Wet vs. Dry Dog Food: What's Best For Your Dog?

As pet parents, we all want our pets to live as long, healthy and happy as possible. And the first step to giving them the best life is to give them the only the best dog food they deserve. Choosing dog food can be daunting with all the array of choices available, with so many different flavors, benefits, and recipes, it can be hard to decided which type of dog food is right for your best friend.  Where do you start?  The easiest step would be to consider the basic question, is wet or dry dog food better for my pet? Here are some factors to consider that can help narrow down your choices on your next trip to the pet food store and you’re faced with all these different wet and dry dog food brands.

Wet Dog Food

• Higher moisture content. Wet food has water content between 60 to 80%, compared to dry food, which has about just 3 to 12%. Wet food would be beneficial for dogs that don’t drink enough water as they may get some of their hydration requirements from the wet food. But it is always encouraged to get dogs to drink as much fresh water as possible, especially in the Philippines where the temperatures may get too warm for comfort.

• Highly palatable. Dogs, especially puppies have the tendency to be picky eaters. Wet dog is often the tastier choice for most dogs because of its consistency and smell.
• Less processed. Wet food goes through less processing stages compared to kibble, which means that it more closely resembles proteins in their natural state.
• Shorter shelf life. If left out, wet dog food can spoil quite quickly because of its higher moisture content. If there are any leftovers, they should be refrigerated immediately and consumed as soon as possible.

Dry Dog Food

• Higher Calorie Content. Kibble is more nutrient dense than wet food. Dry food contains more carbohydrates and proteins so dogs can consume higher calories in small quantities. Just make sure that you will feed your dog the recommended amount per day to avoid cases of overeating and obesity.
• Due to the high energy and nutrient content of kibble, dogs only need to eat smaller quantities ofdry food to meet their basic nutritional needs. Hence, dry food is of the more cost-effective option.
• Longer Shelf Life. Kibble doesn’t go bad as quickly when left out compared to wet food. Because dry food has a longer shelf life, it is easier to store, and you can often leave it out for your dog for the day.
• If you have a messy eater, dry food would be easier to clean up after meals. Since dry food doesn’t spoil as fast, it’s often the more suitable choice for traveling.

The verdict on wet vs. dry dog food:

Both wet and dry dog food are good choices for your pooch. There's no definite answer as to exactly what type of food is best for your dog but one good option is to choose both wet and dry; combining them together in the same bowl, or giving the wet food as an occasional treat or food topper whenever Fido decides to get picky over his food.

A good quality pet food should be made up of around 70% premium, high quality meat protein and approximately 30% vegetables. You should also consider if the pet food has high-quality fats and oils included in the ingredients. Too much grains, chemical preservatives, artificial ingredients and colors have no place in your dog's diet and may cause health problems in the long run, so it’s also better to look out for natural or organic dog food.

What it all comes down to is giving your pet the high quality food that would provide your dog with all the important nutrients, vitamins and minerals for optimum health.  It’s just a matter of which one will be best for your dog’s specific nutrient needs and preference, and course, which would fit your lifestyle.

Remember that every dog is different, thus each dog needs different food. Certain factors like their age, weight, activity level and specific health or nutrient needs should definitely be considered when it comes to choosing the best dog food. You know your dog best, but you should always check with your veterinarian before switching up your dog’s diet immediately, especially if they have any food allergies or sensitivities.

Sources:

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

https://www.doghealth.com/