The Guide to Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Food or Cat Foods
Pet Parents always want the best nutritional diet for their pets. There is a wide variety of affordable dry dog foods and cat foods. To make their pets’ daily meals more delicious, some pet parents mix dry foods- also known as kibbles with wet pet foods. Not only does this enhances the taste, but also adds to the nutritional benefits of their meals.
Dry Dog and Cat Foods
Being cost-effective, dry dog and cat foods have a longer shelf life. These are the choice of food for many pet parents because they are easy to store and keep the pet’s oral hygiene in check. Dry kibbles like Black Hawk Grain Free Kangaroo Adult Dog Dry Food– have very low water content compared to that of canned foods. These are available in a wide range of textures, flavours and sizes.
Wet Dog and Cat Foods
Wet pet food, as the name suggests, has a higher moisture content (more than 70 %) and thus comes in the form of gravy or sauces. It must be consumed quickly since it has a short shelf life. Most dogs are fond of wet dog foods due to the meaty smell and taste; e.g.− Advance Adult All Breed Chicken Turkey and Rice Wet Dog Food is highly popular due to its texture, nutritional benefits and aroma. For pets having pain in the mouth or who are lethargic, these foods are extensively preferred.
The Benefits of Mixing Wet and Dry Pet Foods
Dogs and cats are generally choosy about what they eat. At times, it can be difficult to give them a healthy and balanced diet- out of the little they feed on. Mixing ‘delicious wet food’, that they find mouth-watering, along with ‘nutritious dry food’ can serve as the perfect diet for pets.
Here are a number of reasons why mixing dry and wet foods can be beneficial for dogs and cats−
- It increases hydration– Adding wet food to your pet’s dry meals will enhance the hydration of your pet. Dry and Wet pet foods differ from each other in terms of moisture content. Thus, the surplus of wet foods can increase the total water intake in their diets.
- Enhances meal appetency– Mixing dry kibble with a wet dog and cat food will make the meal aromatic and appetizing. Wet foods taste and smell better than dry pet food, and thus a little mixing of these foods makes it palatable for picky eaters.
- Cost-effective for pet parents– Since wet pet food is more expensive than dry pet food, pet parents generally choose dry foods over the former. Therefore, mixing both foods can reap the benefits of wet foods along with maintaining the budget.
- Helpful for dogs with dental problems /senior dogs- The softened food will be easier to chew, allowing the dogs with weak mouths or inflamed throats to swallow it painlessly. Senior dogs would readily eat their meals due to the strong smell of the wet pet food.
Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Foods
The introduction of a new type of diet or pet food should be done gradually. Some of the tips to keep in mind doing so are-
- Mixing a very small amount of wet food along with the ongoing regular dry food can help to adapt your pet to the change, followed by increasing the ratio of wet food daily.
- If you want your pet to gain weight, the fraction of dry food should be more than that of wet food. Dry pet food has a high calorific value that aids in gaining weight.
- Mixing wet and dry pet food can be considered safe if both dry and wet food products are high in quality and meet your pets’ nutritional requirements.
- For example, if your dog is on Black Hawk Grain Free Kangaroo Dry dog food, you can couple it up with canned wet food like Advance Adult All Breed Chicken Turkey And Rice Wet Dog Food. This will enhance the nutritional intake and flavor of your pet’s meals.
- The mix should be discarded after keeping out at room temperature for approximately after 3 to 4 hours or should be placed in a refrigerator for storage.
Read about : 5 Logical Reasons for Changing the Dog Food
Conclusion
Combining wet and dry foods can be very advantageous. It can reap the benefits of both in one meal. It will help balance your dog’s nutrition and provide a fuller, more balanced meal that includes various nutrients.
