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8/3/2014
From the desk of Sharda Baker.
Hi and welcome everyone!
Today, let’s know about wet and dry dog foods!
This is Sharda with a wonderful newsletter about dog food.
This choice is often dictated by price as dry dog foods tend to be the cheaper option when compared to the canned foods.
There are owners who believe, sometimes wrongfully so, that the wet foods are better in quality due to their expensive price tag.
Seeing wet foods as gourmet does not mean that it is better in a dietary sense.
So what are the advantages of one over the other?
Dry food works best for people who leave their food down all the time (free choice) because it won’t dry out when left sitting for long periods.
It’s also less expensive per meal than canned, too. But, hey, some pets can be really picky eaters.
Some will only eat certain flavours or brands of food. Others will eat only dry food, and still others will eat only wet food.
By the way, unless your dog is a self-regulator (meaning he only eats to feel full and then quits), free choice isn’t a great idea as it often leads to obesity.
Most dry dog foods are corn, soybean or rice based.
Some of the better brands, however, have meat or fish meal as the first listed ingredient(s).
Although higher priced, nutritionally speaking, they are worth checking out.
Dry dog foods have greater caloric density meaning there is less water in a cup of food as compared to a canned food diet.
This isn’t really an issue for smaller dogs, but your larger dog will have a problem eating enough volume of canned food to fulfill their caloric needs because they get a lot of water in the food.
Generally speaking, larger dogs, meaning those that weigh over 30 pounds (13.60 kg), should be fed a dry or semi-moist food.
Usually the only difference between the dry and canned versions of food is generally the water content. Another advantage of canned food is that it is very digestible and most do not contain preservatives.
Dry food is very good for the teeth, but does not get rid of tartar. For that, you brush their teeth and offer your dog acceptable things to chew on.
VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN DOG FOODS
These dietary options are not just for humans. For those unaware of the difference between vegetarianism and veganism, vegetarianism excludes any meat product from a diet, such as animal flesh, poultry, fish, and animal by- products.
Veganism is the exclusion of any and all animal products from the diet and lifestyle, including items made from animals, either for consumption or other purposes.
When thinking about switching to either a vegetarian or vegan diet for your pet, it will be necessary to consult your veterinarian.
The important thing to remember with this type of diet is that it needs to be BALANCED and still contain all the important mineral and vitamin supplements required by a dog.
It is interesting to note that most vegan sites will also include a note that says: “After switching dogs to a vegetarian diet, watch for chronic gastrointestinal problems, and note any new health problems.
Most dogs’ health improves on a vegetarian diet, but occasionally an animal may not thrive, so use common sense if this occurs.
Vegetarian and vegan commercial foods can be useful for an allergic dog that cannot tolerate common sources of animal protein or fat.
Although the instance of food allergies in dogs isn’t great, it does happen. The owner can add specific canned or fresh meat types and has control over the amount added.
I hope you learned a lot from today’s dog food newsletter.
I will be back for more!
Warmest regards,
Sharda Baker