Which is more cost-effective?
One of the most frequently compared aspects is the price of food. Good quality wet food can cost on average 10 zł/kg, while a dog weighing 20-30 kg should eat about one kilogram of food per day. On the other hand, the price of good quality dry food is about 17 zł/kg, but the daily portion for a dog of the same weight is about 400 g. Owners of large dogs will definitely prefer dry food, as feeding a dog good quality wet food can be quite expensive. For small breed dogs, which consume much less food during the day, the difference is not as drastic.
Storing dog food
Another important factor is the convenience of storage and serving. Meat cans should be stored in the refrigerator after opening. However, it should be noted that they need to be taken out in advance before serving so that the dog does not eat a cold meal. Cans should not remain open for too long. This serving option is quite problematic because owners of small breed dogs divide the contents of the can into several meals, or even for the next days.
What about dry food? It also should not remain open for too long, as it absorbs moisture, which consequently leads to the growth of mycotoxins. Such food will be harmful to dogs. However, it can be successfully stored in a tightly sealed package or container. Dry food is easier to take on trips or use as part of training and play.
Match the type of food to your four-legged friend!
When choosing food, attention should be paid to the dog's age and size. When buying dry food, the owner should remember to choose the appropriate size of the kibble. For large breed dogs, the pieces should not be too small, as they will not be chewed and will be swallowed whole. This problem does not occur with wet food – for smaller dogs it can be easily mashed with a fork, and for large breed dogs, larger pieces can be served.
Preferences of the dog are also important when choosing food. Wet food usually has a stronger smell, making it more attractive to dogs whose sense of smell is much more sensitive than humans. Wet food is also more willingly eaten by older dogs, which often have problems chewing due to deteriorated teeth. The same applies to young puppies who are just starting to eat solid food. Owners often solve this problem by soaking dry food in water, but such a meal may be less attractive to the dog due to a less intense smell and taste.
Food moisture and dog hydration
What distinguishes dry food from wet food is the moisture level. Meat cans contain about 70% water (mainly water from the meat), while dry food has only 8-10%. We must still remember that proper hydration of the body is very important. In the case of a diet based on dry food, the dog owner should ensure that the dog drinks enough water, especially on warm days. When a dog eats wet food, it may drink much less water because it gets water along with the food.
BARF as an alternative to dog food
An alternative is the BARF diet, which involves preparing your own mixes of raw meat and supplements based on the dog's current test results. It requires the owner to have extensive knowledge and to dedicate time to preparing the mix. It also requires some financial investment, as all necessary supplements must be purchased. The average costs of this feeding method are lower than regular purchases of dry or wet food. A definite advantage is the possibility of individually preparing the mix and trying to perfectly match the composition to the dog's current health condition. The owner also has the comfort of checking the quality of the products used to prepare the meal for their dog. Downsides? This feeding model definitely requires much more involvement from the caretaker.
Summary. Which food to choose?
The choice of food is always an individual matter. It is difficult to definitively say which feeding model is best. The choice will be influenced by the dog's breed, size, age, taste preferences, health condition, and the owner's lifestyle. For an active large breed dog whose owner often takes it on trips and rewards it in training with food that forms the basis of the diet, dry food with concentrated, high protein content will be a good choice. On the other hand, the owner of a small dog who spends most of the day on the couch can successfully choose wet food as the basis of the diet.
Regardless of the type of food, it is important to choose only good quality products whose main ingredient is animal protein, without unnecessary additives. The food should be adapted to the dog's needs. A pet with low activity should not be given high-calorie food. If the choice is difficult, it is worth consulting an animal nutritionist. They will help select the most beneficial food in a given situation that will be both healthy and attractive to the dog.
Tags:
