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.
How Much Food Should I Feed My Dog Chart
The following chart should help you to determine how much you should feed your dog daily. Even as you go through the chart, you should keep in mind that the number of times you feed and the correct size of the food depend on the breed, size, type of food, activity levels, metabolic rate, and age. Many of the dog food labels come with a feeding guide, so it is essential to compare the following chart with what shows on the brand of food products you buy.
Daily feeding chart for 24 hours
| Dog Type |
| 1926 |
Blackwood 1000 Dog Food
Blackwood 1000 dog food has an ingredients list thats full of items that deliver no health benefits to dogs and can even be harmful to their health.
It also contains a lot of ingredients that are comprised of GMOs. Since many studies suggest that GMOs are not safe for human consumption, its certainly not a good idea to fill your dog with such foods daily.
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The Pros And Cons Of Wet Food
Wet puppy food offers a variety of benefits for dogs, including:
Most dogs find wet food more palatable than kibble. In fact, wet foods can be used as toppers to help encourage your picky puppy to eat his kibble.
Canned dog foods are typically made without artificial colors or preservatives.
Wet foods contain more water than dry foods, which keeps your dog feeling fuller than dry kibble that provides the same number of calories will. Wet foods high water content also has the added benefit of keeping your dog a bit more hydrated, which can be especially helpful if youre worried about dehydration in warmer climates.
The meats included in canned foods are often, yet not always, in a more natural state than those in kibbles.
Most wet foods are richer in protein and fats than dry foods, which tend to have more carbohydrate content.
Very long shelf-life while unopened.
However, wet food also presents a few problems. Some of the most notable include:
Canned foods are more expensive per calorie than dry foods are.
Canned foods are more of a hassle to open and prepare than dry foods are.
Canned foods cannot be left in your puppys dish for more than an hour or so before theyll spoil.
Unused portions of canned food must be refrigerated.
Very short shelf-life after being opened.
Wet foods can be very messy.
Wet Dog Food Vs Dry Dog Food
This article is written by Pet Circle veterinarian, Dr Carla Paszkowski, BVSc
With so much going on in our lives, we want things like our pet’s food to be convenient. One of the easiest ways to feed our pets is to simply purchase a big bag of dry food, as it provides food for weeks to or even months to come. But could this be detrimental to your pet’s health? Is wet food better than dry, or vice versa?
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Cons Of Wet Food For Puppy
- Wet food is more likely to stick to your dogs teeth. Daily toothbrushing is important for dogs that eat wet food to prevent tartar from building up and causing tooth decay and gum disease.
- Storage can be a hassle with wet dog food. Tins generally hold more than one serving, so they need to be covered and refrigerated to avoid spoiling. The tins need to be washed out well before they go in the recycling.
- If your pup is a messy eater, it is easier to sweep up dry kibble than wet dog food. Those enthusiastic little eaters can make a big mess!
Meals Help Teach And Maintain Clean House Habits
Simply put, if you dont know when food is going into the dog, its much harder to know when it will need to come out of the dog! This is especially important when initially housetraining a puppy or newly adopted dog, but it holds true throughout the dogs life.
When a dog is fed on a reasonably consistent schedule, its easy to determine his bathroom needs and develop a routine that is easy to follow. Even better than a set routine is to feed your dog in a window of time. This helps prevent stressing an anxious dog when life throws a curve ball and he cant be fed at the exact time hes used to it also helps prevent the creation of a clock-watching, demanding, reminding dog.
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Puppy Feeding Schedule: How Often To Feed Your Pup
Your puppys nutritional requirements not only mean that he should be given a different type of food than adult dogs, they also mean that your pup should be fed on a different schedule than adult dogs should.
For example, weaned puppies should typically be fed four times per day until they reach 12 weeks of age. It may be necessary to moisten the food of young puppies with a bit of water, but they should be able to handle crunchy kibble by about 9 to 13 weeks of age larger breeds are capable of making the switch more quickly than small breeds are.
