Is Canned Or Dry Food Better For Dogs

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.

Faqs Regarding General Dog Nutrition

• What is the best vet recommended dog food? The truth is, there is no real consensus among vets on which food is the best. This is because all dogs are different and unique. There is no one catch-all formula that would be perfect for any dog. We would, therefore, recommend searching for a well-regarded food that is high in protein and fat, and that your dog likes the taste of!
• What foods should dogs avoid? There are more foods that dogs should avoid than could ever be listed here. Some common human foods that are poisonous to dogs are chocolate, caffeine, onions, garlic, and sweetcorn. Check with a veterinary website before you feed your dog anything that isn’t marketed as canine food.
• Is Grain Free Dog Food Really Better? Dogs have been found to have trouble digesting grains and therefore grain-free foods can help aid digestion. A grain-free diet for your dog will also mean that you are likely buying formulas with higher levels of vegetables, fiber, and proteins. This will help the development of your dog’s coat and skin, as well as provide your dog with more energy. A grain-free diet has however recently been linked to a small increase in canine heart disease.
• What dog foods are causing heart problems? The FDA has recently begun to investigate how grain-free canine formulas might increase the risk of canine heart disease. It’s still too early to come to any major conclusions, but we will keep an eye out on this story as it develops.

Wet Food May Contain More Protein Than Dry Food

Wet food often contains more protein and fewer carbs than dry food. Even if it looks, at first glance, like canned food has less protein in it than dry food, you may be surprised to find out it often contains a higher percentage of protein.

Its challenging to compare nutritional labels on a can of wet food and a package of dry kibble and figure out what has more protein. In order to determine which has more protein, you need to calculate dry matter for each product you want to compare.

Dry matter basis is a representation of nutrients which ignores the moisture content of the food. In other words, its the amount of protein, fat, and fiber which would be reported if the products moisture were completely removed, according to PawDiet, which offers a basic dry matter calculator.

You can also do the math yourself.

The Pet Food Institute has instructions on how to determine dry matter in foods.

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Benefits Of Dry Dog Food: Convenience Crunch And Cost

Benefits of dry dog food at a glance:

• It supports oral health by reducing plaque and tartar buildup.
• No refrigeration is required.
• It has a lower cost than canned food.

Dry kibble does have some advantages over canned foods, including distinct benefits for your dogs oral health. Crunchy kibble helps keep your dogs teeth healthy by reducing plaque and tartar buildup. Thats why kibble eaters tend to have better breath than those who chow down exclusively on canned food. Dry food also provides the necessary chew and crunch dogs have craved since their primal pack days, when they used chewing and crunching as stress relief and a show of power.

Unlike canned food, kibble does not require refrigeration after opening and can be left out for free feeders. Its also easier to pack if you travel with your pet.

Cost is another area in which dry kibble has an advantage over canned food. Because canned food contains a higher percentage of water than dry foods , dry food is more economical to feed on a per-serving basis.

What About Raw Pet Food

Feeding cats and dogs raw pet food has become more common in recent years, with some pet owners espousing its virtues and benefits to their pets. But there’s currently little-to-no scientific evidence to back up the claims that a raw diet is actually any better for them.

“There are people who are passionate about raw diets for pets, and there are people who are equally passionate against it,” says Crawford.

“My concern is related to bacterial contamination of raw foods that have not been cooked or prepared properly.”

Currently there’s little-to-no scientific evidence to back up the claims that a raw diet is better.

In fact, a recent scientific study found high levels of potentially harmful bacteria in raw meat intended for consumption by pets.

The Swedish study tested samples from 60 commercially available raw meat dog food products from 10 manufacturers, available in Sweden, for bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter. Researchers found all 60 samples were contaminated with enterobacteriaceae bacteria, the family to which E. coli belongs, and half of these samples exceeded the Swedish guidelines.

There are people who are passionate about raw diets for pets, and there are people who are equally passionate against it

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Case Study: Canned Food Just Doesn’t Agree With Hank

Hank is a two-and-a-half year old French bulldog who’s absolutely adored by his humans, Lizy and Markus.

“Hank is a major part of our family and, to be honest, he’s like our other child,” Lizy says. “We absolutely adore him and couldn’t be luckier to have such a sweetheart in our home.”

Hank suffers from seizures and allergies, which means his owners need to be very careful about what they feed him.

“With canned foods, he barfs and gets the runs so we avoid giving it to him,” Lizy says. “It is not worth his health to even attempt to give him something like this as it just doesn’t agree with him.”

