Is it OK to mix wet and dry dog food?
Mixing of wet and dry pet food can be done but, you will have to take into your pet's health, their preference, and dietary needs too.
You will have to think about all those factors that you can determine to figure out what would be the best decision for your pet.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to feeding the dog. Mixing wet and dry pet food generally is OK. First, you have to take into the pet's health preferences and dietary needs.
Make sure the pet food provides the right amount of nutrients to their needs. Most dog owners are convenient with dry dog food because there are many health benefits to dry food for the dog. Feeding dogs, a dry food diet helps their teeth-related health.
What is Dry Food?
Dry Dog Food contains less than 11% water. Most of the dog's foods are dry and are available in seal pack bags; they can be preserved for a long time. Dry kibble contains pieces of dried meat, but they don't have high water content as compared to canned or pouched food.
Dry Food Benefits
Dry dog food is a little costly, but it is effective and lasts longer once it is opened, and is easier to feed and store than wet food. Dry food also helps to keep the dog's teeth clean by scraping off plaque as the food is chewed.
Dry food is easily available and it doesn't need special storage once it is opened. There are varieties of dry kibble with different types of shapes, sizes, textures, and flavors.
What is Wet Food?
Wet Dog Food is mostly more attractive as compared to dry food due to its texture. It is available in different flavors and sizes of meat chunks.
Dogs with no teeth have painful mouths, syringe feeding is needed for them, or for those who are weaning off milk will prefer to have wet food. Wet dog food is good for dogs that have a problem smelling due to breathing and lung-related disease.
Mix Dry and Wet Food
Mixing wet and dry dog food or wet and dry cat food is not a problem as long as both are of good quality and meet your pet's nutritional and other health requirements.
Quality wet and dry foods are made in such a way that they can provide your pet with all the protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
If your dog or cat suffers from any health problem and needs some particular type of diet, like wet food for kidney disease. Do not make any changes without prior discussion with your vet.
Benefits of Mixing Food
There are several reasons why pet owners may think about mixing wet and dry pet food.
Increases Acceptability to eat - Mixing wet food into dry food makes the diet more palatable for many pets. If your pet is not eating their dry food, then wet food may act as a sauce for them and it helps them to eat their food.
Water Intake - Moisture content is the main difference between wet food and dry pet foods. Dry food contains only about 10% water while wet food usually contains 68 - 78% water.
If your pet needs little extra water, giving them some wet food is a better and simple way to increase their water intake.
Helps with Weight Management - Adding wet food to your pet's diet also helps in losing weight. Extra water makes pets' stomachs full after their meals. So they eat less food and feel fully satisfied and happy.
Adding in some dry food in their diets provides extra calories for dogs who struggle to eat wet food to meet their energy requirements. Dry food contains more nutrients but a very little quantity of moisture.
Cost-Effective - You may be aware of making changes from dry to wet food because wet food is generally more expensive than dry food of similar quality and quantity.
Wet food is very beneficial for your pet. You can also feed wet food and dry food mixed in comparison to feeding them just wet food alone.
Mixing When You’re Pet Is on a Prescription - If you want to mix foods with your pet, if your pet is on a prescription diet then you must use only the prescription diet in both wet and dry foods.
If your dog is on dry dog food due to a food allergy, you should only mix it with canned dog food, or the effect of the prescription diet may be less.
Conclusion
Most of the pets may not be getting enough water throughout the day; wet food can provide an added dose of hydration because of its high moisture content.
Before mixing, wet and dry foods are on a prescription diet, must use only the prescription diet in both wet and dry forms.
Adding some dry food can provide extra calories for dogs who struggle eating with enough wet food to meet their energy needed.
The quality of wet and dry foods with all the proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals nutrients both options are of high quality and pets nutritional and other health needs for dogs to need to grow and do well.
The texture of dry kibble encourages the dog to chew before they swallow which improves their digestion and also helps to clean their teeth. Some owners feed their dog's wet food. Wet food has rich, meaty smell dogs are attracted to eat their meals.
Published By: Admin
Published On: 10-September-2021