01 Jan The Great Food Debate – Wet or Dry?

New pet owners often ask if there is a distinct advantage to choosing either dry food or wet food for their pet’s diet. Some would argue that wet food is more of a treat than a dietary staple, while others insist that a diet comprised of entirely dry food is not sufficient to meet their pet’s health needs. As you might expect, both wet and dry foods have their own inherent advantages and disadvantages – there are a lot of factors to consider. We’ve compiled here some facts to help you make the best decision.

Age Considerations

You probably wouldn’t give steak to a baby, or baby food to a teenager, would you? That same level of common sense can apply to the changes in your pet’s capacity to eat different types of food through its life. Certainly, there are different types of dry food developed for different age ranges of pets, and these try to account for a pet’s size and ability to chew. Sometimes, however, you might find that your older pet prefers softer food, if they have difficulty chewing dry food.

Dry Food

The ability to store dry food without refrigeration or the concern of it spoiling is a huge benefit for the pet owner and the pet. Dry food often provides a less expensive meal than wet food. Additionally, the action of chewing some types of dry food helps to clean and strengthen animals’ teeth.

Wet Food

Picky eaters can be very difficult to please, but wet food often will encourage them to eat and is easier to digest. Wet food also, by virtue of its moisture content, does help to increase your pet’s hydration levels, which has benefits including urinary tract health. One thing to consider is that a wet food only diet can contribute to periodontal disease, which is tooth decay or tooth loss.

Alternate, or Mix

As new pet owners get to know their new friends, we encourage them to offer options and watch for signs of pet preferences. It is perfectly acceptable to mix wet and dry food together, and also acceptable to alternate between the food types on different days, offering a well rounded diet.

As always, if you have specific concerns about your pet’s dietary requirements, you should discuss these with a veterinarian. We love your pet as much as you do. Caring for a pet can be challenging at times, especially if you are a new pet owner.