Read more: The real cost of pugs, Frenchies and British bulldogs

Working out what type of pet food was best for Hank wasn’t easy, Lizy recalls.

“We basically got a whole lot of different pet food brands to see what he did and didn’t respond well to,” she says.

“We eventually worked out we had to feed him soft foods that are all natural with organic ingredients.”

Another major concern for Lizy and Markus is Hank’s tendency to choke, which has meant ruling out dry pet foods completely.

“He has a soft palate, which is a trait of his breed, mixed with allergies and epileptic seizures. Hank was eating dry dog food one day and some got stuck in his throat, which resulted in choking that brought on a seizure,” Lizy explains.

Lizy feels confident they’ve now worked out the best diet for Hank and that he’s getting all the nutrients he needs.

Wet Food Can Be More Filling

When your dog needs to shed a few pounds, some turn to wet diets as a solution. Because canned food has a much higher water weight than kibble, canned occupies more space in the bowl , and can provide an easy way to scale back on calories. Wet food also provides more moisture which helps with ease of digestion. Pay attention to serving size for your dogs weight to make sure theyre getting enough. For more tips and insights on your pudgy pet, read Help your pet lose weight the smart way.

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Dry Matter Basis Protein Calculator

Find these values on your pet food bag’s Guaranteed Analysis. Looking for another macronutrient? You can substitute ash, fat, or fibre in this equation to find these other actual values.

Crude Protein :

When compared using Dry Matter Basis, there is a difference of over 10% in protein content between the wet and dry food formulas of a single high-protein brand! THAT’s a big difference.

If you’re concerned about the protein content of your pet’s food, always calculate your dog food’s guaranteed analysis on a dry matter basis.

To learn more about the different types of dog food, check out Types of Dog food: A Helpful Breakdown.

Bpa In Canned Dog Food

There is one exception when it comes to canned food preservatives – BPA and BPS. These chemicals line most pet food cans, preventing the acidic contents from leaching metals from the can itself into the food over time.

In itself, this is a good thing. But BPA and BPS are known hormone disruptors and can have damaging effects on reproductive systems and the brain, also contributing to related side effects such as weight gain, and even major diseases and cancer.

Not all dog food cans contain BPA. Choose smaller cans. Some of these don’t require BPA in their lining. Or, choose those canned foods that are BPA-free. Make sure those cans don’t include BPS instead.

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Pros And Cons Of Dry Pet Food

Pros

Dry pet food can be a convenient option for pet owners as it can be bought in bulk, it lasts significantly longer than wet food, it can be stored easily and doesn’t require refrigeration. It can also be good for your pet’s dental hygiene some dry foods are specially formulated and shaped to clean teeth as they’re chewed.

In addition, the RSPCA says good quality dry foods tend to have more kilojoules and higher protein per unit than wet food, suggesting that you can feed your pet less due to the high calorie count.

However, Zito stresses that “the required quantity depends on the individual food and how it’s formulated. The guidelines for the individual product should be followed.”

Cons

Even though dry pet food will last longer than wet food, to ensure the product maintains its quality and flavour, it still needs to be stored appropriately and used within the specified time frame listed on its packaging.

Store dry food in airtight containers to avoid exposure to air and humidity, which can speed up degradation and increase the risk of bacterial contamination and mould.

And while all animals need access to fresh water, if your pet eats a predominantly dry food diet you’ll need to ensure they have ready access to water as they’ll drink more.

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So What About Dry Food

Many people find dry food to be more convenient and cost effective compared to wet food. The easier storage and transport of dry food reduces excess costs for manufacturers and distributors than wet food and these savings are generally passed on to the consumer. Many pet parents choose to only feed their pet dry kibble, which is perfectly fine provided they drink enough water to compensate for the lack of moisture in the dry food.

From a convenience perspective, dry kibble is definitely a winner. An open bag of food will last months and can be placed in a storage bin or be kept in the original bag at room temperature. In comparison, an opened tin of wet food only lasts a couple of days and must be refrigerated. Due to its moist formulation, wet food cannot be left in the bowl as long or bacteria will set up camp.

Perhaps the biggest advantage with dry food is it’s effect on dental health, as dry kibble can help your pooch with their oral hygiene. The scraping of dry food against the teeth removes built up tartar and plaque to prevent nasty dog breath, gingivitis and dental disease. For pets particularly prone to dental conditions, there are special dental care kibbles such as as Hills Science Diet Oral Care and Advance Dental Dog Food.

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Kibbles N Bits Homestyle Grilled Beef & Vegetable

At first glance, this recipe looks alright. Its promoted as having a culinary-inspired formula and is supposed to be loaded with proteins.

