Even being a responsible pet owner, what is the most complicated aspect of your daily pet-parenting duties? Certainly, it’s none other than to choose between wet dog food and dry dog food or even in dilemma to mix both of them! Not only focusing on the overall nutrition present in dog food but also hand-picking the proper type of dog food suitable for your furry friend is quite beneficial to a greater extent.
There may be differences in opinion and most people are tilted to feed their dogs with either dry dog food or wet dog food, whichever they find more beneficial and appropriate depending on the:
- Age of the dog
- Breed of the dog
- Health condition
- Activity level
- Special dietary needs
What if the right mixture of healthy dog food items is added to your dog’s diet? Sounds interesting right? There are several potential benefits to feeding with the right type of dog food in a fixed proportion. However, on the hind side, there may be some drawbacks, which we are going to rectify through this blog.
What is Dry dog food vs. Wet dog food - Comprehensive breakdown?
There are mainly two types of dog food, dry food and wet food. According to preference, you can choose the right one for your dog.
Dry dog food:
- Dry dog food is also known as “kibble” which is hard, dry and crunchy in texture and contains around 10-12% of moisture content.
- It is mostly made of grain items, a mixture of meat products, and vegetables with pre-added vitamins and minerals.
- The shelf life of dry fog food items is longer than wet food if stored properly.
- Benefits: They are more cost-effective, easy to store and improve the dental health of your pet.
- Demerits: It may not be easy to digest due to less water content, unable to keep hydrated, and not being favourable for older dogs.
Wet dog food:
- It is moist, soft and easy to chew due to the high presence of moisture content around 75-78%.
- It consists of high meat content and extra nutrients and mostly comprises gravy and broth.
- Due to extra moisture, there is a high chance of contamination once it is opened. Must require a cool place and refrigerator to keep it fresh for a few more days.
- Benefits: Tastier and appealing to your pets, Keeps your pet hydrated due to high moisture and is easy to chew and digest.
- Demerits: Generally high in prices, less shelf life once opened and may raise the risk of dental plaque issues.
Which one is more effective?
As we discussed above, both have their advantages and disadvantages. It mostly depends on your pet’s requirements at that particular moment/condition.
However, if you feed a combination of both food items, you will be able to feed a balanced pet diet, which keeps your dog healthy and active.
Don’t worry about healthy dog food options, just create a perfect mixture of wet and dry dog food and make it easier to digest, chew and keep them hydrated with lots of nutrition.
So, let’s comprehend more about the mixture of wet and dry dog food!
Understand the nutritional advantages of mixing Wet and Dry food
- Keeps your dog hydrated: The proper mixture of wet food and dry food contains a balanced amount of moisture and is easy to digest. It reduces the chances of kidney problems and improves gut health.
- Maintains dental health: If wet food is good for the gut and easy to chew, then dry dog food keeps your dog’s dental health at an optimum level. The hardness and crunchiness of texture help remove the extra tar and plaque coated on their teeth and gums.
- Helps in weight management: For better management of your dog’s weight, mixing food in the right proportion is quite beneficial. Wet food consists of lots of moisture and is low in calories, satisfying your dog’s hunger in small amounts, whereas dry dog food consists of calories in abundance and can fulfil the required dog’s nutrition and energy.
- Balanced nutrition level: A proportional and right mixture of wet and dry dog food fulfills the need for a nutrition level in your pet. Feeding wet dog food gives high-quality protein and low carbohydrates; on the other hand, dry dog food is filled with vitamins and minerals. So consumption of both ensures the fulfilment of balanced nutrition and enhances overall health.
- Supports digestion: The gut is the grass root of several diseases. So it is necessary to key the digestion system of your dog at its optimum level. Blending wet and dry dog food can easily fix this and ensure the proper functioning of the digestion system.
E.g. Most pet owners opt for goat milk for dogs as a natural supplement that enhances the health of their pet’s digestive system. It contains probiotics which help in healing and smooth regulation of the intestinal process.
