What Is Best Dry Or Wet Food For Dogs

Natures Variety Instinct Raw Boost Grain

Best Dry Dog Food Overall: Nothing beats raw dog food when it comes to nutritional quality but, unfortunately, it is too expensive and too inconvenient for most dog owners. If you want to give your dog the nutritional benefits of raw food with the convenience of dry food, consider this Natures Variety Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Chicken Recipe. This recipe features high-protein kibble and contains freeze-dried raw bites for a boost of flavor and nutrition. Made only with wholesome, natural ingredients this recipe is supplemented with probiotics for digestion, omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and antioxidants for strong immunity. Overall, it contains a whopping 37% protein, 20.5% fat, and 4% fiber.

• Pros: High-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw bites, real chicken as first ingredient, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, probiotic supplements, plenty of omega fatty acids, 37% protein and 4% fiber
• Cons: Expensive to feed as a staple diet, may be too high in fat for some dogs

Comparison Of Dry Vs Wet Dog Food

Okay, so now have a better understanding of both wet and dry dog food. However, if youre still confused as to which food will be the best choice for your dog I have pulled out all the information and added it to this easy-to-read comparison table.

You should be able to clearly identify the benefits of both types of food.

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.

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Whats Good About Wet Food

Although dry food might be a more popular choice, some owners will choose to feed their dog a wet diet to better please fussy eaters and give their dog an added hydration boost. As wet food has a rich, meaty aroma, picky dogs can be more enticed to eat their meals. In the case of those pets that may not be getting enough water throughout the day, wet food can provide them with additional hydration because of its high moisture content.

Can My Puppy Easily Chew Dry Dog Food

Most puppies can easily chew small-sized dry dog food. However, some young ones may find it difficult and require you to soften the dog food before eating. To soften, add a few tablespoons of warm water in the bowl and set aside for a few minutes to allow the food to soften. If your dog is not allergic to chicken or beef, you can also add warm broth for softening the food for your precious pups.

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Victor Classic Dry Dog Food

Rating:

Victor Hi-Pro Plus is one of 4 kibble recipes included in our review of the Victor Classic product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Beef meal, grain sorghum, chicken fat, pork meal, chicken meal
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Other recipes: Chicken, puppy, active sporting dog formula and more
• Price: $

Victor Hi-Pro Plus derives the bulk of its meat protein from beef meal. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 22% fat and 37% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.

An affordable, all life stages kibble recently added to our budget-friendly dog foods list. Highly recommended.

Sample buyer reviewI have 5 active dogs of all different ages. Its been a struggle to find a quality, decently priced food that kept a good weight on all of them and didnt mess with their allergies. Theyve been on this food since April and its been amazing! No bad reactions when switching to Victor, no allergies, and they are all a good weight. Highly recommend.

Rating:

Annamaet Ultra is one of 7 kibble recipes included in our review of the Annamaet product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken meal, brown rice, chicken fat, whole dry eggs, herring meal
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Other recipes: Puppies, salmon, small breed, senior, weight loss and more
• Price: $$

Especially popular with sporting dog professionals. Enthusiastically recommended.

A Recipe For Healthy Muscles And Joints

Chewy

If you have a wannabe lap dog thats over 50 pounds, you need a specialized dog food formula thats designed to maintain lean muscles, healthy joints and optimal body condition. Enter the Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Shredded Blend Dry Dog Food. Featuring chicken as the first ingredient, it combines hard kibble with tender, meaty shreds that keep your big boy coming back for more. Its also fortified with probiotics, prebiotic fiber, glucosamine and EPA to support digestive, immune and joint health and overall mobility. And if you like to switch off between dry and wet food, you can also opt for the bundle, which includes a 34-pound bag of dry dog food and 12 cans of wet dog food.

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What Causes Diarrhea And Loose Stools In Dogs

There are several possible causes for loose stools and diarrhea in dogs. First of all, a soft stool doesnt necessarily mean diarrhea. Loose stools from diarrhea are more watery or very soft. Some loose stools are just not firm enough to be considered a healthy poop.

Diarrhea is usually caused by the consumption of toxic and unhealthy food like rancid food, while soft stools are normally the product of a poor-quality diet, insufficient fiber, too much fat, or food sensitivities and intolerances.

Healthy dog stool looks firm but not dry. A dry stool typically means constipation, which is also an unhealthy situation for your dog.

According to the American Kennel Club , there are 12 common causes for a dogs loose stools, namely:

Change in diet

It normally takes a few days for a dogs gut system to adapt to new proteins, for instance, if you shift from chicken to lamb, or beef to fish. The best way to transition to the new food is to gradually change the proportion of old food and new food in about a weeks time. A sudden shift to unfamiliar food could result in loose stools.

Food intolerances

Some dogs are food intolerant to some foods, which can cause unhealthy poop. The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance caused by milk, yogurt, and other dairy products.

Food Allergies

An allergic reaction to food could trigger diarrhea or at least provoke the dogs GI tract, which could result in loose stools.

