Pet foods come in so many shapes, sizes, and textures that you as an owner are bound to be troubled while figuring out what’s best for your pet.
If you’re looking to decide between dry and wet pet foods, both types have pros and cons; so, choosing between them entirely depends on what type of eater your pet is and what is more convenient for you.
Knowing a little bit about the two types and their pros and cons may help you decide.
Dry Pet Foods
These come in bags of different sizes, either in the form of biscuits or kibble – food shaped into pellets. They are abundant in carbohydrates like wheat, barley, maize, and corn, which give the foods their structure and texture. Although pets like cats and dogs don’t absolutely need carbs in their diet, the carbs in these foods provide the energy your pet needs alongside amino acids and fiber. In addition, dry foods also have meat and fish, which are usually ground and mixed together. They may also have vegetable ingredients like soybean. Not just that, dry foods are also abundant in preservatives to allow the foods to be used for longer.
Benefits
- Dry foods such as kibble are quite easy for pets to eat.
- You can leave dry food outside for your pets to eat as and when they want to without having to worry about the food getting spoiled. This allows you to leave it out for a long time, making the task of feeding your pet easy for you.
- Dry foods are also easy to store – you could store them in an air-tight container to keep rodents and insects away.
- Buying dry food works out cost-effective if you have a lot of pets.
- They can also be used as a dental health supplement.
- Some types come in all kinds of sizes, helping you choose easily.
Disadvantages
- Dry foods do not provide as much moisture as wet foods. Moisture in pet food becomes important as your pet grows older or when your pet is ill.
- Dry foods tend to be deficient in proteins, which are important for your pet’s development.
Wet Pet Foods
Wet foods contain almost 70–80% water, which is present in combination with ingredients like gelatin that hold it in place with the dry ingredients. They are also rich in proteins and fat, which are likely to make the foods tastier for pets. The amount of carbohydrates in wet foods is also much lesser than that in dry foods. Not just that, they are also devoid of preservatives as they are meant to be used up in a few days.
Benefits
- If your pet is the kind that doesn’t drink enough water, wet food might be a good idea because it hydrates your pet without additional calories.
- Older pets are likely to lose their olfactory senses – sense of smell. So, they’re most likely to prefer foods with a great scent and flavor, which wet foods often have. Wet foods are also great if your pet is sick, has a small appetite, and cannot smell too well.
- Wet foods are also great for dogs with dental problems like missing teeth, poorly aligned jaws, and smaller mouths because chewing becomes much easier.
Disadvantages
- Pets tend to make a mess when they eat wet food.
- Once it is opened, wet food loses its shelf life quickly. It needs to be refrigerated and used up as soon as possible. This is why it needs to be bought in smaller amounts, making it more expensive than dry food.
So, Which Of The Two Should You Pick?
Either type should be able to fulfill your pet’s nutritional requirements as long as it has good quality ingredients. Make your choice based on what you feel is best for your pet in the long run, factoring in what is convenient for you. You can also choose to give your pet a mix of both dry and wet foods – mix them together or give the wet food occasionally as a treat.
Remember to also consult with your veterinarian for inputs on which type is better for your pet’s age, health, and breed. Choose wisely for a happy and healthy pet!
