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♥Tiffy♥

Is wet or dry food better?

Or does it make a difference? My Tiffy has always been on wet food, but I have heard that dry food is better and more nutritious. Is this true?


Asked by ♥Tiffy♥ on Feb 28th 2008 in Pet Food
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Marlowe, CGC

There's nothing inherently bad about wet food. There have been multiple studies that have shown that eating wet food does not have any more detrimental effect on teeth than eating all dry food (people had claimed for years that eating kibble somehow "cleans teeth" which is like claiming that if you eat a saltine it will clean your teeth). Wet food does also have the added benefit of a higher water content, which is good for an animal's urinary tract.


Marlowe, CGC answered on 2/28/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Jack

I think that a lot of people choose one or the other, but my belief is that a mixture of both is ideal.

Generally speaking, kibble is actually LESS nutritious for dogs than a high quality canned food.

Some people swear by just one or the other, but when you really look at the breakdown of calories, proteins, minerals and other nutritional factors, a combination of wet and dry is ideal.

Though they do have protien in them, the easiest way to visualize it is to think of kibble as a source of carbohydrates, which means that if you feed only kibble, you are feeding a lower protien diet than with meat.

I think a 60/40 kibble/meat ratio is good and that is what we feed Jack and have fed all our dogs, come to think of it.

The benefits of kibble aren't just nutrient-based, though....they have their place in cleaning the teeth a bit as they are chewed up.

As with any food issue, I think it also depends on the brand, too.


Jack answered on 2/28/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Miss Buddie

Dry food isn't necessarily more nutritious, but it does have more fiber which is good for the digestive tract.


Miss Buddie answered on 2/28/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Gray Dawn Treader

I used to use both wet food and dry food, but right now they only eat dry food because (my parents say) it's cheaper that way. Besides, Lassie Natural Way doesn't come in wet food and I don't like those other dog food brands at the grocery store. I have nothing against wet food though.


Gray Dawn Treader answered on 2/28/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Lady

I am the TOTAL minority here.

I feed my dogs Raw. Also call a BARF diet. Means Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones And Raw Food. There are many sites out there but I just chose this one:
www.barfworld.com
Wiki gives you both sides:
en.wikipedia.org

Bottom line is - I have yet to see or hear of a dog (proven) to have become ill from bacteria that is normally found in meat. Certain bones are absolutely OK to feed -period. Raw is fine cooking them is what make them brittle and shard and cause problems.

Raw provides the most balanced nutrition with out any preservatives or additives that dogs just don't need. Grains and fiber found in kibble that are claimed to help in digestion are simply unnecessary. Read up on it and you will get the idea. ;-)

It is a huge change though, and not to be taken lightly. Requires more effort on the owners part.

I will step down from my soap box. ;-) It's all a personal choice.


Lady answered on 2/28/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


leon

well i feed my dog dry food because wet dog food can give them diaharrea (runs) but it doesn't really matter...


leon answered on 2/28/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Gizmo

My dog refuses to eat dry food, no matter what brand, and trust me we've tried a lot. (Orijen, Innova, TOTW, Timberwolf, Canidae, etc) Anyway, I really like Canidae, plus it's actually less expensive than a lot of the grocery store brands that are junk, so I started mixing a little wet food in with his dry food and he really enjoys it. I think both kinds of foods have their own benifits, so in my opinion, feeding both is the best way to go.


Gizmo answered on 2/28/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Guest

I prefer to give dry food, that way your dog won't become as picky in the long run.But it also depends upon the brand, I think dry BAd foods like Pedigree, Beneful, and Alpo contain more preservatives than the canned varieties (not to say that the canned varieties don't already have craploads of preservatives).

Use something all-natural and organic.

But when switching to dry food, you're going to have to have some tough love, since your dog might refuse to eat in in the first few meals.


Guest 802414 answered on 2/29/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Guest

At the present time I am learning more about a raw food diet. It is new and confusing on the amount and how the dog's body responds to the food. One thing I can say is that over the many years I have fed my dogs a combo of wet and mostly dry. Cheaper? Not really because of the health issues that occur later in their lives. My dogs on the raw food seem more energetic...I know it is fresh and good quality food. I put in what I want. Ex. fresh veg. etc. I have the book barf diet...it really does have good info. I made one error...you can not feed a mixture of raw food with dry dog food...it takes a long time for the dog to digest dry food.
In the last year due to the unhealthy dry food for animals I lost my favorite cat. I owe it to my pets to do the right thing and provide a good and healthy diet.


Guest 316506 answered on 2/29/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Leyna

you could easily do both HOWEVER dry food is a must too keep your dog teeth and gums healthy or else they will rot and fall out.

p.s.-to everyone, no bottled water for dogs (lack of floride, not good, same results)


Leyna answered on 3/4/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Shiloh

It depends with your dog. It doesn't really mean that dry food is more nutrious than wet food. Wet food is usually good for puppies because puppies still have soft teeth that time.


Shiloh answered on 3/6/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Jesse

Dry food is better to feed the wet for obvious reasons.That way you also have wet food to go back to when your dog is not feeling well,or your dog is way from home and not eating well and for many other reasons.


Jesse answered on 3/6/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


Fun On The Run Kennel Racing

I feed a dry food soaked in water so it turns into a wet food. If I feed totally dry the dogs choke from eating so fast.


Fun On The Run Kennel Racing answered on 3/8/08. Helpful? Yes/Helpful: No 0 Report this answer


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