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Adding water to dry dog food is one of the easiest and affordable ways to incorporate more healthy habits into their daily lives! There are many great benefits associated with adding a bit of water to dry dog food like kibbles.
We all know how vital it is to drink enough water throughout the day, and our pets are no exception. Adding water to our pets’ food is a simple, almost cost-free way to guarantee that they remain healthy. The advantages of adding a little water to their bowl are too significant to overlook. First, here are a few do’s and don’ts when adding water to your dog’s dry food.
Adding Water to Dry Dog Food: Do’s and Don’ts
While mixing some water into your dog’s food may seem pretty straightforward, there are certainly a few questions that are sure to arise when you first get started. These are a few things that you should do when starting to mix your dog’s water with their dry food.
Mixing Canned and Dry Pet Food Can Be Great
Adding canned food to dry food is a great option to consider as you begin to add moisture and taste to your dog’s meal. Canned food contains a fair volume of water, check the contents on the label as it varies from one recipe to another. This also allows you to buy a variety of foods that are much kinder to your budget.
As always, you should consult with your veterinarian about supplementing your dry dog food with a portion of canned food. This is to ensure that the mixed food meets his or her nutritional requirements, as well as making sure that the proper dry to wet food ratio is met for each meal.
If You’re Using Dry Kibble, Consider Adding Some Water
Dry kibble is a favorite food of many dogs and other pets. However, if your pet has lost interest in the meal, it may be time to add some “gravy”, aka water. It’s also really simple and costs almost nothing!
To moisten and enhance the flavor of the pet food, simply pour about a quarter cup of filtered water over the top of the bowl of kibble. This is particularly helpful for dogs that don’t meet their recommended water intake throughout the day, as they are prone to dehydration.
Consult your veterinarian to see if adding water to your pet’s diet might be beneficial.
If Your Dog Is a Picky Eater, Then Mix It Up!
Shape, texture, and aroma are three of the most significant aspects of pet food that tempt your dog to dig in!
Offer your pet a variety of foods with varied forms, textures, and/or scents to mix things up a little. You might just be astonished to learn how much your dog enjoys the adventure of eating something that is a little more surprising to their palette!
What You Should Avoid When Adding Water To Dog Food
Even though adding water to your pup’s dry food is usually harmless and doesn’t induce any unwanted side effects, there are still a few things that you should keep in mind or avoid when taking on this new routine.
Don’t Start Mixing Without Talking To Your Dog’s Vet
Many pet foods are designed to cater to a specific life stage, lifestyle, and, in some cases, specific health conditions. Mixing foods at random without taking this into account might have the potential to lead to undesirable or harmful outcomes.
A few of these include creating unwanted weight gain, overexposure to particular vitamins and minerals, as well as some other health effects. Instead of guessing, consult an expert – your veterinarian. This helps to ensure that you are doing what is truly best for your beloved dog.
Hold Off on Mixing Therapeutic and Specialty Foods – Consult Your Vet
Therapeutic diets provide major advantages for our dogs, but it is important to remember that the science behind pet meals continues to advance and change. Therapeutic diets are designed to prevent or delay the onset of a variety of illnesses.
However, you should never add anything to a therapeutic diet regime without first consulting your veterinarian. It may have the unintended consequence of diluting the specific composition and, as a result, counteracting the benefits intended for your furry friend.
Why You Should Add Water to Your Dog’s Dry Pet Food
After you have determined, with the help of your dog’s healthcare provider, whether it is acceptable to add water to their dry food, it is important to understand all of the many health benefits that are provided by this practice.
Aside from helping to encourage your dog to eat the proper amount of his or her food, adding water to dry dog food can aid in health factors such as digestion, water intake, and much more! Here is what you need to know.
However, you should never add anything to a therapeutic diet regime without first consulting your veterinarian. It may have the unintended consequence of diluting the specific composition and, as a result, counteracting the benefits intended for your furry friend.
It Makes Them Eat Slower
Is your dog gulping down his food? For a quick fix, all you need to do is add water. Dry kibble is readily gulped down in large mouthfuls, but adding water prevents your pet from “vacuuming” up all of the food in a short period of time.
Speed feeding has been linked to health issues such as bloat, which is especially problematic in larger dogs. Adding water to your pet’s food will help them eat more slowly and avoid potentially dangerous stomach problems.
Aids In Digestion
Let’s face it, kibble is difficult to eat. It’s dry and brittle, and most dogs will swallow whole chunks rather than chewing them up, causing their digestive system to work harder to break down the bits.
Because our dogs’ GI tracts are much shorter compared to ours, food is digested in a fraction of the time. When we add water to our pet’s kibble, it softens and becomes simpler to digest, reducing the likelihood of GI distress.
For pups and senior dogs, moistened kibble might make chewing simpler, encouraging them to be excited for feeding and better enjoy their experience.
It Makes Preventing Health Issues Easier
Do you know what can happen if your dog doesn’t consume enough water and experiences dehydration? Their bodies begin to experience a variety of health issues.
Dehydration can result in an electrolyte imbalance, which can harm nearly every organ in the body. Circulation is also affected, and the risk of urinary tract infections rises.
Unfortunately, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common health concerns in pets, and they are virtually always caused by a lack of water intake.
Adding water to dog food is one of the most effective and simplest ways to ensure they are getting enough water throughout the day.
Adding Water To Dry Dog Food: One Thing You Need to Remember!
Wet food cannot be left out all day. If you leave your dog’s food out for the majority of the day while they pick on it, then this practice will require a bit of an adjustment. Moisture encourages bacteria development, so that bowl of food could spoil in a matter of hours, and you’ll have to toss it out.
Otherwise, you run the risk of exposing your dog to bacteria that can cause illness.
As a result, ensure sure any wet food you feed your pet is eaten within an hour or two. This not only protects the integrity and taste of the food – which will make for a much better eating experience for your dog, but it also better protects them from suffering an illness resulting from spoiled food.
Remember, adding water to dry dog food is meant to improve their health, not put them at a greater risk of developing harmful health conditions.
Dog Food Tips
Homemade Dog Food
A dog is not only a member of the family, but it also deserves to eat healthy food, and this is one way to do so. You can make homemade dog food for your beloved pet, or opt for a diet that is rich in raw eggs or salmonella. Whichever way you go, you should read the ingredients list carefully. Avoid ingredients such as “meat meal,” or anything without actual meat.
Myths
Homemade dog food has a few myths surrounding it. The first is that it doesn’t have all the nutritional value that commercial pet food does. In fact, homemade dog food has a lower nutritional value than commercial foods and may not provide your dog with all the essential nutrients he needs. But there are ways to make homemade dog food that your pet will love.
Grain-free diet
If you’re trying to find a better diet for your dog, a grain-free diet can be the best option. These foods are often more nutritious and contain less fat, carbohydrates, and additives. And they’re much cheaper. Plus, many grain-free foods also contain higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining healthy skin and a strong immune system.
Low protein diet
A low-protein diet is beneficial for dogs with certain medical conditions. It may help to reduce stress and anxiety, and it can also help a dog with a medical condition like kidney failure. Proteins are broken down by the body to release potent toxins, and a high-protein diet can stress the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure. A low-protein diet for dogs can keep the kidneys functioning properly and keep the dog happy.
Hypoallergenic
A dog’s health is very important and it should be fed a diet that is high in natural nutrients. Using hypoallergenic dog food will help prevent the development of a range of conditions, such as arthritis, blockage of the anal glands, kidney ailments, heart disease, digestive problems and obesity. It will also save you money on vet bills.