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.
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.
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.
How long should puppy food be soaked?
It usually takes 10-15 minutes to soak puppy food enough for it to loosen and soften. This makes it easier for young puppies to chew as they are only just developing their teeth. Make sure if you have used hot water that it is cool enough to give to your puppy – this might take longer than 10-15 minutes.
And I know that feeding both of them soaked food makes them feel more full. Dry foods are so nutrient-dense, that the volume of the amount of food that is calorically appropriate for their weight might not come close to filling up their tummies. If their meal is full of water, it definitely increases satiety – that sensation of fullness. They quit walking around the kitchen looking unsatisfied after their meals when their food is soaked.
However, one shouldn’t moisten food and leave it sitting out at room temperature for very long – I would start being concerned about bacterial growth in moistened food that had been left out at room temperature for more than an hour.
Many people believe that feeding soaked food will help prevent bloat. I’m not sure there’s ever been a study that looked at just that, but it would make sense to me. I’m super cautious about exercise for a couple of hours after feeding, too, for the same reason.
If you’ve ever soaked your dog’s food, you’re aware of how much dry dog food expands when immersed in water. It’s a little horrifying, actually, to realize how much more space a certain amount of food will require in a dog’s stomach and gut once the dog’s digestive juices hydrate the individual kibbles. It nearly doubles in volume. The kibbles are like little sponges – some more than others. I’ve noticed when soaking food for various foster puppies that some kibble is more resistant to soaking than others.
Sometimes, I soak my dogs’ dry food in warm water for 15 or 20 minutes before I feed them.