Both wet and dry dog foods have benefits, so combining them provides the best of both worlds.
Three Reasons to Mix It up at Mealtime
1. Win-Win for Everyone: Dogs get the tasty food they crave while Pet Parents feel good knowing their best pal’s nutritional needs are being met. Wet food provides hydration benefits and flavor enhancement, while dry food carries crunch appeal and tartar removal benefits while chewing.
2. Menu Variety: Just like us, some dogs don’t want the same meal repeated every day. By mixing wet and dry food, the menu options increase and make mealtime more exciting.
3. Money Savings: Mixing wet dog food into dry or using it as a tasty topper boosts flavor while cutting down on the amount of kibble used. Mealtime becomes more appetizing for your pup as you cut costs.
Which Dogs Can Benefit the Most from Mixing?
Most dogs, other than those on restricted or prescription diets, can benefit from mixed meals, but dogs with certain tendencies or health conditions can benefit most of all. If your dog falls into one of these groups, mixing can be a game changer and helps hydrate them.
Picky eaters: Mixing wet and dry dog foods opens finicky eaters up to a variety of tasty flavors and textures that even the fussiest dogs can find irresistible.
Low-appetite dogs: Wet food appeals to dogs’ senses, so mixing is an effective way to lure them to finish their dry food.
Senior dogs: Even if their sense of smell is weaker than it was, older dogs will still detect the strong, mouthwatering aroma of wet food in their bowls.
Dogs with small jaws or dental issues: Small dogs, senior dogs and dogs with missing teeth or other dental problems can all struggle to chew dry food. Wet food is easier to swallow and can help soften kibble.
Tips for Mixing Wet and Dry Dog Food
It’s important you feed your best pal the right proportion and total amount of wet and dry dog food to ensure nutritional needs are met and accidental weight gain is avoided. So before you mix it up at mealtime, check out these tips.
• Get your dog’s body condition score: Every dog is different, so your buddy’s caloric needs have to be calculated by having your veterinarian assess your dog’s body condition score. Tip: bring the actual wet and dry dog food you plan to mix so that your veterinarian can calculate for that specific combination.
• Monitor daily calories: While mixing wet and dry food isn’t difficult, it does require a little extra work. Once your pup’s daily calorie amount has been calculated, track how many calories you serve your dog each day including mixed wet and dry foods, plus treats.
• Use a few tricks: If your dog isn’t eating as much as he should, switch up shapes, textures and aromas to entice your buddy back to his bowl.
