When it comes to taking care of them, our pets are everything to us. It is our job as owners to groom them, give them the proper shots, and make sure they are being fed not only decent, but the very best dog food. A lot pet owners are very strict on what their dog may eat. Often times though, the pet might lose interest in a particular type of food you’ve been feeding them for months. That said, there are some ways you can rejuvenate your pet’s eating habits simply by mixing their foods, especially for dogs.
If you are currently feeding your dog wet and dry food, there are certainly benefits for doing this. Dry food is normally the best option for most pet owners because it’s just cheaper and easier to prepare. It helps their oral health too when they are chewing. They experience a brushing effect, removing tartar and plaque buildup, killing bacteria, and getting rid of nasty bad breath.
Wet food often is not the best for some owners. However, if you find that your pet is not finishing his or her plate wet dog food may be the solution. Many dogs are attracted to its smell and texture. Wet food is good for keeping your dog hydrated too. Depending on your fussy dog’s diet, you may want to consider mixing both wet and dry dog food.
Article Summary
Why Would You Want To?
First of all, when you do a mix feeding for your dog, you are giving him or her a balanced meal. It gives them a chance to enjoy both textures and to get the benefits of both food types. When they see they have a choice of both dry and wet, this may encourage them to lick that bowl clean. With a fussy dog, the smells of the mixed plate can draw their attention to at least trying it. Mixing wet and dry dog food can be very nutritional for your pet. If you want more clarity, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to your local veterinarian for advice.
Is it a good idea?
As mentioned, there are strong benefits in mixing wet and dry food for your dog. It gives a nutritional value to their meals. The aroma alone will get a picky dog to eat it, or at least try it. When you mix your dog’s food, you are also helping to improve their health. So it is a good idea to consider mixing food if they tend to shy away from one or the other. Dry food is good but they will drink way more water to get hydrated. They can also lose their food satisfaction because a hard biscuit just isn’t cutting it. Wet food keeps their hydration intact and has the allure. So it’s smart to take advantage of the health benefits in both types of food.
The Do’s & Don’ts Of Mixing Dog Food
DO’s:
Consider mixing food that has different textures, aromas and shapes. These are some of the most important attributes that will jump start your dog’s appetite. It’s best to try to change things up a bit by creating a mix of these characteristics.
Try adding some water to your dog’s kibble. It can be hard to break some pets from their beloved kibble, but if their interest starts to drift off, add some water. You can try about 1/4 cup of water to the top for moistening purposes. It will certainly increase the flavor.
Mix canned and dry food to help with moisture. In the end, this will ease up on the costs for you at the store. When selecting your canned food, make sure it matches with your dog’s diet.
DON’Ts
Before you launch into mixing anything, it’s best to call your local veterinarian for advice. This helps because you want to consider your pet’s current health condition and diet before you begin mixing foods that may cause negative effects. Your dog may react adversely to specific vitamins or minerals embedded in some foods. So instead of guessing, consult your vet to avoid any issues or health problems with your pet.
It’s also best not mix therapeutic foods with other types of foods as well. Connect with your vet on this to get some sound advice. For pets on therapeutic diets, which are designed to hinder health problems (1), it’s best you don’t add any other food to this kind of diet. It’s possible you may harm your pet or through their system out of whack.
Tips for Mixing Foods Well
Maintain Portion Control
Many super premium foods will have a specific portion size to give to your pet based on their body weight. It can be very different when dealing with wet or dry foods. There are fewer calories per each gram in wet food. When you are changing from one diet to mixed feeding, its not just half a cup of this or a half a cup of that – ask the retailer or your vet. You want to make sure portions fit with your dog’s weight for their health.
Gradual Change
We often believe our dog will eat anything and everything you might feed them. However, this mostly is not true as some pet’s stomachs are sensitive. This is why you want to gradually disrupt their diet to mixing food over a few days. It allows their digestion to adjust to the new food. A great tip is to mix a small portion on the first day and then go from new to old over a seven-day period until everything is thoroughly mixed on the final day.
Overall, mixing wet and dry food doesn’t have to difficult. The best thing you can do is make sure you have a good balance, understand your portions versus your dog’s body weight, don’t rush into the process, remember to consider your dog’s tastes and stomach sensitivity, and don’t start mixing anything until you have consulted with your local veterinarian.
