The benefits of mixed feeding for your dog

Written by Iris | 7 November 2024

Do you only feed your dog kibble, or are you considering adding wet food as well? It’s perfectly possible to combine the two. There are several benefits to offering both dry and wet food, and your dog is likely to enjoy it, too!

Different types of wet food for dogs

There are many types of wet food available for dogs. Wet food can be offered in a variety of forms, such as meat pieces in gravy, pâté, mousse, or fresh meat. Compared to dry food, it has a more refined taste and a stronger aroma, which makes it especially appealing to picky eaters. Mixed feeding is therefore an ideal solution.

Health Benefits of Mixed Feeding for Your Dog

Combining both wet and dry food has benefits that go beyond just treating your dog; it also offers health benefits:

Supports healthy urinary function
Promotes dental hygiene
Aids digestion and supports a healthy gut flora
Enhances the taste experience for picky eaters
Encourages hydration
Contains fewer calories for maintaining a healthy weight

Both types of food contain certain fibres that support digestion. With wet food, you provide extra moisture, helping to keep your dog hydrated. This dilutes the urine, making it less concentrated, which benefits urinary health. Additionally, the high moisture content in wet food can prevent hard, dry stools and is especially important for dogs that don’t drink much water. Chewing on dry food kibble also promotes dental hygiene, while the softer texture of wet food is easier for older dogs or those with dental issues to eat. For digestive issues, such as vomiting, wet food can also be helpful temporarily—not only because of the increased hydration but also because it’s more palatable and gentle on the stomach. When your dog is unwell, it’s easy for them to lose weight. During this recovery period, choosing a recovery food with a higher energy content (kcal) per 100g can be beneficial, for example:

It’s always essential to ensure your dog has access to fresh drinking water!

How to ‘mix’ wet and dry food

If you decide to give your dog both dry and wet food, there are a few ways to go about it. For example, you could serve dry food in the morning and wet food in the evening or vice versa. You can also use wet food as a treat for good behaviour or mix a little wet food with dry kibble. When mixing wet and dry food, be mindful not to increase your dog’s calorie intake, as this could lead to weight gain.

The amount of wet food your dog needs depends on various factors, as every dog is different. For example, puppies have different dietary needs than adult dogs, and specific wet foods are available for puppies. The size of the puppy is also considered, such as:

Puppies with an adult weight of up to 10 kg – Royal Canin Mini Puppy Wet
Puppies with an adult weight of 10 to 25 kg – Royal Canin Medium Puppy Wet
Puppies with an adult weight of 25 to 45 kg – Royal Canin Maxi Puppy Wet

Wet food for dogs with health conditions

If your dog has a health condition, it may be necessary to support them with a specialised wet food diet. This can apply to dogs with reduced kidney function, bladder stones, or food allergies requiring an elimination diet. Fortunately, there are many hypoallergenic dog foods on the market, such as Vetality Hypoallergenic Dog Wet, making it easier to find suitable wet food for your dog.

Every dog is unique, so it’s essential to consider your dog’s specific needs!

If you have further questions, please contact us at veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk.