It is entirely acceptable to feed your dog a pure kibble diet. Or you can mix their diet up with some cooked or raw meat, fish, vegetables and rice.
Should you mix wet and dry dog food? Because both wet and dry diets contain all the nutrients your furry friend needs, mixing foods isn't a necessity for most dogs in good health. However, if you have the time and money, go for it! By mixing wet and dry you get the best of both worlds!
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. As we've said time and again when discussing training techniques, breed standards and best dog parent practices, every pup is an individual.
Adding whole foods to provide natural vitamins and minerals lets your dog's body pick and choose what it needs. So, to help your dog get extra, absorbable n, fresh fruits and veggies are great things to add to kibble. Try adding some blended or lightly cooked fruits and vegetables to your dog's bowl.
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.
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.
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.
Per calorie, dry kibble has both a lower volume and weight than canned wet food, making it easier to store. Bags of kibble require less packaging than cans of food, leading to less garbage created. Many types of toys for both cats and dogs make use of kibble or dry extruded treats.
Fortunately for pet owners, dogs are just fine eating dry dog food. While many pets prefer wet dog food, because it is more palatable, that doesn't mean that dry food isn't a healthy option for dogs.
The optimum diet for most pets will be a combination of wet and dry foods. That said, so long as your dog drinks enough water, a solely dry food diet is fine.
Canned food is more expensive per energy calorie than kibble due to the high water content and the packaging. Another disadvantage to canned dog food is that for some dogs, canned food may contribute to periodontal disease.
One of the main benefits of feeding your dog dry food is better dental health. The kibble pieces in dry food help get rid of plaque and bacteria on your pup's teeth that can lead to dental disease. Wet food is usually made with fewer preservatives since it comes in a sealed can, so it doesn't last as long.
Dry Food: Pros – easy storage and feeding, more energy dense, lower cost, dental benefits. Cons – lower palatability, more grains, more likely to contain preservatives.
Dogs should eat at least two meals each day, about 12 hours apart. But a breakfast, lunch, and dinner schedule is an equally great option. If more than 12 hours elapses between meals, the stomach can become hyperacidic causing nausea.
Dry dog food only contains around 20% water, so they will need to drink more water on a dry diet. The rough guide is that your dog should drink 40-60ml per kilo of body weight per day, and this is the same for puppies and dogs of any age.
If you can see or feel the ribs and they don't seem to have any fat on them your dog is probably underfed. If your dog is losing patches of hair there may be an issue with the nutrition. Go talk to your veterinarian to determine if your pet is having issues with their nutrition.
Many dog foods contain fish because it is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. But can dogs eat tuna? The answer is no. You shouldn't feed your canine companion the saltwater fish because it could lead to a number of different health problems.
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.
In many ways, canned dog food can be superior to kibble. They typically contain more meat protein than their dry counterparts. And they're made with fewer carbohydrates, too. Plus, due to their air-tight packaging, canned dog foods contain no synthetic preservatives.
Additionally, the dogs fed a fresh whole food diet produced up to 66% less poop than when eating kibble.
Some dogs become bored with the smell, flavor, and texture of their food. Change out one ingredient, such as swapping any chicken-based food for fish or lamb. You can also add fresh ingredients to the dog's kibble. Both steps may awaken those sensitive noses and make an old dish more exciting.
By kicking up dirt afterward, they're compounding the scent of the bathroom along with the pheromones coming from their feet glands to create one strong scent. In addition, the disturbed grass also serves as a visual clue to other dogs that they're walking on someone else's territory.