Parasites

Dietary Indiscretion

Poisonous substances or plants

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.

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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.

Should I Feed My Dog Wet Or Dry Food

What should I feed my precious pet, whats best for them wet food or dry food, what do they prefer? The best option for your furry friend may lie somewhere in the middle.

Wet and dry pet foods come with their own sets of advantages, and it can be difficult to decide which to feed your cat or dog. A combination of the two offers the best of both worlds for some owners.

Dry food is convenient and the feed of choice for many pet owners. It can be left out longer, is more affordable and easier to store, plus its better for your animals dental health than wet food, as the animal must crunch the biscuits, which helps to clean plaque off the teeth. Some brands are better than others when it comes to dental care, so talk to your vet if this is a concern for your pet.

Whether you choose to feed wet or dry is largely a matter of preference to be battled out between owners and pets. The few exceptions to this relate to illness, such as kidney disease and urinary tract disease, in which case your vet will provide feeding advice.Combination feeding allows you to reap the benefits of both diets, and its simpler than you may think there really is no right or wrong way to do it. For example, many owners who feed twice daily use one type of food for each meal. If your pet is a grazer, you might like to feed biscuits in the morning, then leave them out all day.

Combination feeding is simpler than you may think there really is no right or wrong way.

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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.

How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Dog

Determining how much wet food to feed your dog is a processNOT a one-and-done decision.

Since the size and activity level of every dog is unique

And because every wet food contains a different number of calories per can

Its best to start with the recommended feeding amount printed on the label. Then, adjust that amount up or down to keep your dog at her ideal weight.

Heres an example:

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Iams: Proactive Health Senior With Slow Cooked Chicken & Rice

Top Ingredients: Sufficient Water for Processing, Meat By-Products, Chicken, Chicken By-Products, Brewers Rice, Wheat Flour

There are many reasons why senior dogs become picky eaters. They may not be able to digest as well as they used to, and their teeth and sense of smell arent top-notch anymore. This formula by IAMs proactive health keeps all those factors and mind and gives your dog a palatable meat that can also fulfill their dietary requirements.

It promotes good muscular and bone health in seniors while keeping their coat shiny and healthy. All the amazing ingredients are slow-cooked to avoid loss of flavor and nutrients.

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!

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Weaning And The Journey To Solid Food

Weaning refers to the natural process where a puppy goes from solely surviving on their mothers milk to eating solid foods. Its a process that begins between the age of 3 4 weeks and takes several weeks to complete. Puppies are fully weaned when they reach 8 10 weeks old.

To transition from milk to solid:

In most scenarios, your dog would have already been weaned off milk by the time they come to live with you. If they arrive shortly after having been weaned, its best to start by feeding them food that is easy for them to chew and digest.

While you can feed your puppy moistened and mushed up dry food at this stage, wet food can be a better and more convenient choice.

Buying Guide For Best Low Fat Dog Foods

In the above portion of our review, we mentioned various best dog food for weight loss for pet owners. We need to provide essential nutrients and vitamins for dogs for their growth and keep an eye on their weight. Dogs could face specific health issues if their weight increased more than necessary. And that is why low-fat foods come into the picture. However, besides picking one product from the above list, there are some other things to know. From what exactly is low-fat food and brands famous for supplying those meals to factors that we need to consider while buying the food pack, here comes this guide.

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Best For Sensitive Tummy: Hills Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food

Source: hills pet nutrition

This is food for dogs with sensitive stomachs. If your pooch has any gastrointestinal or digestive system problems, this canned food is perfect for them. Its main ingredient is easily digestible chicken, and it contains prebiotic fiber which supports a balanced microbiome.Hills Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food also has vitamins that promote skin nourishment.

As mentioned, this recipe contains chicken and chicken meal. Chicken is well-known nutritious meat that supplies protein, fat, and other essential nutrients to dogs. On the other hand, chicken meal is the result of water being removed from chicken to produce a highly-dense protein powder. Meat meals contain 4 times the amount of protein and are a good source of nutrients.

In addition, it also contains yellow peas and cracked pearled barley. Yellow peas and cracked pearled barley are a good source of carbs, fiber, and protein. Its high in vitamin A, B6, C, K, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc.

While its true that this is a nutritious recipe, it actually contains three controversial Ingredients: Brewers rice, chicken liver flavor, and pork liver flavor. However, dont let this discourage you! Despite that, this recipe has no controversial preservatives that will cause your dog more harm than good.

Dog Food Standard Nutrition

First thing first, you should always ensure that your canine companions nutritional needs are perfectly fulfilled by the blend you choose for them. The factors mentioned above will help you determine the specific nutritional needs of your dog.

Dogs require different ranges of nutrients in varying quantities over different life-stages. What you must feed your puppy will be distinctive from what your adult canine needs. Similarly, your super-active working dog will have a different nutrient profile requirement while you need to be very specific about what you feed your senior dog. The best part is that you get a handful of options where the formula is suitable for all life stages and different breeds. This is particularly a great benefit for parents of several different kinds of dogs.

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