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.
What Are The Advantages Of Wet Food
Whilst dry food mainly brings advantages for the owner in terms of price, cleanliness and convenience, the advantages of wet food benefit the dog itself. Most dogs would probably opt for wet food if they could choose themselves, since wet food, more intense in smell and taste, simply tastes better to them. The high water content in particular has a positive effect: since the food already provides the body with a large quantity of liquid, it’s easier to cover a dog’s fluid requirements with wet food than with dry food. Hence, wet food is particularly recommendable for dogs that don’t drink much during the day.
For dogs that have a tendency to become overweight, wet food can also be the better choice at times, provided that the cause of the excess weight is that the dog loves eating. Dogs with a substantial appetite in particular often maintain a lower weight with wet food. Due to the lower energy content per portion, they can eat a great deal without exceeding their calorie requirements.
Dry Dog Food Disadvantages
A dry dog food diet isnt without its disadvantages. Here are some of the reasons that dry kibble might not be a good option for your pup.
Hard to Chew
The texture of dry kibble can be beneficial for some dogs, but for others, it can be painful to chew. Biting down on dry food can hurt dogs with dental issues like tooth decay or gum disease. It can also be difficult for dogs with certain facial structures or older dogs with missing teeth. Your dog might be showing signs of pain if you notice a refusal to eat or a struggle to chew hard food. A softer diet could be a better choice in these cases. Be sure to discuss with your vet if you notice your dog experiencing pain or an inability to eat.
Less Palatable
Dogs often find dry kibble less appetizing than wet dog food. Dry food tends to be less flavorful and appealing in comparison. This can be a problem if your dog is a picky eater. It may take a bit of experimenting to find a dry kibble that both you and your dog are happy with. Luckily, there are plenty of nutritious varieties and flavors on the market to choose from.
Low Fat
Dry dog food is often low in fat and higher in carbohydrates as part of its design. Active dogs will often need a higher fat diet. As the fat content increases in a dry food so does the cost. If youre feeding dry food for the cost savings alone and your dog requires a high-fat diet, then it might not be cost-effective to feed a strictly dry diet.
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Common Ingredients Found In Dry And Wet Food
It seems like veterinarians and dog experts are continually going back and forth on which type of food is better for your dog. However, regardless of which side of the food debate youre on, both wet and dry dog food have their advantages and disadvantages.
When it comes to ensuring that your dog has a nutritious, well-balanced diet its best to take a closer look at the ingredients in both types of food to determine which might be more beneficial to your dogs health.
Merrick Real Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe
If you are specifically looking for grain-free canine formula, then you can’t go wrong with this Merrick recipe.
It’s perfect for all breeds, ages, and sizes and is available in a variety of different flavors. We recommend the beef and sweet potato recipe as it is poultry-free .
Containing a whopping 38% protein and 15% fat, Merrick’s philosophy is that these two properties in combination with a host of vitamins and minerals will do wonders for promoting the overall dog’s health.
They are extremely transparent with regards to the ingredient composition, choosing only the best available products and containing no corn, wheat, soy or gluten ingredients.
This helps give us tremendous confidence in recommending the brand. At $60 for a 25-lb bag, this does fall into the premium category.
Whether the exceptional nutritional content is worth the increased price is up to you.
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There Are So Many Food Type Choices: Dry Canned And Semi
While feeding dogs does not need to be a mysterious process, it is easy to be overwhelmed with choices. It is logical to wonder which approach is best. Your veterinarian is the best source for a specific recommendation for a nutrient profile that best fits your dog’s needs. Beyond that, however, it is good to think about the advantages and disadvantages of the various formulations that are available.
Can You Add Water To Dry Dog Food
Adding water to dry dog food might seem like the best of both worlds and sometimes it could be beneficial for your dog. In their natural environment, long before they become domesticated, dogs were designed to eat wet food that contained anywhere from 70 to 90 percent moisture as Ive already pointed out earlier in this article dry Kibble typically contains about 10% moisture.
So, when a dog eats dry food theyre losing out on important fluids which can cause your dog to become dehydrated, especially if theyre not big water drinkers. If your dog doesnt drink a lot of water, theres a possibility that the Kibble could cause an upset stomach due to the digestive fluids being absorbed by the dry food. Adding water to your dogs dry dog food is a good idea if they otherwise dont consume enough water.
It will help your dog to stay hydrated, it will help to reduce bloating, and its going to be easier to digest and chew. If adding water to your dogs Kibble sounds like something you want to try I recommend mixing one cup of Kibble with one and a half cup of warm water and allow it to soak for 15 minutes. If you have a fussy eater, you can also swap the water for a low salt meat broth your dog will love the aroma and taste!
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Benefits Of Dry Dog Food Compared To Wet Dog Food
Dry dog food, or kibble, often offers certain benefits that wet food doesnt provide, such as:
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Dental health benefits: Dry food encourages dogs to chew their food, which aids in preventing tartar buildup and secondary periodontal disease.
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Convenience: Compared to wet food, dry diets are much easier to pre-portion, and they wont spoil if left out all day. This can be beneficial for dogs that are grazers.
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Financially feasible: Depending on the brand of food, dry diets may be less expensive to purchase and store long-term.
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Food enrichment: Kibble is easier to integrate into food puzzles and slow feeders that may improve a dogs quality of life through cognitive stimulation.
The Most Important Part Of Feeding Your Dog
The reality is that, for the majority of dogs, choosing between dry kibble or a wet canned diet makes very little difference to their health.
If you are choosing to feed a well established diet or either type then either is fine.
What you should be focusing on is how much you feed your dog and how you feed them.
There is an obesity epidemic sweeping through our pet population, with at least 56% of dogs being classified as overweight or obese.
