Should I Give My Dog Wet Or Dry Food
When it comes to dog food, its easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options out there.
Picking a brand is tough enough, but making a decision between wet and dry dog food can feel even harder.
Is one healthier than the other? Is one tastier than the other? What should you really get your BFF ?
The Dodo spoke with Dr. Cristina Bustamante, an associate veterinarian with Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Florida and founder of Dr. B Vet, to answer all your burning questions about the debate of wet vs. dry dog food.
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 |
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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.
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Should I Feed My Dog Wet Or Dry Food
Should I feed my dog wet or dry food is a common question that customers often ask us. But there is no one right answer because both wet and dry dog food have their own unique qualities that are beneficial to dogs. A dry dog food does help remove plaque and tartar from a dogs teeth. It is also less expensive than canned food. Canned dog food however, contains less fillers and preservatives than dry dog foods.
Most canned dog foods also contain a higher grade of nutrients and are higher in protein than dry food. Wet foods taste great to dogs, which means they will eat every speck of food you put in their feeding dish.
The main benefit to feeding your dog a dry food diet is that it is beneficial for its dental health. Eating dry food kibble helps strengthen a dogs jaw muscles in addition to removing some, but not all, of the plaque and tartar from a pets teeth. Wet food does not provide the abrasive action that helps clean the teeth.
But what if you have a new puppy? Should you be feeding it wet food or dry food? One of the most important responsibilities of raising a puppy is to provide the best quality dog food that will supply all the nutrients needed for the puppys growth and maintenance. Growing puppies need more protein than adult dogs to support their growing muscles and organs.
So, were back to the question, Which is better, dry dog food or canned?
Is Cesar Dry Dog Food Being Discontinued
CESAR Dry will be discontinued in Spring 2020. And we know well be missed by many adorable dogs out there. For that, we sincerely apologize. As you transition your dog to a new food, our experts at BANFIELD Pet Hospital recommend you change their food gradually, mixing in the new food with the old.
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Cons Of Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food
Since wet food is more expensive than dry dog food, mixing the two adds an expense to mealtime in comparison with only feeding dry. It also requires refrigeration of the wet food after it is opened if not all of it is used in one meal. Plus, it can be smellier than dry food alone, creates more waste with the small cans and pouches that house the wet food, and may provide less dental benefits than a strictly dry food diet.
Finally, if a dog doesn’t finish the mixture of dry and wet food within a few hours, the dry kibble will get soggy and the wet food will get crusty and could spoil so it cannot be saved and, consequently, may create more waste.
There is no ‘best’ option when it comes to wet and dry food. Cost, storage, ease of feeding, medical issues, physical restrictions, accessibility of food types, pickiness of the individual dog and more may play into your decision as to whether you feed only wet or dry food or a mixture of both.
How Much Should I Feed My Dog
Dog obesity is a growing concern in the veterinary community and has been linked to many health problems in dogs. Luckily for our pets, we are usually more disciplined about controlling their diets than we are about controlling our own. Knowing how much to feed your dog and what healthy dog weight looks like can be tricky. Many owners accidentally overfeed their pets, which is why it is important to take your dog in for regular checkups and to talk with your vet about appropriate portions. The guidelines on the back of the bag are just that guidelines. Some dogs may require more than the recommended amount, whereas others require much less. Activity level, time of year, nursing, illness, and more factors can all impact how much a dog needs to eat. Dog people will often advise that you should feed the dog thats in front of you instead of strictly adhering to dog food serving size guidelines that may or may not be exactly what your dog needs.
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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.
There Are Actually 3 Puppy Food Options: Wet Dry And Semi
All dog food is essentially comprised of the same basic stuff: Some proteins, some fats, some carbs, some water, and a tiny bit of other stuff that doesnt matter at the moment .
The relative amounts of each differ from one food to the next, but the primary way by which wet, dry, and semi-moist foods differ relates to their water content.And, as Im sure is already painfully obvious, wet foods have a bunch of water, dry foods dont, and semi-moist foods fall somewhere in between.
Simply put:
- Wet foods are typically canned, but they can also come in individually sealed packages or tins. The terms wet food and canned food are often used interchangeably .
- Dry foods are usually packaged in big waxed paper bags, although some recipes are packaged in cardboard boxes. Dry foods are also called kibble.
- Semi-moist foods generally resemble a ground meat product, although it can also be formed into long, spaghetti-like strands. It is usually packaged in individually proportioned plastic bags.
Generally speaking, the three types of food vary along a somewhat consistent gradient. This means that semi-moist foods occupy a middle ground between the two extremes. Given this, and the fact that semi-moist foods are much less popular than the other two varieties and often expensive, well be concentrating on wet and dry foods from here on out.
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What Is The Healthiest Wet Cat Food
Read on for the best canned cat foods.
- Best Overall: Wellness Complete Health Turkey & Salmon Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food.
- Best for Weight Gain: Tiki Pets Tiki Cat Luau Wet Food Salmon.
- Best Kitten: Purina Fancy Feast Grain Free Pate Wet Kitten Food.
