Your Budget
Finally, you also need to factor in your budget. If you are looking to soften your dog food, you are likely not wanting to spend a fortune, or else you would buy canned food. Most of the methods listed below are incredibly affordable, and we guarantee you can find something within your price range. Select a softening method that fits your budget.
No matter what dog food softening method you select, there’s one thing you have to do to get started: plan the timing.
Even though kibble is naturally porous, it does take some time to absorb the liquid. If you use cold liquids to soften the food, you will need at least an hour to soften the kibble adequately, though we recommend more.
Warm liquids take much less time to permeate into the kibble. Nevertheless, it still requires a bit more time than serving regular dog food. You can’t just throw hot water in the bowl and expect the kibble to be soft within 5 seconds.
For this reason, make sure to time the softening process to match your dog’s normal eating time. Of course, the exact timing is a learning process. When you first start softening the dog food, it’s best to give yourself extra time to ensure your dog gets fed at its normal time. Your dog would rather have soft food than hard food it can’t eat.
Why Should You Soften Dog Food?
As dogs get older, their teeth naturally begin to deteriorate, much like human teeth. As their teeth become more brittle and sensitive, they can experience more pain when chewing. Not to mention, their teeth can start falling out or cracking as they get older, making the issue even more difficult.
Can you soften dry dog food?
The best way to pre-moisten dry dog food is to add warm water. This will help release the flavor and aroma from the food better and make it more appetizing. Start by mixing in just a few tablespoons of warm water and wait for the food to soften.
Easy Way to Turn Kibble into Soft Food
The easiest way to soften your dog’s kibble is by adding some water. Kibble is naturally porous. When you add water to the mix, the kibble will slowly absorb it over time. As a result, the crunchy texture starts to break down into a soft mush.