The Pros And Cons Of Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food
Getty Images/Jaromir Chalabala / EyeEm
Dog food options abound when you walk into a pet store and while there are fresh, frozen, and even freeze-dried options, the most common types of food you will find are either dry kibbles or canned, wet dog foods.
Some dog owners will mix both kinds of food for various reasons. It is helpful to know the benefits of both kinds of food individually as well as whether mixing them negates these benefits so that you can provide the best diet for your dog.
Your Dog Won’t Eat Dry Food No Problem See How To Solve It Below
Many options are available when it comes to feeding your pet. Dry kibble, Wet canned, Raw diets all have their benefits and the choices are varied.
According to statista.com, 80% of Americans prefer kibble over other food options for their dog.
If you clicked on this article then either once upon a time your furry friend loved his kibble and now he won’t touch it or he never wanted it in the first place. Either or we have some suggestions and possible reasons.
Note – Always consult your veterinarian if your dog stopped eating or is resistant to a certain diet as the cause might be more important than being picky.
Try Enhancing His Meal
Some dogs just dont like the taste or texture of dry food. If your dog is not eating his dry food, you may want to mix a small amount of wet food with his dry food to make it more palatable. If you do decide to add wet food to his regular meal, remember to scale back the amount of dry food to avoid over-feeding him. Other options include adding meal enhancements, which coat the dry kibble with a flavorful puree, or try creating your own personalized dry dog food blend.
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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.
Whatever You Do Dont Ignore The Problem
Most of the reasons that your dog might turn up their nose at their food bowl are benign. However, you should always take canine anorexia seriously and rule out any dangerous causes before writing it off as an anomaly.
Once you locate the problem, you can take steps to solve it so your dog can get back on their feed and save you from wasting any more expensive kibble.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
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Top With A Boost Of Freeze
Meal toppers are growing in popularity for good reasons. Theyre convenient, minimally processed, and can increase the amount of biologically-appropriated protein. Plus, dogs love them!
Freeze-dried raw foods are an excellent way to add the power of raw to your diet. They often come in chunks that you can pour onto your pups meal. They are high in premium quality animal proteins. Theyre so delectable that many people use them as training treats as well.
Kiwi Kitchens Superfood Boosters are easy to sprinkle on your dogs kibble, and theyre made from pristine New Zealand ingredients, including green-lipped mussels, a nutritional powerhouse.
Shop for meal toppers
Health Benefits Of Dry Food
There are a few instances where dry food might be the best route for your pet. Dry foods often have more fiber bulk which can be good for many gastrointestinal diseases, Dr. Youello says. Dogs with chronic diarrhea, for example, may do better on a dry food formulated with more fiber. Similarly, dogs with diabetes mellitus generally do better on a dry food, as theres usually more complex carbohydrates compared to a canned food.
While dry food is also touted as a good option to keep your dogs teeth clean, its not recommended to feed them dry food for this reason alone. There are many toys and treats on the market that tackle plaque and nothing will ever compare to cleaning your dogs teeth yourself.
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Does Your Dog Eat Treats But Not Food
If your dog is refusing dinner but saying yes to treats or table scraps, they may be filling up on junk food rather than their own dog food. However, if your dog has other symptoms of not feeling well, a medical condition could be to blame for their altered appetite.
For example, if your dog is happy, energetic, drinking water, playing, and not having any vomiting or diarrhea, it may be that they are simply getting too many calories per day in treats and arent hungry for their meal. They may also have outsmarted you, knowing that if they refuse to eat their food, theyll get tasty chicken and dog treats instead.
However, if your dog is lethargic, having any vomiting or diarrhea, starting to eat a bit then stopping, or drooling or licking their lips, they may not be feeling 100% well. Treats are higher rewards, so many dogs will be more likely to eat those rather than their food, even if they arent feeling the best. Think of a time when youve had an upset stomach but powered through to have your favorite treat while passing up the salad bar.
