When you think of dog food, you usually immediately think of an aluminum can with a strong smelling contents, and some people can hardly imagine anything more disgusting than dog food from a can. But this complete food, also known as wet food, is not disgusting for dogs at all - quite the opposite. Many dog lovers notice that their own dog prefers wet food much more and spurns the dry version once it has tried canned food.
The difference is often not that big and one of the most important differences is the liquid contained. But there are more advantages and disadvantages to consider. You can find out everything you need to know here!
Content: Wet food - what you need to know about it
- The dog food basics
- Wet food for puppies
- Wet food for dogs with allergies and intolerances
- Is dry or wet food better?
- How do you switch from dry to wet food?
- Conclusion
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Wet food for puppies
Choosing food for puppies is often difficult because you can't always be sure how the little four-legged friend will react to the food. Whether puppies prefer dry or wet food is usually an individual matter. However, there is now specially developed puppy food that provides the most important nutrients according to their age, such as the right amount of calcium for healthy bone growth. So if you're wondering which food is considered the best wet food for small dogs, you should choose a variety that is rich in calcium.
But when can you give puppies wet food and when can puppies eat wet food? You should pay attention to how your puppy reacts to the food and adjust the food accordingly.
Wet food for dogs with allergies and intolerances
In the case of allergic reactions, for example to gluten, you can also choose wet puppy food without grains. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for dogs to have allergies or intolerances to various foods. Whether wet food should be grain-free varies from dog to dog. In the case of some intolerances, it is also appropriate to give wet dog food without grains and sugar.
Just like humans, dogs can develop a variety of allergies and intolerances. However, many manufacturers have now focused on producing special hypoallergenic dog food that is specifically designed for these dogs.
There are therefore types of food that are mixed from very few ingredients so that the dog receives the necessary nutrients without losing track of the ingredients. There is also organic wet dog food, which is preferred by some dog owners, or even low-purine wet dog food to ensure the dog has balanced health.
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Info: Purines are natural compounds that occur in the body and in many foods. They are essential for the formation of adenine and guanine in our DNA and RNA. Some dogs cannot tolerate purine because they lack the necessary enzyme.
If wet food is the cause of a dog food allergy, you should first give your dog a different food and find out whether he can tolerate a certain amount of wet food or whether he should stay away from it. Whether dry food or wet food is the best choice for dogs depends very much on the individual dog's tolerance.
Is dry or wet food better?
As the names suggest, dry and wet food differ particularly in their liquid content. It is not uncommon for wet food to contain up to 80% water. Dry food , on the other hand, usually contains no more than 15%. The different water content also affects the shelf life of the food. The less liquid the food contains, the longer it will last. However, you should consider the best wet dog food to be the food that your dog likes the most and that suits him best.
How do you switch from dry to wet food?
If you are currently feeding your dog dry food but would like to change his diet in the future, there are a few different ways to go about it. You may need to experiment a bit, as it is not easy to know how much wet food is the right amount for your dog.
From one day to another
The first and perhaps easiest way to change your dog's diet from dry to wet food is to make a complete change from one day to the next. However, this type of food change is only recommended for healthy dogs that do not suffer from any physical ailments. Therefore, pay attention to how fit and lively your dog is before you change the food in such a short time. Otherwise, you can give your four-legged friend mixed food for a while so that he gradually gets used to it. This way you can change your dog's diet without putting too much strain on him.
In small steps
If you want to change your four-legged friend's food continuously, you can make a few small changes every day. To ensure that the dog accepts the change in food, you can also mix different types of food to make the change a little easier. For example, you can add a little wet food to each meal. After you have given your dog this mixture for a few days or even a week, you can start serving a food mixture that consists of a 50% mixture. Good dog food is usually also characterized by a high level of tolerance. Therefore, you cannot say per se whether this type of food is good or bad for dogs.
If your dog accepts the food, you can try offering your dog a meal of wet food only after another week. If he accepts the food, you can then only give him this type of food from now on. In general, it is difficult to decide how much wet food is appropriate for dogs. Therefore, it is always important to closely monitor your dog and his reactions to the food and to recognize any reactions early on. One problematic point is that, unlike dry food, wet food does not cause mechanical abrasion on the teeth, which in turn can promote the formation of plaque and tartar . However, if your dog reacts positively overall, it means that you can offer him the food without any problems.
Conclusion
Wet food is often the first choice - at least for dogs. Because canned wet food is not only more expensive than dry food, but also heavier, many dog lovers opt for a healthy mix of both. Dog nutrition is not something you can learn in a day, but with time and careful observation of your dog, you will soon find out what your four-legged friend likes and what suits him.
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