Whether you’re a first-time dog owner, or just concerned about your dog’s dietary health, you may have spent time pondering the question: wet or dry dog food?
It’s worth consideration, and as the pros and cons of wet and dry dog food are relatively balanced, it can be hard to know which one is best for your pooch.
In this blog, we’ll highlight the differences between wet and dry dog food to help you decide on your dog’s daily menu.
Wet or dry dog food: what is the best food for dogs?
There isn't much of a difference between wet and dry food in terms of nutritional content, if you are choosing high quality food, that is. There are variations between the two, so it all comes down to which would work best for you and your pooch.
Benefits of wet dog food
More appetising
Wet food is probably more exciting to your dog's palate than dry food. Dogs aren’t quite as choosy as humans, though, so don’t worry, they’ll be perfectly satisfied.
Easier to chew
Soft chunks are easier to munch on than solid pellets, so if your dog has sensitive or small teeth, wet food could be a winner. It can also be easier to manage for those with dental diseases.
Keeps dogs fuller for longer
Wet food has a lot of moisture and is naturally more satiating than dry food, so you’ll have a fuller dog who needs to be fed at a lower frequency.
It’s protein rich
Wet foods often have more protein rich meat, which can be beneficial for those dogs that are very active and need plenty of protein to keep their lean muscle mass.
Better for sensitive dogs
Dogs with sensitive stomachs and those prone to constipation often do better on wet food diets made from all-natural ingredients. Select a specially formulated sensitive stomach dog food or one enriched with prebiotics and/or probiotics when possible.
Disadvantages of wet dog food
It’s messier and smellier
Only to us not to the dog. Wet meat chunks are more likely to cling to your dog’s fur beard as they eat and stick fast to their dog bowl when it comes to washing up.
Shorter shelf life
Once opened, wet food needs to be eaten quickly.
Harder to portion
Wet food tends to come in pouches or cans, so the portioning is almost decided for you. If you have specific requirements for how much you feed your dog, this can be tricky to work out.
More expensive
Wet food is pricier than dry food for dogs, that’s pretty much across the board.
Benefits of dry dog food
Easy to manage
Dry dog food makes it easy to sweep, pour, clean, and divide into portions, as it tends to come in sacks, which you can swiftly scoop your desired amount from.
Longer lasting
Dry dog food has a longer shelf life than wet food.
More economic
As it’s long-lasting and easier to portion, dry dog food is often seen as the more economic choice for dog owners as it costs less over time.
Better for weight loss
If your pooch is on a plan to lose weight, dog biscuits are better for weight loss than wet food.
Cleans teeth
Dry dog food is more beneficial to dental health in dogs and even helps keep their teeth clean. Since kibble doesn’t cake on teeth like wet food can, there is less plaque buildup and a lower risk of gingivitis.
Cleaner for doggy beards
For longer-furred breeds and those with moustaches and beards (Terriers and Schnauzers, we’re looking at you!) dry dog food can help to keep fur clean and help prevent skin disease around the mouth.
Disadvantages of dry dog food
Not as sensory
Dry dog pellets can be a less exciting choice when it comes to your pooch’s overall eating experience.
Likely to contain preservatives
A pellet is more of a processed format and is therefore more inclined to have preservatives.
Doesn’t provide hydration
For a dog who exercises a lot but forgets to drink (or an older dog), wet food with more water content could be a better choice than dry.
Tougher teeth
Dry dog food is great for doggy dental health, but it can be tougher to chew on for dogs with sensitive teeth.
When is wet or dry food better for dogs?
Whether to choose wet or dry dog food is largely a personal choice based on convenience and lifestyle, but it also depends on your dog’s feeding habits and/or health conditions.
If your dog is a fussy eater, you may be more successful getting them to eat a flavour-intensive, natural wet dog food. Should your pooch have sensitive teeth, or if they’re an older dog who could benefit from the moisture content, they may also get more from a hydrating diet of wet food.
However, if your dog is a grazer, who likes to return to their bowl often throughout the day, dry dog food could make more sense for them.
Mixing wet and dry dog food
“Do I have to choose between wet and dry dog food?” We hear you as we asked the same question.
There are certainly times when you can feed a dog dry dog food when they usually eat wet, or wet dog food when they usually eat dry. It’s advisable not to change often between wet and dry foods, as this can be too much for a dog’s easily upset stomach to handle. Many pet parents do end up feeding both wet and dry dog food, though. Most pooches do well on mixed diets.
Remember, your dog’s preference may change as they mature, so keep an open mind. When changing diets, ensure to do so slowly over 5–10 days to ensure the change is well tolerated.
Don’t worry too much about one type of dog food being healthier or better for your dog than the other; if you choose the right food, they will be getting all the nutrition they need and that’s the main thing!
However, by considering the points above, you can ensure your dog has a solid mealtime routine and digests their food more comfortably.
If you have any questions or queries, then feel free to contact us.