The simple fact is that the impact of pet obesity is so much higher than that of deciding to feed a kibble or canned dog food. Instead of worrying about this decision, you should:
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Be clear about your dogs ideal weight – learn to BCS
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Work out how much to feed – use scales so not over-feeding
Added to this, boredom and a lack of stimulation have a huge impact on the behavior and mental wellbeing of a significant number of pet dogs. Sitting at home all day with nothing to do while the family is out at work or school is no fun at all .
How you feed your dog really can result in a happier as well as healthier individual. So ditch the bowl, and instead opt for a slow feeder, licki mat, snuffle pad, or other food puzzle .
Better yet, pick up a couple of different types and rotate them to keep your dog guessing and their interest levels high.
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Are Any Commercial Dog Foods Actually Complete & Balanced
While dog foods commonly claim to be “complete”, commercial dog diets can be lacking in essential nutrients, though you’re unlikely to know which ones. Since vitamins and minerals are not completely absorbed by the body, you can never really be sure how many nutrients your pet is actually getting.
And, while foods do contain a standard minimum amount of essential vitamins, they don’t contain maximums, which means your pet could be getting too many vitamins, which can be just as bad as nutritional deficiencies.
Feeding a varied diet to your pet can prevent minor nutritional deficiencies or overload that might take years to surface in symptoms.
While it can be impossible to tell whether a food truly is complete in itself, you can rest assured knowing that your dog is getting his nutrients from a variety of sources, so he’s less likely to suffer from too much or too little essential nutrients.
Dry Dog Food: Pros And Cons
The most popular dry dog food among puppy owners, also commonly referred to as kibble, is very convenient for the pup as well as the owner. Not only is it really easy to store and you can even carry it around with you. This type of dog food is also quite affordable which again adds to its overall appeal.
Due to the hard, dry texture of this food type, the food is denser than wet dog food. It is also because of this very reason that the teeth of your dog would be better protected as well, while also creating less mess. Exactly opposite to wet dog food, dry dog food can be stored for longer periods as you do not have to worry about them getting spoilt the moment you open them.
But then again, you have to be careful whenever you are purchasing dry dog food because the cheaper versions do contain a higher content of artificial flavors and preservatives. Having said this, if your puppy is really young, it may not be feasible to give them dry dog food. This is because of the difficulty that the pup’s face when they are chewing the food which may make them irritable or avoid the food altogether.
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Dry Dog Food Is Easy To Store
Dry dog food is generally sold in packets of various shapes and sizes. It is light, airy, and easy to store in a small kitchen corner.
You can store dry dog food for a long time after opening the packet because of added preservatives.
Just put the excess dry dog food in an airtight container after opening a packet, and it will be fresh for weeks, unlike wet dog food which you must finish within 2 to 3 days of opening the can.
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.
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What’s Wrong With Preservatives In Dog Food
But what’s the problem with preservatives? For one thing, many preservatives in cheaper pet foods are not naturally derived.
They’re non-foods that would never naturally occur in your pet’s diet. Most provide no other nutritional benefit to your pet’s food other than making it last a long time on the shelf.
Most of the time, a long shelf-life isn’t even a real convenience for you. Generally, you probably buy dog food and use it up within, at most, a few months. This benefit is for the pet food manufacturer and the pet store, instead.
They can have the same food stored in their warehouses, back rooms, and shelves for sometimes years before having to check for expiration dates and refresh their stock. Business-wise, the longer the shelf-life, the less money is lost through expired products that cannot be sold.
Other than providing no real benefit to you or your dog, preservatives may actually harm your pet. Some common preservatives, such as nitrates or nitrites, are known carcinogens.
There are other options out there. Choose foods with natural preservatives whenever possible, or go the no-preservative route with canned foods.
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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Is A Combination Of Wet And Dry Food Possible
Since both wet and dry food offer different advantages, the obvious conclusion would be that the best thing is to simply feed dogs a combination of the two. In principle there’s nothing against this, but you shouldn’t mix the two types of food and should always serve them at different times. Due to wet food’s high energy content, you should also make sure that the daily intake isn’t exceeded despite switching between wet and dry food.
When it comes to dogs that have a tendency to develop digestive problems, their owners should ideally choose just one type of food, because the to-and-fro between wet and dry food can lead to diarrhoea or constipation for sensitive stomachs. In general, combining the two types of food offers no advantages for the dog’s health, since both varieties allow it consume all vital substances. So if you’ve established that your dog likes the taste of one particular food and tolerates it well, feel free to stick with it!
Pro Pac Performance Puppy
This recipe is designed for puppies from weaning until the 12th month. Its also billed as an excellent feed for pregnant or nursing canines.
We dont find anything wrong with the ingredients because it starts with chicken meal, an animal protein. Ground yellow corn as the second ingredient may be a little bit off, but still not bad. Whats more concerning is the recent recall of this product.
The maker of this recipe is Midwestern Pet Foods, the same manufacturer of Sportsmix, Nunn Better, and Splash Fat Cat.
The company is currently embroiled in one of the worst pet food recalls to date concerning aflatoxin, a possibly fatal type of toxin that was found in Midwestern Pet Foods Sportsmix products.
Included in the recall are two Pro Pac recipes. This particular formulation and the Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk.
Recall Info: On January 11, 2021, and FDA alert was issued on the Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk, 40 lb. bags and Pro Pac Performance Puppy, 40 lb. bags manufactured in Midwestern Pet Foodss Oklahoma plant with expiration dates of July 9, 2022 or earlier.
This is an expanded recall that was issued out of caution since the Pro Pac recipes were produced in the same plant as the Sportsmix foods that have caused the deaths of more than 70 dogs and the illness of around 80 at least.
Problem Ingredients: none
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