Pet Nutrition: Main Difference Between Dry And Wet Pet Food

While you’re consistently maintaining your overall health and nutrition, you might not be paying enough attention to another key aspect – the health and nutrition of your pets. Have you ever thought about the difference between dry and wet pet food?

Taking care of animals is of paramount importance as they can’t take care of themselves.

When dealing with pet nutrition, you’ll come across one of the most important sources of nutrients specially created for your furry friends: wet and dry pet food, especially for dogs.

Though wet and dry pet food has a set of distinct characteristics setting it apart from others, this feeding crossover is a great reason why it’s a good idea to mix wet and dry dog food.

However, it’s still important to know how dry and wet food differs in terms of these salient points:

Most Common Ingredients

When searching for the best dog food, whether dry or wet, pet owners assign fundamental value to the nutritional content of pet food.

You should definitely consider the same approach since it is correct.

The majority of dog food in the market has meat-based protein as its top ingredient, and it exists in both wet and dry variants.

However, dry food includes additional binding ingredients in order to maintain the dry formula and texture.

The most common fillers used in dry food are grains such as wheat, rice, corn, and soy, also to replace a portion of protein in a dog’s diet.

Rice fillers are sometimes used and some dogs are incapable of digesting these grains. This causes further stomach upsets and allergies.

On the other hand, wet dog food has discarded animal parts, hence the label mentions “meat and animal derivatives.”

They contain little to no grains as there is no need to maintain a dry consistency.

Also, wet dog food has a higher protein count, as Furry Friends Gear advises.

Dental And Oral Advantages

In terms of which delivers more dental and oral benefits for your dog, dry food obviously outshines wet food.

Dry food will have amplified benefits for dental and oral health in dogs, especially those who don’t like having their teeth cleaned.

The hard and grainy texture in dry food stimulates the teeth and gums through chewing, and it helps in preventing plaque and tartar buildup.

Still, don’t simply rely on dry kibbles for your dog’s dental and oral health.

Dry food will not suit old dogs with declining dental health as it causes them pain and discomfort.

With their increasing age, your help is much needed so your senior dog can still live a quality life.

For this reason, wet food with a softer texture is a better option.

Additionally, dogs experiencing discomfort while eating can gain more weight with high-protein wet food, to compensate for their weight loss.

Cost, Practicality, And Convenience

Between dry and wet food, the former is a more budget-friendly and convenient option.

Dry food is easier to store and has a longer shelf life upon opening the product, as compared to wet ones which can get spoiled in around 2 to 3 days and also require refrigeration.

If you and your dog like to travel, make sure to bring dry food with you for greater convenience.

Since wet food spoils quickly, you have to fetch new packs from the store ensuring that they’re fresh and up to date.

This is harmful for both your pocket and the environment since you’re generating more discarded food, cans, or packaging.

Preservative Content

To lengthen the shelf life of dry food, manufacturers incorporate additives and preservatives that will keep the dry kibble fresh for a longer period.

You can simply pour dry kibbles on your dog’s bowl and be worry-free about spoilage.

But, keep in mind that artificial preservatives in dry food, like ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and propyl gallate, pose health threats to dogs.

Take a closer look at ethoxyquin, and you’ll find they’re associated with skin problems, allergic reactions, behavioral problems, major organ failure, and even cancer.

For safer and more regulated consumption, wet food contains less to no artificial preservatives, thus increasing the rate of spoilage.

You should never leave wet food in your dog’s bowl for extended periods, as this can induce the risk of contamination.

Taste And Odor

No matter how premium and expensive the dry kibble that you provide to your pals might be, they won’t like it as much as wet food, thanks to the inviting smell of meat and gravy.

Some picky dogs might not prefer dry kibble all the time, as the odor and texture don’t entice them compared to wet food.

However, wet food contains higher fat content so be careful in giving large amounts to your dog, even though they might like it very much.

Conclusion

Amidst the stellar lineup of various dog foods in the market, both expensive and ordinary ones, choosing the best dog food is entirely up to you.

Still, you have to consider the nutritional needs of your pet and make sure to fulfill them consistently.

With several differences between dry and wet food enumerated above, you should be able to find the best food for your dog that will support your pet’s nutrition.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that you should supply your dog with other nutritious food sources aside from kibbles and dog food.