Adhere to highly effective common meal plans for different dogs’ age
| Dog’s Age | Nutrition Requirement | Meal Frequency | Periodic Meal Plan |
| For puppies (0-12 months) | Puppies are at their growing stage and require quality and high protein with calories necessary for their overall development. | You should follow 4 meals per day (0-3 months) and 3 meals per day for (3-12 months) | At 7 am: Feed with 75 % of dry puppy food + 25% of wet food. At 12 pm: 80% of wet dog food with less kibble. At 5 pm: feed with pure dry food (for dental health) At 8 pm: Keep in 50-50% of dry and wet dry food |
| For Adult dogs (1-7 years) | At this age, dogs are highly active and require a properly balanced diet with extra protein, fibres and fats to remain energetic for a longer duration. | You must follow and feed with 2 meals per day for adult dogs | At 8 am: Add 70% of dry dog food (kibble) and 30% of wet food (to remain hydrated) At 6 pm: Always feed with dry food to support their dental health at optimum level. |
| For senior dogs (7+ years) | During the older age, dogs become less efficient in digesting different food products. They require slighter soft food which is easy to chew and joint supporting ingredients like Omega-3 and glucosamine. | You can either follow 2 meals per day or 3 meals per day (in smaller portions). | At 7 am: Keep 50-50% of dry and wet dog food (easy to chew and digest). At 2 pm: Feed with overall wet food items like warm water, bone broth and even supplements like goat milk for dogs. At 7 pm: Add 25% wet food and 75% dry food (ensure the food is not too hard to chew and easy to digest) |
Additional dog nutrition tips for a highly effective meal plan
- For the safer side, add a little lukewarm water or goat milk powder for easier digestion.
- For dogs facing regular dental issues, opt for softer and wet food or soak in water before feeding.
- Always adjust the proportion of meals according to your dog’s daily requirements.
- Never skip feeding your dog with water.
Common mistakes to avoid before feeding a mixed pet diet
Mixing wet and dry pet food is quite effective but sometimes maybe, vice-versa, if some common mistakes are not avoided, such as:
- Overlooking nutrition requirements: Mixing food items doesn’t mean adding anything without considering nutritional needs. There should be a proper proportion of wet and dry food to fulfil adequate vitamins, minerals, and protein based on your dog’s needs.
- Extreme overfeeding: Eliminate the myth of getting extra nutrients by overfeeding. Ensure that you mix the wet and dry food items at the correct ratio and check the calorie intake.
- Unaware of food compatibility: Never mix food items without checking their compatibility and suitability with your dog’s digestive system. Mixing two brands and two different qualities of food may produce a reaction chain.
- Ignoring allergies and sensitivity: Your dog may be sensitive and intolerant to many food products. So, before mixing, be specific to your dog’s diet and even monitor your dog’s behaviour.
Things to consider while combining wet and dry dog food
Before planning to combine a food diet, it is necessary to follow some basic guidelines to reduce the chances of any kind of discomfort.
Be specific with food ratio: There should be the right ratio of dry and wet food based on your pet’s age, nutritional needs and activity level.
- 50-50% is ideal for maximum pets.
- 75% wet and 25% dry is highly recommended for better hydration.
- 25% wet and 75% dry is ideal for dental benefits.
Use the correct mixture for gut health: Switching and suddenly adding different food items may raise the chances of digestive issues, especially for sensitive stomachs. So whenever you mix:
- Always start with a small amount of food proportion.
- Make it a slow and gradual process (5-7 days).
- Keep monitoring your dog’s behavior, activity and gut health.
Store the food appropriately: It is necessary to store the food at the right place and temperature to increase shelf life.
- Dry dog food: Keep the food in an airtight container to increase its freshness.
- Wet dog food: Always store the wet food in a cool place or a refrigerator. Once you have opened the item, use them within 48 hours.
Final thoughts
It is the prime responsibility of every pet owner to feed with a balanced pet diet with the right mixture. It not only keeps your dog active but also improves their dental health and prolongs hydration. It is a unique way to enhance your dog’s health while making them enjoy their food meal.
However, always consult with your veterinarian before any additions and changes in your dog’s diet. So be specific while mixing the food for dog nutrition and keeping them healthy for years.