Why supplement dog food with wet food?

Choosing our furry friend's diet is one of our main responsibilities. There are so many options and alternatives on the market these days that it can make us unsure when choosing one option or another.

Generally speaking, mixing dry and wet dog food is a good option . However, in this article, we'll briefly review the different ways we can feed our dogs, so you can choose the option that best suits their needs. Keep reading!

What is the best dog food?

If we search online or visit a pet store, we'll find that there are many brands of dog food and other types of food.

Generally speaking, food can be classified into 4 types: dry, wet, raw (or BARF diet) and homemade .

When considering the best dog food, we should consider the most complete and balanced option, providing our furry friend with all the proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals they need for a healthy diet. Obviously, the quality of the product we include in their diet should be as high as possible, prioritizing options made with natural ingredients .

It's worth noting that most people opt for quality dry and wet food instead of raw and homemade alternatives, since having the time to prepare our furry friend's meals daily is something few people have the luxury of being able to do due to the lifestyle of today's society.

Furthermore, prepared foods, such as dry dog ​​food or canned food, have been studied and perfected by expert nutritionists, ensuring that your pet will have all its nutritional requirements met. Therefore, below we'll discuss the main differences between the two and how we can combine them to achieve the best results.

Differences between dry food and wet food

Their main difference is the amount of moisture or water in the food. Dry food typically has a lower percentage, typically between 8 and 14%, while wet food usually contains at least 30-35% moisture, with much higher values ​​often reaching 80% or more.

Another key factor is the shelf life of the product . Dry food generally lasts longer than usual for weeks, while wet food should be consumed more quickly, as once opened, it deteriorates more quickly, which could lead to spoilage and negatively affect your dog's health.

We must also consider the energy intake of each type of food. Wet dog food, with a higher moisture content, will provide less energy than kibble for the same amount. However, if we want to help hydrate our dog, this type of food is perfect, as it will provide water without having to drink directly from its food or water bowl. It is very important to provide this type of food, especially during hot weather.

Finally, it's worth noting that wet food is usually more appetizing than dry food to our furry friends, so it will be easy to introduce into their diet if they haven't tried it yet.

What should I mix with my dog's food? The benefits of mixed feeding

By combining dog food with wet food, both the animal and its owner can benefit from the strengths of each type of food.

At a general level, we could achieve the following:

1. Save: Dry food is usually cheaper, so if your dog only eats wet food and you mix both types, you can reduce your bill a little at the end of the month.
2. Maintain your pet's dental hygiene: dry food is beneficial for their teeth, helping to reduce tartar and plaque. It also trains the pet's masticatory muscles.
3. Duration: By combining both meals, it will take longer until we need to refill our food baskets. A large bag of food can last quite a while, so it's great for organizing their meals.
4. Energy and nutrients: By mixing dry food with wet food, we improve our furry friend's diet, providing all the nutrients he needs. It's important to provide a balanced amount of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals to prevent problems and diseases. Natural dog food can be your greatest ally.
5. Hydration: Wet food will help our dog stay better hydrated. As we mentioned before, this is especially important during very hot months, when drinking more water is crucial.
6. Appetite: Wet food smells and tastes better, at least to our little ones. That's why mixing it with their dry food will make them more happy during mealtimes.
7. Variety: We can combine different types of feed with wet food options, avoiding routine and making your pet hate its diet. At Arquivet, you can find a wide variety of digestive feed along with a multitude of wet food options, from canned dogs made with natural ingredients to tasty sausages.

Natural dog food: your best ally

When choosing food for your dog, it's important to consider options that include natural, high-quality ingredients . You should also know if your dog has any intolerances, such as gluten. There are grain-free or gluten-free dog foods that can be a suitable alternative for these cases. This type of food is also often great for dogs with digestive problems.

On the other hand, if you're looking for a cheap dog food, make sure it 's a good value. Obviously, the quality of the cheaper options won't be the same as the premium ones, but the important thing is that they meet minimum quality standards. If you have any doubts, you can always talk to your trusted veterinarian and they'll help you decide.