It is always best to be on the safe side and have any possible medical conditions ruled out if getting your dog to eat is becoming a frequent challenge.
Is It Okay To Rotate Your Dog Or Cat’s Food
Yes. Many people get nervous that changing their pet’s diet might lead to an upset stomach, and in some cases, this is true. But when you introduce a rotational feeding schedule properly, with a slow transition that gradually gets quicker over time, there is likely to be few tummy troubles to worry about.
As we mentioned in the previous section, rotating your dog’s food could potentially improve their health. However, youll want to follow best practices to make sure that the dog food transition period goes well, and make sure youre watching for any signs of food sensitivities.
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Adjusting Your Dogs Diet
How To Measure The Right Weight
Dry food cant precisely be measured without scales, so you should buy a kitchen scale if you want to know the ideal amount.
Manufacturers of some high-priced foods include measuring cups in the package, which can fill the desired portion. Remember, however, that such a container is only for that brand because all dry food pellets have different densities, sizes, and weights.
If you count only approximately, food can be poured into a 100-milliliter cup you get about 240-250 grams. When buying food by weight, you can ask the retailer to divide the product into several portions equal to the daily food allowance. At home, you can divide it in half for breakfast and dinner.
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At The End Of 2019 During Our Yearly Vet Check We Received The Devastating News That Our 11 Year Old Dog’s Blood Work Showed That He Was In Stage 4 Kidney Failure
Honestly, I was a basket case, how on earth did we miss this? He seemed like he was just dealing with some symptoms of getting older – frequent urination, sometimes excessive water drinking. It definitely didn’t feel like life-threatening symptoms. As much as the diagnosis was a shock, the price tag of the prescription diet he would need to eat for the remainder of his life was pretty horrifying too!
Make Your Dog Work For It
I dont know about you, but I find that the rewards I work the hardest for are the most satisfying
Your dog feels the same. He will be considerably more likely to eat his food if he has to work for it.
A short session of Shake, Roll Over, or any other trick will have your dog expecting a reward for his hard work.
Its at this point you offer your fussy dog his meal. Many picky eaters get so caught up in being rewarded that they forget they would normally reject this meal.
The key here is to make your dog think his reward is a big deal. Shower your pup with praise and pats while offering him the meal.
If you can get your dog excited enough, he will believe this meal is the best thing that has ever happened to him He will eat his food without a second thought.
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What Is Dry Dog Food
Dry dog food contains less than 11% water. The majority of dog food is dry and comes in bags that have a long shelf life. Dry kibble may contain pieces of dried meat, but they don’t have a high water content like canned or pouched food will have. If you walk down the aisle of a pet store, the bags of dog food stacked on the shelves contain dry dog food.
If Your Dog Refuses Food
However, for some dogs, there comes a day when you give them a dish of their previously adored food and they lift their noses, lay on you a sorrowful look, and walk away. If and when this happens, what should you do?
- First, check the food to see if it may have expired or spoiled.Expired food can lose its flavor, as well as its nutritional value.
- Second, check your dog for any underlying health or behavioral issues that could affect his appetite. Stress, , dental disease, diabetes, nausea, and pain can cause loss of appetite. You might also see an appetite reduction in senior dogs.
- Third, consider whether your dogs boredom is with the food or with life in general. Mental and physical exercise, including dog sports, therapy work, or search and rescue, may invigorate your dog and stimulate his appetite. Food puzzles and feeding toys may also liven up mealtime enough to make it more exciting.
- Finally, if it appears that your dog may simply be tired of the same old food, even though youve been providing a nutritional, well-balanced, high-quality diet, you might want to give a fresh dog food diet a try. After all, variety is the spice of life, and fresh food can introduce some enticing new smells, tastes, and textures to your dogs diet. Fresh dog food delivery services, such as Ollie, work with canine nutritionists to develop yummy, personalized meals for dogs.
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Who Could Blame A Dog For Not Wanting To Eat Rotten Food
What You Can Do
It is imperative that you get your dog back to eating his regular food before health problems arise. The more you let him get away with eating only treats, the more he wont want to go back to his regularly scheduled kibble.