Sometime between 3 and 6 months of age, youll want to provide the same amount of food each day, but youll want to split it up into three meals, rather than four. After another 6 months, you can further reduce the number of daily feedings to two.
Once your dog is about 12 months old, hell probably be ready for adult food. However, you should always consult with your vet before making the switch and stick with puppy food if you have any doubt.
Additionally, as when making any food change, try to do so gradually, by mixing increasingly large portions of the new food in with your dogs current food over a period of a week or so.
History Of Dogs Living On Just Dry Dog Food
When commercial dog food was first invented, it was the onlyoption on the market. About 30 years later, wet food was introduced to theconsumer. It seems that dogs were able to live happy, healthy lives with the mostbasic dry dog foods that have ever been on the market, so it seems that dogsare just fine living off of 100 percent dry food.
However, pet nutrition standards have changed a lot since 1890.Since then, dog foods have been made with better ingredients and more nutrients.Dry dog foods are now formulated to contain a certain percentage of protein andfats that are necessary for dogs to be their healthiest. This means that with acommercial dry dog food, you wont need to feed your dog supplements to be healthy.
When wet dog food was introduced, many people believed itwas a healthier option for pets. In reality, both types of dog food are goodoptions. It matters more what is right for your specific dog. You should speakto your vet about what food would be best for your dog. Dogs with dental problemsare often put on wet dog food, while dogs with other medical conditions may needdry food to stay healthy.
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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.
The Final Verdict: Dry Vs Wet Dog Food
There is no clear right or wrong answer regarding the wet vs dry debate, but most owners would probably agree that the benefits of wet food make it the preferred choice for those who can afford it and dont mind foregoing the convenience of dry kibble.
Nevertheless, the quality of the food you provide is undoubtedly more important than the amount of moisture in it, so focus on finding the best food for your puppy, no matter which type you decide to offer.
What kind of food do you feed your little pup? Do you prefer the convenience and low-cost of kibble, or do you like to spoil your little four-footer with canned foods? Does your dog have a preference? Let us know all about your experiences in the comments below.
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Is Wet Or Dry Food Better For Dogs
When trying to decide what to choose for your dog, you should first find a pet food that gives them excellent nutrition to fulfill their health needs. Their food should also be something they find appetizing. Wet food is a great way to give your dog a hydration boost, while dry food can support dental health. As wet and dry dog foods have many differing benefits, another option to consider is to feed a mixture of both to give your dog a well-rounded diet that targets all kinds of 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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Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food
Wet food. Dry food. How do you serve your dog theirs? Are you a combination feeder and like to give your dog a little bit of both types, everyday? Or do you pop a little bit of wet food on top as a treat? When it comes to your dogs food, it can feel like a minefield out there on the best this or best that.
Mixed feeding is really common so its good to know a little bit more about it, so you can make an informed choice between wet or dry dog food, or the whole kit and kaboodle.
The key is quality and any dog food has to have the right nutrients for your dog, however youre planning on serving it. That means looking at portion sizes, too, taking any changes slowly and finding the best wet food to mix in.
Is It Worth It To Buy Expensive Puppy Food
Premium food has higher nutritional density, so you can feed your dog less to achieve the same results. Also, premium foods have stable ingredient profiles the composition of bargain brands can vary from batch to batch.
The major dog-food companies invest heavily in product development and research, constantly upgrading formulas to keep up with their competitors. This means that feeding premium food puts you on the cutting edge of canine nutrition.
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Things To Think About When Switching To Wet Dog Food
- If youre thinking about switching to wet food, transition your dogs food gradually over several days, and slowly introduce him to wet food by feeding a little less of his dry food every day. If you immediately switch from dry food to wet food, your dog may have digestive problems.
- Unlike kibble, wet dog food cant be left out for long periods of time. Make sure to refrigerate any opened cans or leftovers.
- Some dogs are more prone to plaque and other dental issues when they eat wet food instead of dry. You may want to brush your dogs teeth regularly or give him a dental chew to help reduce tartar build-up.
