There has been controversy surrounding dry food in the dog food world for years now. Proponents of raw food and fresh food diets argue that dry dog food is unhealthy due to being highly processed, but others have a more balanced view. According to Heather Hoffman, DVM, there are pros and cons to both wet and dry food diets, and in this post, we’re going to explore this further.

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Maxbetter Vizelberg

Veterinarian, DVM

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Maxbetter Vizelberg

Veterinarian, DVM

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Pros of Dry Food

As Dr. Hoffman mentions in her article on wet and dry food, dry food can be beneficial to dogs in several ways. One of the most prominent benefits is dental health. Dry food has that extra crunch factor which helps reduce plaque and tartar build-up and contributes to healthier gums.

That said, not every dry food or treat is beneficial in this manner. If you’d like to learn more, check out the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s list of accepted products—those that they have deemed to be beneficial for dental health.

In addition to the potential dental benefits, dry food has the added bonus of convenience. Wet food tends to congeal if left out for too long, whereas dry food can be left out for longer and is much easier to store—including in feeders and toys—and keep fresh.

High-quality dry foods also tend to come with feeding guidelines, which can be very useful in determining exactly how much your dog should be eating.

Cons of Dry Food

Like Dr. Hoffman, Ada McVean, B.Sc, lists both the pros and cons of dry food in her Wet Vs. Dry Pet Food article. One of the drawbacks she brings attention to is the fact that dogs typically find dry food less tasty than wet food. If your dog is under a weight loss plan, this isn’t such a bad thing, but for dogs that actually need to gain weight, it can make things more difficult.

McVean also notes that it’s harder to offer variety with only dry food. You can purchase wet food in a variety of flavors, but you’ll typically only buy one bag of dry food in one flavor. Additionally, wet food contains more moisture, which helps to keep your dog hydrated.

Dry food also has a higher fat content than wet food, so it’s easier for your dog to become overweight if you’re not careful with portion control. Obesity is one of the most common health issues encountered by dogs, and the condition can easily spiral into other conditions, so it’s hugely important to be conscientious about this issue.

Wet food is sometimes recommended for dogs with weight issues over dry food, as it gives dogs that “full” feeling quicker and, as mentioned, has a lower fat content.

Should I Feed Dry Food to My Dog?

Feeding both wet and dry food simultaneously is a great way to offer your dog a varied and balanced diet and ensures they reap the benefits of both. You can either put the wet and dry food in the same bowl or feed them separately—whichever works best for you and your dog! Avoid feeding dry food for a stint, then suddenly switching to wet food and vice versa, though, as this can cause stomach upset.

It’s important if you go this route to make sure your dog is still getting their recommended daily calorie intake and to be mindful of over- and underfeeding. It may be beneficial to stick with the same protein source and/or brand of wet and dry food and avoid mixing brands.

Conclusion

In short, dry food isn’t necessarily bad for dogs as long as you aren’t underfeeding or overfeeding and are sticking to high-quality, trusted brands. There are both pros and cons to dry food, and this is also the case with wet food. As some experts have mentioned, a mix of both dry and wet food seems to be a good option as it means your dog can benefit from both types of food.

Above all, every dog is an individual and they all have different needs. If you’re unsure which diet would be best for your dog, we recommend talking your concerns through with an animal nutritionist or vet. These are your go-to people for making sure your dog is eating a diet that best suits their individual needs.

Sources

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/feed-my-dog-fresh-raw-food-or-dog-kibble/ https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/dry-dog-food-vs-wet-dog-food-which-better https://rawbistro.com/blogs/raw-bistro/why-kibble-is-bad-for-dogs#:~:text=In%20dry%20pet%20food%2C%20there’s,hair%20loss%20and%20ear%20infections. https://www.eukanuba.com/us/health-and-fitness/health-and-fitness-articles/is-wet-or-dry-food-better-for-dogs#:~:text=One%20benefit%20of%20feeding%20your,helps%20to%20clean%20their%20teeth. https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/waterbowl/article/is-dry-food-best-for-pets-teeth http://www.vohc.org/ http://www.feedingmydogbreed.com/dry-dog-food-pros-and-cons.html https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/dog-food-ten-scary-truths/ https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/nutrition/wet-versus-dry-pet-food-one-better-your-pet https://www.purewow.com/family/wet-or-dry-food-better-for-dogs https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/obesity-in-dogs https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/wet-vs-dry-dog-food https://www.petcoach.co/question/?id=361695#:~:text=Yes%2C%20dogs%20can%20do%20very,cook%20all%20their%20dogs%20meals.

Featured Image Credit: cottonbro, Pexels

Sources

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/feed-my-dog-fresh-raw-food-or-dog-kibble/ https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/dry-dog-food-vs-wet-dog-food-which-better https://rawbistro.com/blogs/raw-bistro/why-kibble-is-bad-for-dogs#:~:text=In%20dry%20pet%20food%2C%20there’s,hair%20loss%20and%20ear%20infections. https://www.eukanuba.com/us/health-and-fitness/health-and-fitness-articles/is-wet-or-dry-food-better-for-dogs#:~:text=One%20benefit%20of%20feeding%20your,helps%20to%20clean%20their%20teeth. https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/waterbowl/article/is-dry-food-best-for-pets-teeth http://www.vohc.org/ http://www.feedingmydogbreed.com/dry-dog-food-pros-and-cons.html https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/dog-food-ten-scary-truths/ https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/nutrition/wet-versus-dry-pet-food-one-better-your-pet https://www.purewow.com/family/wet-or-dry-food-better-for-dogs https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/obesity-in-dogs https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/wet-vs-dry-dog-food https://www.petcoach.co/question/?id=361695#:~:text=Yes%2C%20dogs%20can%20do%20very,cook%20all%20their%20dogs%20meals.