The texture crunchy kibbles with soft, meaty bits is also something that would definitely interest a pup. However, if you look closely at the label, youll see that the food is made up of low-quality ingredients.

Its not meat-based. Although its billed as a beef and vegetable recipe, the vegetables come first and there are more of them than necessary.

In fact, the main ingredients of the meal are corn and grains. The meat doesnt come in until the third slot. and its the only meat within the first eight ingredients of the recipe .

We dont usually have a problem with corn or grains, but this many? And its not only that. Theres corn syrup in the food. While corn syrup is not a dangerous ingredient, it has a high sugar content.

Its not necessary in dog food, and manufacturers only add it to enhance the flavor. If your pup is already struggling with obesity, then this sugar product makes the problem worse.

Lastly, were not a fan of artificial colors, and this food has plenty of it. Dogs arent tempted by colored foods, so the artificial hues are really intended to attract pet owners.

Recall Info: No food recall for this specific recipe although Kibbles n Bits has been involved in a recall for its canned foods back in 2018.

Comparing Canned And Kibble Food By The Ounce

When you consider 1353 calories , you can check canned food and kibble to find out how much of the food you would probably need to feed each day. We can use a food that has both canned and kibble food as an example.

Wellness Super5Mix Chicken Recipe contains 3,570 kcal per kilogram or 407 kcal per cup ME on an as fed basis .

• For dogs over 125 lbs: Add 1/4 cup per additional 10 lbs.
• For Puppies and Pregnant or Nursing Dogs: Feed 25% more than the amounts listed.

If your active dog weighs 50 pounds and needs 1353 calories per day, you would need to feed about 3 1/3 cups per day, at least to start. This amount could be adjusted as you observe your dogs condition. This is based on 407 kcal per cup, as stated by the company.

• When fed alone to adults, feed 3/4 to 11/4 cans per 15 lbs. of body weight per day.

If we use the calories as a guide, in order to provide your active 50 pound dog with 1353 calories per day you would need to give him 4 ¾ cups of canned food per day. Again, suggestions given by the dog food company are always that suggestions. You should observe your dog and see if he is gaining or losing weight and then adjust how much you are feeding him so that he stays lean and fit.

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What To Look For In Fresh Food

Most fresh food services are offered by subscription and delivered to your door. The best ones work with veterinary nutritionists to formulate a plan customized for your dog. They offer options in recipe choices, portion size, and frequency of delivery. They also provide easy-to-understand information about ingredients, feeding schedules, and how to keep the food fresh.

Making The Right Choice

There is no single right or wrong way to feed your dog. What matters most is that the food you choose is as healthy as possible and is a good match with your feeding philosophy.

If you feed your dog only canned dog food, give them opportunities to crunch on snacks that can help clean their teeth and satisfy their need for a good chew. Likewise, dogs that are fed dry food may occasionally enjoy a delectably meaty treat. Balancing out the crunchy with the yummy is just one more way you can provide the best possible care for your dog.

To help find the right foods for your dog, check out our Food-Finder Tool. With so many nutritious and delicious choices, your dog will have a hard time deciding which is their favorite.

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Should You Consider Giving Your Dog Both Dry And Wet Dog Food

Combining both dry and wet dog food means you can benefit from the budgetary and logistical benefits of kibble while providing your pup with the added flavor canned dog food brings.

Whether you opt for dry kibble only, a wet food diet, or a mixture of both, consistency is essential.

Its best to stick with a regular diet for your pet as any sudden change to your dogs diet can cause an upset stomach and result in your pup not eating their meals.

What Should I Feed My Puppy

All puppies are different and when it comes to feeding them, no one food is best. As your puppy grows, it may display signs of an allergy, so in this case feeding them a hypoallergenic diet.

As well as taking their individual needs into consideration, the size and breed of your dog are important factors when designing a diet. Due to the possible health risks, large-breed puppies should have diets with a lower fat and calorie content than those for smaller puppies.

Over the long term, experts disagree on whether feeding your dog dry food or wet food is best. There is as much debate on this subject as there is on which is superior: raw vs kibbledog food.

Where experts do agree, however, is that puppies have very particular nutritional needs because they are growing and developing so fast. Depending on their breed, dogs can reach adulthood in a speedy 9 to 24 months. As a result, young dogs need extra protein and essential vitamins, something adult dog food just cant give them.

Puppies also need different foods depending on their stage on development. So, while wet food might not suit your pooch forever, it can be very useful at various life stages.

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