- Best for Seniors: Purina Pro Plan Senior Canned Wet Cat Food.
Pros Of Wet Food For Puppy
- Puppies will show a lot of enthusiasm for wet dog food. It has a stronger scent than dry. If your pup is easily distracted from their bowl at mealtime, wet food should hold their attention. You are not likely to see any leftovers.
- Wet puppy food offers your dog more hydration. If your dog is extremely active and not drinking much water, wet food can increase their moisture intake.
- If your pup seems insatiable and is always actively looking for more food, or gaining weight by eating too much, wet food might help. Dogs feel fuller after a meal of wet food because of the higher moisture content.
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Wet Vs Dry Dog Food: Whats The Difference
The main difference between wet and dry dog food is, obviously, the texture.
But aside from that, theyre actually pretty similar.
Generally, for healthy dogs, one type is not better than the other, Dr. Bustamante told The Dodo. Dogs can be healthy by eating either wet or dry, or a combination of both. Many dogs eat kibble with wet food as a topper.
But they each have some pros and cons.
How Much Canned Food Should You Feed A Dog Per Day
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Whether you are a rookie pet parent or a seasoned one, deciding how much food to give your pup can be confusing.
Since dogs cant communicate with words, it is hard to tell whether they are underfed, appropriately fed, or overfed.
Most pet owners just wing it hoping they are giving their furry friends proper nutrition for their bodies.
If you are among the long list of pet parents who are confused about how much canned food to feed a dog per day, keep readingwe have discussed the topic in detail including how canned food compares with dry food.
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Why The Right Canned Food Matters
Like human beings, nutrition has a direct impact on the quality of life of a dog.
Too little food and your fur baby will experience deadly nutritional deficiencies.
Too much and he will develop a host of health issues including obesity, labored breathing, osteoarthritis, congestive heart failure, cancers, shortened years, skin disorders, and more.
Giving your pet the right amount of food will boost his optimal health and improve their quality of life.
Switching To Wet Food
Many dogs will not hesitate to readily devour canned food. You should experience no problems getting your pet to accept a dog feeding routine involving canned dog food. Canned food is higher in protein. The richness of the food might upset your dog’s stomach. For the first week, feed a mixture of canned food with your pet’s dry food to allow the body to adjust. As the week progresses, increase the amount of canned food and decrease the dry food.
Once your pet is only eating canned food, you might discover that he/she begs for more food between meals. Snacks between meals cause obesity in dogs. Always leave fresh water out for your animal. While canned food offers higher water content, dogs require fresh water throughout the day for optimal health.
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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:
What Is The Best Time To Feed The Dog
Another question that some pet owners ask, especially those keeping dogs for the first time, is whether dogs should eat at the same time as humans. The times you choose to feed, the dog depends entirely on your preferences. However, you can go with some of the most common feeding times that many dog owners practice.
If you are feeding the dog two times a day, the best feeding hours will be around 7 am and 6 pm. Giving your dog this space between the meals ensures that the system digests the food entirely as it needs between 4 to 6 hours to do so. Hunger signals start to take place between 8 and 10 hours for a dog that feeds twice a day.
For senior and puppy dogs, the feeding schedule should have less number of feeding hours in between. If you feed the dog once a day, the most appropriate time would be in the evening. Feeding in the evening allows the nutrients in the meal to work through the system as the dogs rest at night in preparation for energy shedding the following day.
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What To Look For In Your Dogs Food
In general I recommend feeding your pet a commercial dog diet that is cooked and contains grains, Dr. Bustamante said.
You should also look for food from companies that are serious about testing their food and making sure the quality is up to par.
I recommend feeding a diet made by reputable companies that employ full-time veterinarians/nutritionists and that make recipes based on science, Dr. Bustamante explained.
It makes sense that youd want vets in on the food-making process, since they know whats actually good for your pup.
Your own vet might also recommend specific ingredients or even brands, especially if your dog needs to be on a special diet for things like weight management, urinary tract issues or a sensitive stomach.
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.
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Best Dog Food For Puppies
The nutritional needs of dogs vary throughout their life. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and senior dogs have their own nutritional considerations. Most dog food companies carry specially formulated puppy foods for each stage of a dogs life, making it easier to narrow down your choices. If you are concerned about which is the best dog food for your dogs life stage, consult your veterinarian to see what stage food is appropriate for your dog.
Your puppy requires a different nutrient balance than an adult dog. This is especially true for large breeds. Feeding a large breed puppy food can help, as their growth needs to be monitored carefully to prevent bone and joint problems. Other puppies do well on both puppy food and food labeled for all life stages. The best food for your puppy depends on your puppys size and breed. Always consult your veterinarian for recommendations on puppy feeding, and advice on how to switch puppies to adult dog food.
Wet Food Contains Additional Moisture
As the name implies, wet food contains more moisture than dry food. This is helpful for pups who don’t drink enough water and are prone to dehydration. It can also be important for dogs who have kidney issues. If you think switching to wet food might help with your pup’s medical condition, talk to your vet before making dietary changes.
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