 60 – 84% moisture.
Wet foods are either canned or sealed in pouches, while dry foods usually come packaged in big waxed paper bags or packaged in cardboard boxes.
Whilst dry food brings many advantages in terms of ease of storage, price and cleanliness, wet dog food can be a good choice for puppies with poor appetites as the smell and texture is more likely to appeal.
Kibble Has A Longer Storage Life
Of course, unopened cans do have a longer storage life. Were talking about storage lifespan after the can or bag is opened. Thats where kibble wins. Once the bag is opened, proper storage is essential, because exposure to air will eventually make the fats turn rancid and the food will lose its nutrients. To maximize the kibbles shelf life, store the food, bag and all, in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Youll want to keep the food inside the original, opened bag because packaging is designed to maintain freshness.
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Wet Vs Dry Dog Food: Which Is Right For Your Pet
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Dog food seems like such a simple thing, but all of the choices available can be overwhelming when deciding what your pal should eat. One of the comparisons you’ll confront starting out is wet vs. dry dog food.
First, consider your dog’s overall health, age, and behavioral needs. Both types of food are good choices, but it’s important to look at the benefits of each to decide which is right for your dog.
Why Choose Dry Food
- The friction created by chewing dry food will help keep your dogs teeth healthy by preventing tartar.
- Dry food is easier to store. Unlike wet food, it doesnt require refrigeration once open. Whats more, you can leave dry food out for longer, which means your dog can choose when to eat.
- Dogs can make a bit of a mess when they eat wet food, whereas dry food is generally easier to clean up.
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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Semi
Semi-moist dog food contains about 60-65% water by weight, making it more expensive per energy calorie than dry food. Unfortunately, semi-moist dog food generally contains more sugar and salt than either dry or canned dog food. The extra sugar and salt mean semi-moist food is not appropriate for every dog.
“The extra sugar and salt mean semi-moist food is not appropriate for every dog.”
Be aware that many semi-moist foods are also loaded with artificial color, chemical preservatives, and chemical flavor enhancers. Perhaps semi-moist foods are best reserved for the occasional treat – the dog version of the hot fudge sundae!
Semi-moist dog food is very convenient because feeding involves opening the pouch and pouring it into the bowl. Work with your veterinarian to determine the calorie content of the semi-moist food and an appropriate daily portion.
Wet Dog Food Benefits
The price of wet dog food might be a bit higher than dry kibblebut the benefits of switching to a wet food diet might be worth it for certain pet parents and their dogs. Here are a few benefits that come with switching to a wet food diet or mixing wet and dry dog food:
Great for preventing dehydration: Wet dog food is great for dogs who are dehydrated. If your dog is not drinking enough water, wet food will help increase their water intake, explains Dr. Sara Ochoa, a small animal veterinarian. For many dogs with kidney or urinary issues, I will recommend they switch to wet dog food to help increase their water intake.
Helpful for dogs with a low appetite: Most wet dog foods are healthy and filled with quality ingredients that you can see and smell, says Jones. This is one of the reasons wet dog foods are so popular with owners who have dogs with poor appetites.
Lasts for a very long time: Wet dog food has a long shelf life and can often last for years when cannedthis makes for a great option to store in the pantry to ensure you always have food on hand or to buy in bulk to cut some of the cost of wet food.
Easy to ensure high-quality protein: According to Jones, wet dog food is generally rich in quality meat proteins and less likely to contain the same number of additives that certain dry foods do.
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