It’s a question that many dog owners ask when deciding on the right diet for their pooch: is wet or dry food better?

Does one have more nutritional benefits? Should I be feeding a bit of both? Unlike cats who have very specific dietary requirements and can be incredibly finicky eaters, canine appetites are more easily satisfied with either wet or dry.

While vets often advise cat owners to feed wet food, or at least to add a splash of water to a dry kibble diet (cats are notoriously poor drinkers and need to gain their moisture from food), dogs don’t have this problem and will keep their hydration at optimal levels whatever they consume.

But there are pros and cons to both options and ultimately it doesn’t matter too much which you feed, as long as the diet is nutritionally balanced and complete. Some owners prefer to feed a bit of wet and dry, which is perfectly fine, providing you are correctly calculating the feeding amount and not over or under-feeding.

Below is a guideline of the benefits and disadvantages of the two food types which we hope you find useful.

Wet (canned)

Dry (kibble)

Pros
  • Higher in meat protein
  • Higher in natural fats
  • Fewer chemical additives and preservatives
  • More appetising
  • Easier to chew
  • Longer shelf life
  • Convenient
  • Lower cost
  • Less messy
  • Easier to measure
  • More energy dense
  • Easier to store (no refrigeration needed)
  • Possible dental benefits

Cons
  • More expensive
  • Spoilage
  • May contribute to weight gain
  • No dental benefits
  • Lower palatability and less aromatic
  • More likely to contain grains
  • More likely to contain chemical additives and preservatives

It’s unlikely that you’ll feed the same type of food for the duration of your dog’s life and there will be times when a wet or a dry diet will be more appropriate. The important thing to remember is that the food needs to be balanced and contain all the nutrients your dog requires to stay healthy and satisfied.

If your dog is thriving, there is no need to change, but if for whatever reason a dietary change is needed, feel free to get in touch with us for advice on which food might be suitable. If you’d like to comment below, we’ll respond as soon as we can.

Written by: Hannah