Whatever the reason, pets often enjoy wet food more than dry. So, if you have a sick, elderly, or underweight animal that needs encouragement to eat, wet food (either on its own or mixed into kibble) could be a good option. Some other benefits of wet food include: Easily eaten by animals with no or few teeth.
Generally speaking, wet food is better for dogs than dry food. Wet food has fewer carbohydrates, which are difficult for dogs to digest, and more water, which keeps dogs hydrated.
The reality is that it's completely your choice whether you want to feed your dog wet or dry dog food. The most important thing is to choose a food that's complete and balanced and appropriate for his age, size, and activity level.
If you're feeding dry foods like kibble or baked, soak it!
Mammals are meant to get their hydration at least partially through eating, and eating moist food makes digestion easier! It can also slow them down, and improve palatability (makes it taste better).
Kibble is not unsafe to feed your dog, however, this type of diet may not work or agree with every individual. Some dogs prefer eating a wet or a tinned diet just as us humans prefer eating certain types of foods. In addition, if your pet has complex medical needs, there may not be a dry food formulated to suit them.
No. Dogs actually have fewer taste receptors compared to humans. That means they have less of an urge to eat something different every day. So your dog will not get bored of eating the same food every day.
Indeed, the statistical study showed that dogs fed with industrially processed food live an average of 10.4 years, while dogs fed with home-made food can reach an average age of 13.1 years.
Soaking the food softens it, and so eases the initial work-load of the digestive enzymes which may well be struggling during illness or a period of recovery.
Adding water to your dog's food bowl when feeding a dry kibble will improve the rate of digestion. Hydrating a dog's stomach contents is a major assist in digestion by starting the breakdown of food particles.
Adding water to dry dog food is less likely to cause bloat in dogs although they can bloat on any type of food. However, causing kibble to expand in water first decreases the risk. Don't allow your dog to drink excessively after a meal, gulp his food, or exercise him for an hour after feeding.
Wet entrees are also less processed than kibble but much less expensive than raw diets. Contrary to the myths around wet entrees, dogs can enjoy them every day without worry of upsetting your pet's gastrointestinal system, especially if you stick to high-quality brands.
The vet-proven advantages of air-dried food
Since air-dried food comes naturally packed with the vitamins and minerals dogs need to stay well both mentally and physically, it's a good way to keep their behaviour under control. Especially if your dog is known to be excitable or aggressive.
Many vets recommend kibble overall because a lot of big-name companies are paying them to push their product, and that's just as simple as that. And it's convenient for a person to grab some dry kibble, put it in a bowl, and let their dog eat it instead of letting that thaw, natural diet on their counter.
You can choose your own ratio of dry to wet food, but we generally recommend two thirds dry kibble to one third wet food.
It usually takes 10-15 minutes to soak puppy food enough for it to loosen and soften. This makes it easier for young puppies to chew as they are only just developing their teeth. Make sure if you have used hot water that it is cool enough to give to your puppy – this might take longer than 10-15 minutes.
The data shows that dogs who ate JustFoodforDogs fresh food absorbed more nutrients and consumed a larger volume of food (as-fed) than when on a diet of processed kibble. Additionally, the dogs fed a fresh whole food diet produced up to 66% less poop than when eating kibble.
Studies show some dry food choices are especially bad. Kibble that has fat in the first 4 ingredients increases your dog's risk by 170%. (This is likely because fat slows stomach emptying.) Kibble that contains citric acid increases bloat risk by 320% if you moisten it before feeding.
Is One Type of Food Better Than the Other? As long as your pet's nutritional needs are met, it doesn't really matter if he or she eats store-bought or homemade food. Unfortunately, too often, homemade food lacks key nutrients.
It Can Cause Digestive Problems
A dog's digestive system is different from a human's. Typical human food is much too rich and fatty for a dog to properly digest; eating it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and even more severe conditions like pancreatitis.
How Long Can a Dog Go Without Food? Dogs can usually go three to five days without food, however, this is not ideal. If your dog has gone two days without food, it is highly recommended you call a veterinarian if you haven't already. More important than your dog eating is their water intake.
Usually something like a small splash of gravy or even a crumbled piece of meat will do it - and a lot of people say that just a little warm water works, as it helps to bring out the smell of the fats and oils to make your dog more interested in it!