The reality is that its completely your choice whether you want to feed your dog wet or dry dog food. The most important thing is to choose a food thats complete and balanced and appropriate for his age, size, and activity level. Looking for a wet dog food? to use our product selector to find a canned dog food for your dog.
Wet Vs Dry Dog Food: What Pet Parents Need To Know
Being a pet parent means facing a plethora of choices, and that can be confusing. Should you go with one of those shrink-wrapped dinners in the cooler at your favorite pet supply shop or is that mainline brand just fine? Talk to your fellow pet parents and youll find no shortage of passion as to which food is best for dogs. The following will examine the advantages of canned food and kibble, so you can choose the diet thats best for your beloved pet.
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Giving Your Dog The Best Mix
There is no right or wrong when it comes to feeding your dog. What is important is making sure the pet food you choose provides your dog with the right amount of nutrients to meet their needs. At Eukanuba, our super premium dry and wet formulas are all complete and balanced. As wet and dry diets have various individual benefits, mixed feeding can be a solution to satisfy your dog’s needs and also their taste buds.
Cons Of Feeding Wet Food To Dogs
Dry foods have been generally favored by dog owners for two main reasons: cost and convenience. Wet food is generally more expensive than dry, especially if this is what you are exclusively feeding. Plus, it’s messier and more time consuming to prepare. Many owners prefer to just scoop some dry food into a bowl than to open a can or package and spoon out the food.
Another reason dog owners tend to prefer dry food is the odor of it. Dogs may be attracted to the smell of wet food, but most dog owners find it quite unappealing.
Wet food spoils quickly if left out too long, so it’s not ideal for dogs that like to graze on their food for several hours. Plus, open containers of leftover wet food must be refrigerated so they don’t go bad.
Waste is another concern about wet food. A large bag of dry food creates much less trash than dozens of cans, pouches, or plastic containers.
Finally, there are some potential health concerns associated with wet food diets:
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How Is Wet Dog Food Processed
Wet food starts with grinding the protein sources, or meat ingredients. Then a gravy that contains vitamins, minerals, and grains is added. Once those are mixed, the food is cooked and sterilized to produce the canned product.
As a result, wet food has a much higher moisture content than dry food. You can see the percentage of maximum moisture on the label, under the Guaranteed Analysis section. A dry food might have around 10% moisture while a wet food might have something like 78% moisture .
The Content Is What Matters Not The Variety
The ingredients list on the packaging is more important in terms of choosing the right food for your dog than the actual variety. After all, nutrition plays a significant role in canine health. Your dog needs a high-quality food that provides everything it needs to meet its requirements and ensure healthy development. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer as to exactly what ingredients are needed. Every dog is different, therefore every dog needs different food. Individual factors like age, weight, activity level and state of health should definitely be considered when it comes to looking for the best food. In principle, a food made up of around 70% premium meat and approximately 30% vegetables as well as high-quality fats and oils is recommended for healthy adult dogs. Too much grain, preservatives, artificial flavour enhancers or even sweeteners like sugar have no place in a dog’s diet. So before you choose a variety of food, you’re best off first taking a look at the label.
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Should I Feed My 8 Week Old Puppy Wet Food
At 8 weeks old you can start feeding your pup wet dog food. Your puppy still has soft teeth, which can make wet food a better choice. Pups at this stage are finally transitioning from their mothers milk to solid food and wet dog food is perfect for this, as dogs often find it more palatable and easier to eat.
After this, once your puppys teeth have started to strengthen and harden, you can make the swap from wet to dry food, if you wish. When doing so, it can be helpful to soften the kibble by moistening it with water before feeding it to your puppy. Its also best to make the transition slowly, ideally over a 10-day period: dogs stomachs are sensitive and can suffer from sudden dietary changes.
There is some debate over whether dry kibble is better for good dog dental health. Some argue that the crunch is essential for developing strong and healthy teeth. Others, however, claim that the fact that dry food stays stuck to their teeth can create decay and other problems.
Once youre past the weaning stage, it really is down to personal choice both yours and your pups!