The question of whether to buy wet or dry dog food entirely depends on the health and nutritional needs of your pet. In any case, each type of food has its advantages and disadvantages. Thus it is important to weigh up these differences to select the best food for your canine friend. With that said, here are a few points to consider.
Differences Between Wet and Dry Dog Food
The major difference between wet and dry dog food revolves around the water content. Wet food has up to 84 per cent moisture content, while dry food has less than 12 per cent. For this reason, dry food has a longer shelf life while wet food might require refrigeration (after opening) to preserve the nutrients.
Benefits of Dry Dog Food
- Dry food is good for the oral health of your dog. Dogs that eat dry food consistently tend to have stronger teeth and better breath compared to dogs that feed on wet food.
- Dry food does not require refrigeration. Unlike canned food, you do not have to refrigerate your dog’s food once opened.
- Dry food has higher energy content. For this reason, you only need to feed your dog small portions of dry food to meet their energy demands. This translates to cheaper feeding costs in the long-term.
- Dry dog food is easier to handle and more convenient. You do not have to struggle with cleaning mushy spills and messes. Moreover, the fact that this type of food has low moisture content makes it less susceptible to attracting disease-causing pathogens.
Drawbacks of Dry Dog Food
The only concern about dry dog food is that it has very low fat and moisture content, compared to carbohydrate levels. This could be detrimental for extremely active dogs, since dry food may not be able to provide the necessary fat content required.
Benefits of Wet Dog Food
- Wet food is tasty and meaty. Most dogs prefer wet food, thanks to its flavour and meatiness. Moreover, the high moisture content provides adequate fluids for your dog to stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Wet food is easy to digest. This comes in handy for dogs that have health issues or puppies with soft teeth and delicate digestive systems.
- Wet food is ideal for weight management. If your dog has a substantial appetite, then you should consider feeding them with wet food to help them maintain a healthy weight range. Most wet foods have a low-calorie content.
Drawbacks of Wet Dog Food
Wet food is relatively more expensive than dry dog food due to the higher moisture content. Moreover, you have to refrigerate the food (once opened) to preserve the nutrients. Besides, its shelf life is limited to about two days, and you may have to throw out the food after this period elapses.
Making the Right Choice
Dry dog food is excellent for keeping your dogs dental health in check while wet food is great for providing fluids to keep your dog hydrated. For your dog to enjoy the advantages of both, consider giving them both food types interchangeably.
