×

Can You Mix Wet & Dry Dog Food? Pros and Cons

  • By nishwa
  • December 16, 2022
  • 3 minutes read
Can You Mix Wet & Dry Dog Food Pros and Cons

The short answer is, YES. Yes, you can mix wet and dry Dog food to achieve your Dog’s nutritional goals. Let’s talk more about wet and dry Dog foods and exactly why is it a great idea to mix dry and wet dog food.

Every dog owner wants to select the healthiest option for their dog when it comes to their diet. Food for dogs can come in the form of dry, canned, and wet food. Before we jump to mixing wet and dry dog food, let’s get to know about what these foods actually consist of.

Dry Dog Food

Dry dog food is made from meat that is cooked and dried. It mainly consists of carbohydrates and comes in a huge variety of ingredients. You can store dry dog food easily in the open air, with no need to refrigerate it. If your dog likes to munch on his food from time to time, instead of swallowing it at once, you can easily place dry food in its bowl for the whole day.

Dry food can also be measured easily in grams or cups, so you know exactly how much food you are supposed to feed your pup. Dry kibble removes plaque and tartar from your dog’s teeth when he chews it, that doesn’t mean you stop brushing their teeth though.

As compared to wet dog food, dry food is a relatively inexpensive option and it stays fresh for longer too. But some dogs (especially picky ones) just don’t prefer dry food because it’s less flavorful than wet food.

Pros

  • Cost-effective
  • Dental health care
  • Convenient storage
  • Easy measurement
  • Easy availability

Cons

  • Less hydration
  • Hard to chew
  • Less aroma
  • Less flavorful

Wet Dog Food

Wet Dog Food is full of hydration. It’s best for those dogs who drink less water, but don’t forget to fill up 2 bowls of fresh and clean water in separate rooms for your dog! Wet is made up of ground meat which is cooked and sterilized. It has gravy, jelly, or broth inside it which is filled with many minerals, vitamins, and grains.

Wet Dog food can

Wet food consists of 70-80% water whereas, dry food only has 7-11%. For dogs who have problems with chewing, wet food is the best option for them as it barely requires chewing. It has to be stored in the refrigerator once the can is opened or else it will go bad. Wet food is wasted more than dry food because it cannot stay fresh for too long. Dogs love wet food because of its strong aroma and flavor.

Pros

  • Easy to chew
  • Hydrating
  • Nutritious and complete diet
  • Enticing aroma
  • Extra flavorful

Cons

  • More Expensive
  • Difficult to store
  • Low shelf life
  • Inaccurate measurement

So Is Mixing Dry and Wet Dog Food a Good Idea?

As we already explained above, Mixing both foods is actually really beneficial for your dog when it comes to a nutritious diet. It’s important to shift to mixed food slowly by adding little amounts of the newly introduced food. If you were only feeding your dog wet food, then mixing dry and wet food can save you some money.

Is Mixing Dry and Wet Dog Food a Good Idea

One of the biggest downsides of mixed dog food is that it can be wasted more because it cannot be stored for later, and the dry kibble will get soggy.

It’s important to be vigilant with the amount of mixed dog food you feed your dog, so it can’t be wasted. It may provide fewer dental benefits than dry food alone, but it will surely provide a lot of hydration to your doggo.

More moisture in your dog’s body means that it will have less risk of any kidney or urinary disease. In the end, It depends on the nutritional needs of your dog, but one can’t really go wrong with mixing wet and dry dog food.

Also, only your dog can tell what’s best for it. If they don’t feel like eating it, no matter how beneficial the food may be, it will not matter. Never force your dog to eat something they don’t want to eat, but always provide the better option.

Send this to a friend