Luckily, there exist quite a few solutions to your problem that you can and should try!
What Wet Dog Food Do Veterinarians Recommend
When choosing any type of dog food, it is always helpful to have your pets needs in mind, and to learn how to effectively read a pet food label.
The most commonly recommended dog food brands, by veterinarians, include: Royal Canin, Science Diet, and Purina Pro Plan. Here are a few wet dog food options for puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs:
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Benefits Of Wet Dog Food
Wet dog food is oftentimes more enticing or attractive to a dog when compared to dry food due to the scent and texture. It comes in many different flavors and sizes of meat chunks.
Dogs with no teeth, painful mouths, syringe feeding requirements, or those that are weaning off of milk will prefer wet dog food.
It doesn’t usually require much chewing to be swallowed, making it great for dogs that are weak or lethargic, and it is more likely to be eaten by a picky eater. Some can even appear to look more like human food, making some owners feel more comfortable feeding their dogs.
Wet dog food is also great for dogs that have a hard time smelling due to an upper respiratory disease. It can be warmed up to make it more fragrant, thus further enticing a hungry dog.
Easy Homemade Dog Food Recipe
Jump to RecipeMy easy homemade dog food recipe combines lean ground sirloin, wholesome brown rice, fresh vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and tender herbs
***Please note, I am not a veterinarian, just a very passionate dog owner! The information in this blog post documents our own personal experiences, research, and the recipes that we feed our dogs under our veterinarian’s careful supervision. Please, consult with your vet and use your own personal judgment when considering transitioning to a 100% human-grade food diet for your pup. This post was updated with video August 16, 2020, updated with additional recipe links 9/14/2020, updated 1/7/2021 with metric measurements, updated 1/3/2022 with recipe links for hydrating meals.***
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Why Canned Dog Foodcan Be Better Than Kibble
In many ways, canned dog food can be superior to kibble. They typically contain more meat protein than their dry counterparts.
And theyre made with fewer carbohydrates, too.1
Plus, due to their air-tight packaging, canned dog foods contain no synthetic preservatives. So, fats and oils sealed inside cans dont easily become rancid.
And no artificial flavorings and colorings.
With cans, meat ingredients are closer to their natural state. So, canned products are more palatable and more appetizing.
How To Get A Dog To Eat
If you find that your dog is healthy and is being served a high-quality food in the proper amounts while in a positive environment, but you still cant get your dog to eat dry food no matter what, there are a few tricks to try that might entice him to eat.
You can try another brand of dog food or add a topper to your dogs normal kibble. You can use chicken broth as a topper by mixing it in your dogs normal food. If this doesnt work, then enlist the help of your local veterinarian.
$37.04
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The Results From Feeding Our Diy Dog Food
Back to the story of Bug
After only a couple of weeks of feeding her a homemade diet, the hubby and I were blown away by how much her mental and physical health improved. And we wholeheartedly believe she was able to bounce back because of her new food.
She went from an ailing, exhausted, incontinent, tail-down dog to a happy, energetic, curious, communicative pup. While she isnt miraculously walking again, her hip dysplasia also hasnt progressed or caused her any pain.
Weve learned to watch for signs that she needs to relieve herself as weve realized she knows when she has to go, she just cant get there without our help.
We feed both of our pugs the same food, with the hope that we can stave off any potential health problems for our older one.
When we travel, well bring their homemade food on the road in a cooler. On occasion, weve even ordered their dinner from a restaurant when we ran out of food .
If were camping, well usually just feed them whatever were cooking in camp they love corn on the cob, hobo packs , and the whole assortment of tri-tip, sausages, and ribs that weve usually got going on.
As you might imagine they lovecamping trips!
Homemade dog food gives us the flexibility to fine-tune their diet as needed. Im forever grateful for the extra time we were given with our beloved Bug as a result of the food we chose to feed her.