Wet vs Dry Food
Most, if not all dog owners know that there are a few food options that they can give their pup. These options include dry (kibble) and wet (canned) food. Today, we will walk through the pros and cons of each to determine what is best for your friend!
Canned Dog Food Pros
Many dogs love canned dog food including my own, Juju! She loves it a lot more than kibble. However, you may have heard that canned dog food isn’t as healthy for dogs as kibble. But let’s focus on the positive qualities of canned dog food. First is that canned food tends to contain more meat protein than dry food. And as a bonus, due to the air-tight packaging, canned food does not contain any synthetic preservatives which prevent fats and oils sealed inside from going bad. In addition, there are usually no artificial flavorings and colorings. In these aspects, canned dog food is not only found to be more appetizing to your pup, but also seems to be the healthier option. But before we draw our conclusions, we need to focus on the benefits of dry food as well as much as our pooches love that canned dog food.
Kibble Pros
Convenience wise, kibble wins. This is because it has a greater extended in-bowl feeding time than canned food. Speaking of canned in-bowl feeding time, do not leave any canned food out for longer than an hour. The reasoning behind this is that when wet food is exposed to the environment for an extended period of time, it becomes a utopia for bacteria to grow. Do not leave canned food out! Instead, when your pup is not eating their canned food, refrigerate it and be sure to discard any unused food within two to three days.
Canned Dog Food Pros
Is your dog constipated? Well canned dog food could be your solution! The moisture in canned dog food may be enough to help your pup pass through his/her’s stool. This is due to the additional moisture -that cannot be found in dry kibble- which will be acting as a lubricant in the digestive system.
(Note): Feed your pup canned food for two days and then return to kibble if constipated. If the problem comes back, talk to your vet.
(I am not a veterinarian and found these treatments from my research. If you are in doubt, you should contact your veterinarian for the best treatment option)
Kibble Pros
Something nice about kibbles is that they can come in various different sizes and shapes! For example, if your dog prefers smaller sized food, you can purchase smaller kibble and vice versa. Sometimes, even very big dogs prefer very tiny kibbles! Plus, your pup’s size preference will be kind of messy to work around with, especially if it’s canned food. Thus, giving them kibble will be easier for you! Not only that, but a bonus kibble brings to the table by being dry food is that it enables it to work well with food toys, interactive feeders, and dispense kibbles.
Canned Dog Food Cons
Just like kibble, canned dog food also has its cons. Canned dog food usually contains more fat than dry food. This can be bad for your pup especially if he/she is already obese, sensitive to fatty foods, and predisposed to pancreatitis -a condition when the pancreas becomes inflamed and swollen, impacting digestion due to digestive enzymes not functioning correctly.
Kibble Cons
Did you ever hear that kibble helps to clean your dog’s teeth? As good as this may sound, this may not be the case.
There are different types of dental debris. These include food particles, plaque, and calculus (tartar). And while food particles are easy to remove, this is not the case with plaque and tartar. This is because plaque requires physical scrubbing to be removed and even once it is scrubbed away, the plaque can return in less than 24 hours. As for tartar, this occurs when the plaque turns into a rock-hard substance. Tartar are the chunks that your hygienist scrapes off your teeth during your cleanings.
And yes, kibble can remove plaque near the top of your pup’s teeth but at the same time, it is not very effective with removing plaque near the gumline. Solely relying on kibble to clean your pup’s teeth can result in decay, gum disease, and even rotting teeth. In fact, most of those crunchy kibbles contain a high percentage of refined carbohydrates which can increase plaque and tartar levels.
Canned
Dog Food Cons
Dogs love wet food, but our wallets (especially if you are on a budget)…? Not so much.
When comparing the costs regarding the amount of calories per dollar you spend, you will find that canned food is the more expensive of the two. So if you are looking for less expensive food that will still give your pup his/her’s nutritional and caloric needs, dry kibble will maybe be a better option.
Kibble Cons
We would like to make sure that the food we give our loving pooch is safe for consumption. However, dry kibble food for dogs are loosely regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Not only that, but some brands of kibble can contain some questionable ingredients such as diseased animal parts, chemicals, preservatives, additives, food coloring, dies, and more. So before you make a purchase, check to see if the kibble was made by a credible company to see if it’s right for your pup. You don’t want to make your dog sick!
Thank you for reading to the end of this blog. :)
Did you learn something new and if so, what did you learn? And feel free to share this with your family and friends! With that said, see you next time. Bye!
Citations:
[1] About the Author Laura Playforth Laura is Vets Now’s professional standards director and is responsible for driving clinical and professional standards across our out-of-hours clinics. After graduating in veterinary medicine and surgery from the Uni, et al. “Pancreatitis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment.” Vets Now, 28 Apr. 2021, www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/pancreatitis-in-dogs/.
[2] “Canned or Dry Dog Food - What's the Better Choice?” Dog Food Advisor, 12 May 2019, www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/canned-or-dry-dog-food/.
[3] “Dry Dog Food and the Myth of Cleaner Teeth.” Dog Food Advisor, 5 Apr. 2013, www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/dry-dog-food-cleaner-teeth/.
[4] Dogs, Pancreatitis in, et al. “Pancreatitis in Dogs.” vca_corporate, vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/pancreatitis-in-dogs.
[5] “Dry Dog Food Pros and Cons.” Feeding My Dog Breed, www.feedingmydogbreed.com/dry-dog-food-pros-and-cons.html.
[6] Dry, et al. “Dry, Canned, or Semi-Moist: Food Choices for Dogs.” vca_corporate, vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dry-canned-or-semimoist-food-choices-for-dogs.
[7] Stregowski, Jenna. “The Pros and Cons of Wet Food for Dogs.” The Spruce Pets, www.thesprucepets.com/pros-and-cons-of-wet-food-for-dogs-5079527.
[8] “Treating Constipation in Dogs.” Dog Constipation Remedies | Germantown, MD, 18 Nov. 2019, www.germantownvet.com/blog/treating-constipation-dogs/.