Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Food Makes a Lot of Sense

Mixing wet and dry dog food is a popular trend among dog owners these days. This popularity is due to the different benefits associated with practice. Some dog owners can be picky about their food and everyone wants the best for their dog.

If you are a dog owner and you are confused about which food type you should prefer for your canine companion, you are at the right place. In this article, we will describe the benefits of mixing things up up and why you should give it a try.

Mixing wet and dry dog food; Many Options are Possible

Being a responsible dog parent, it is your responsibility to provide the best food to your dog. Food plays the most important role in maintaining the health of your lovely friend.

There are plenty of benefits of mixing wet and dry food. Before we move to mixing food types, let’s look at the different pros and cons of both food types.

Dry Or Wet Food?

Whether you are feeding dry or wet food to your dog, both have advantages and disadvantages. Choice of wet or dry dog food depends upon your dog’s preferences and your budget.

We are going to describe some benefits of dry and wet foods.

Dry dog food

Dry food only contains around 10% of water but it is the most popular choice worldwide because of its convenience to handle and store. You can easily carry it anywhere and leave some for your dog for the rest of the day without it being spoiled. Kibble food provides a balanced diet and energy to your dog.

Dry dog food helps in maintaining the dental health of your pet. It has a low moisture content, so it has a longer shelf life than wet dog food. Dry food is also cheaper than wet dog food. Cost-effectiveness makes it the preferred food type for dogs amongst owners.

Wet dog food

Canned food has a high water content, usually more than 70 %. Wet food will not let your dog get dehydrated. So, if you are feeding your dog wet food, the risk of heatstroke and kidney problems lessens. It is a little costly, but it contains more protein portion and is healthier for your dog, compared to dry dog food.

High moisture dog food is a preferred food type for senior dogs with weaker teeth or suffering from dental diseases. High moisture content also makes wet dog food better suited for dogs with kidney problems.

Some dogs may stop eating dry food at some point in their life due to their age or health issues, or maybe they don’t like it anymore.

Then you can shift them to wet food and they are likely to it appetizing and it also helps if they have urinary tract infection.

Why Mixing Dry and Wet Food Is a Good Idea?

With all the dry and wet food options available in the market, things might get a bit overwhelming sometimes. It confuses many dog owners, but you need not worry. There is a solution for that as well. Mixing dry and wet food is a good idea and it comes with many benefits.

You can mix the dry and wet food in one bowl, but it is not necessary to do so. There are many ways of feeding mixed food to your dog. You can keep both foods separate as well.

You can give wet food in the morning and dry food for dinner. Or you can give the wet food as a treat because most dogs love wet food more than dry food.

Whatever way you choose, make sure you are giving them a balanced diet. The one thing you always need to make sure of is that you should fulfill their nutritional needs.

Low daily calorie intake can make your dog weak and above normal will make your dog obese. Both of these come with certain health risks. If you are going to feed mixed food to your dog, always give an appropriate portion of both foods to maintain a healthy balance.

Dogs’ digestive systems might react to the sudden changes in their diet if you start mixing dry and wet food, but the benefits of mixed food overcome it all. Make sure the change is gradual and the transition should be quite smooth.

Benefits Of Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Food

Here we are the key benefits of feeding mixed wet and dry dog food:

• The best part of mixing dry and wet food is that it keeps your dog hydrated and energetic throughout the day.
• Mixing different aromas and food types will get your dog excited, especially if your dog does not eat much.
• Mixing both foods will give your dog’s coat a shiny and glossy look as the wet food contains more natural and direct sources of protein and fatty acids.
• Mixing dry and wet food is also a budget-friendly option. Wet food is more expensive than dry food but mixing both ensures that your dog gets the health benefits while keeping his diet cost-effective for you.

Important Things to Consider Before Mixing Both Types of Food

Before you start giving mixed wet and dry food to your dog, there are some things you need to consider.

• Never give mixed food to your dog on your own. There are different foods available in the market made for specific purposes and conditions. Mixing some of them might not be a good idea. So, it is best you consult your vet or the food manufacturer’s guidelines before starting.
• You need to maintain calorie control. Wet food has different calorie levels than dry food. If you are mixing dry food with wet food, you would need to make sure you are feeding your dog enough calories to keep him healthy.
• Do not make sudden changes in your dog’s diet. It will be best if you make gradual changes your dog’s digestive system is sensitive and it needs some time to adjust to the new food.
• If you are mixing dry and wet food at the same time, you should add 75% of dry food and 25% of wet food for a balanced meal. You can also go for 50% wet food and 50% dry food. But always follow the feeding guidelines provided by your vet and the product manufacturer.
• Mixing wet and dry dog food doesn’t necessarily mean mixing both foods at the same time. It actually means giving both types of food in a daily diet but at different times of the day. Just keep a balance between the two.
• You need to provide fresh drinking water to your dog at all times, even if you are giving them wet food. Always keep water in a cool place because wet food doesn’t quest his thirst entirely.
• When buying wet and dry food, make sure they are compatible with each other and match your dog’s preferences.
• Therapeutic foods should not be mixed with other foods because their purpose and characteristics differ much from normal food. Mixing therapeutic food with normal food may affect the efficacy and may create some problems for your dog’s health.
• You can give your dog a large portion of wet food if he is having trouble chewing dry dog food. On the other hand, if your dog develops dental plaque, then you can give him more dry food in the mix.
• Mix both food types in appropriate portions according to your dog’s needs. If your dog is a working breed, you can give him more wet because his nutritional requirements are higher.
• You should consider brands and the ingredients or contents provided in both the wet and dry food to make the best choice.
• Pay attention and read thoroughly the label listing the ingredient of both food types before mixing them.
• Pay attention to ingredients that your dog may be allergic to.

Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Food – Other Options

Instead of mixing wet and dry dog food you can also consider Adding Water to Dry Dog Food.