If soaking your pet’s food, make sure it isn’t steeped for too long (up to half an hour is generally fine) as fermentation can occur. The food is also attractive to flies (especially in the warmer weather) so keep it covered whilst it’s being prepared. Soaked food is therefore not ideal for dogs and cats who like to ‘free feed’ or go back and forth to their bowl to eat rather than finish a meal soon after it has been given.
And finally, whatever you feed, even if your dog or cat licks their bowl until it looks sparkling clean; do bear in mind that it isn’t! Bowls should be washed after every meal as there are lots of bacteria that inhabit your pet’s mouth and some are invariably transferred to the bowl.
Some people still do say that crunching on kibble is better for the teeth, but these claims can be rather exaggerated. It is actually the antioxidants in the food that have the greatest benefit to oral hygiene (especially vitamin C), and these are “active” whether the food is served wet or dry. There are plenty of ways to help keep pets’ teeth clean that are more beneficial than simple crunching, including brushing, anti-plaque preparations and dental toys.
It really is down to personal choice. Dry food is easy to store once a pack is opened, less ‘smelly’ to us humans and generally more economical. This is because it is more calorific due to its much lower moisture content. Dry feed portions are subsequently smaller than commercial wet food and nutrients can be packed into kibble without the diluting effects of water. A pet may require several cans or trays a day to provide the same nutrition as the recommended ‘grams per day’ in kibble. Soaked dry food may therefore be a more suitable option for dogs and cats that are unable to tolerate large volumes of food very well.
In the end, the food that’s best for your pet will depend on just that—your pet. Either wet food, dry food, or a combination of both can meet the nutritional needs of your dog or cat. But every animal is unique, and as their caretaker, it is your job to decide what food is best for them, based on their preferences, medical history, physiology, behaviour, and many other factors. If you want to be sure you’re making the right choice, ask your veterinarian! You may even want to consult a veterinary nutritionist.
One potential drawback to dry food that is specific to cats is its effects on gastric emptying, or how long food stays in the stomach. It has been shown that dry cat food leads to longer gastric emptying times, compared to wet food. The shape of the kibble can also have an effect. Why do we care about gastric emptying rates? They can have implications in your cat’s feeling of fullness (food staying in the stomach longer may make them feel fuller for longer), but also their formation of hairballs. Some veterinarians believe that delayed gastric emptying times can lead to hairballs, as the hair that cats consume has more time to twist around, accumulate, and become a tangled ball while in the stomach. This connection, however, is not proven, so should be taken with a grain of salt.
Wet foods and dry foods have similar protein and fat-levels, but dry foods contain significantly more carbohydrates than wet ones. These carbs aren’t a problem for your pet: dogs can digest carbohydrates no problem, as can cats, although at a diminished capacity compared to canines. Just because they’re not a problem though, doesn’t mean the higher carbohydrate levels of dry food are irrelevant. Unlike dogs, cats cannot taste sugar or sweetness but are highly sensitive to the tastes of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins). Some researchers have theorized that cats prefer wet foods because their nutrient profiles are much more similar to their natural diets.
One major benefit to choosing a dry pet food is its long shelf life. As it doesn’t spoil rapidly, kibble can be bought in bulk. Doing so not only means fewer trips to the pet store, but it also saves you money as, per calorie, dry food is cheaper than wet food. This is especially true as you buy kibble in bulk. Dry food’s shelf stability means it can be left out in the home, to allow animals to eat on their own schedule (something especially beneficial for pets that like to graze), and can be put in an automatic feeder, or a feeder with a large hopper, so that it needs to be refilled only every few days. In an emergency, having kibble for your pets on hand is safer than canned food, as a lack of power would mean a lack of refrigeration.
Prior to the 1950s rise of the extruded kibble we know today, canned wet dog and cat food dominated the market. The first canned dog food was made of horse meat and was introduced to the market in 1922 as “Ken-L-Ration,” whereas the first canned cat food didn’t come to market until eight years later in 1930.
How Is Wet Dog Food Processed?
Wet food starts with grinding the protein sources, or meat ingredients. Then a gravy that contains vitamins, minerals, and grains is added. Once those are mixed, the food is cooked and sterilized to produce the canned product.
As a result, wet food has a much higher moisture content than dry food. You can see the percentage of maximum moisture on the label, under the Guaranteed Analysis section. A dry food might have around 10% moisture (max.) while a wet food might have something like 78% moisture (max.).
Dry Vs. Wet Pet Food – What’s The Difference?
Ever wondered what’s better? A canned dog food — or a kibble? For me, it took a trip away from home and a call from the kennel attendant that finally helped me solve that riddle.
“Bailey hasn’t eaten a bite in two whole days,” she advised. “What would you like us to do?
We had gone away for the holidays and had no choice but to leave our little guy with the vet.
Bailey’s recent favorite — a chicken and rice kibble — had been brought along with him to the kennel. But now he didn’t want any part of it.
“Why don’t you let me try something. It almost always works, especially with our finicky dogs who refuse to eat.”
When I called back a few hours later I was relieved to find out Bailey had “gobbled up every bit of it… and even licked the bowl”.
Canned dog food. That was it. Bailey wouldn’t eat the kibble. But he sure did love that wet food.
So, I decided to learn more about canned dog food. I knew Bailey liked it. And he liked it a lot more than he liked kibble.
But I had to be sure if it was OK for him to eat. After all, I’d always heard that canned dog food wasn’t as good for dogs as kibble.