As pet parents, we all want what is best for our fur babies. What we feed them is a big part of that. Knowing how to choose the best dog food or the best cat food for your pet is a tricky and sometimes long endeavor.
A common question we get from pet owners at Pawfect Pet & House SItter is if wet food or dry food is better nutritionally and healthwise for their cat or dog?
Many factors go into understanding the best food for your pet, and there are pros and cons to both types of food. However, sometimes the cons will outweigh the pros. That’s why we are here to help you understand the differences, benefits, and downsides between wet and dry food.
Pros and cons of wet food
Wet food is more commonly fed to cats than dogs, and there are many reasons to feed wet food to a pet. Many older dogs, puppies, or dogs with health issues may benefit from adding wet food to their diet. However, before introducing your pet to wet food, it is essential to consult a veterinarian to develop the ideal meal plan.
Wet food prescribed by your veterinarian will often contain extra vitamins and minerals that aren’t always in other pet foods. Pets that struggle to chew dry food or need food with higher water content can also benefit from wet food.
However, wet food does have its downsides. Wet food can be terrible for your pet’s, especially dog’s, teeth, breath, and certain brands will have a vast number of fillers or preservatives.
When presented with the choice between either wet or dry food, your pet will almost always choose the wet food. The excitement surrounding food can cause your pet to gain weight as it is harder to control and ration portion sizes of wet food versus dry food.
That’s why it is important to consult a pet health expert about diet before introducing wet food to your pet. If your veterinarian recommends wet food, it shouldn’t be the only food type in your pet’s diet. Oral health will also become a primary concern, and you may need to start brushing their teeth daily to prevent tooth decay.
Pros and cons of dry food
Before we get into the pros of dry pet food, it is important to mention that not all pet foods are created equal. It is necessary for your pet’s well-being to be vigilant in reading and understanding pet food ingredients before you introduce them to any type of food on a daily basis. Just as what we eat impacts our health, what we feed our pets influences their health as well.
For more information on how to choose the best pet food for your cat or dog, click the links below:
[How to Choose the Best Food for Your Dog]
[How to Choose the Best Food for Your Cat]
Honestly, in most circumstances, dry food does not have many disadvantages unless it contains fillers or bad ingredients. Dry food is easy to ration for portion control, it is often less expensive, and it can help keep your pet’s teeth clean. It is also easy to use in toy puzzles to keep your dog mentally engaged while eating or stopping them from eating too fast.
One issue many pet owners run into with dry food is that their pet gets bored of it. That’s understandable, as we would get bored if we ate the same thing for every meal too. Keeping things interesting can be easy with dry pet food without changing food every couple of months. All you need to do is add a few meal toppers at each meal.
Meal toppers can be a little bit of wet food, pet safe human-grade food, treats, or pet food toppers.
Is dry food better than wet food?
There are pros and cons to both dry and wet food. However, in most cases, dry food is much better for your pet’s health. If your dog or cat favors wet food, that is because it is more interesting to eat and often has more flavor.
Keep in mind that wet food should not necessarily be the only type of food you feed your pet. Mix up your pet’s diet, and consult your veterinarian if you are concerned about your pet’s diet.
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