Which is Best for Pets: Dry, Semi-Moist, or Canned?

This question, like many others, has no universal solution. Your pet is unique. Consider your pet’s age, size, breed, and any current medical issues when choosing a diet. Of course, you must also evaluate the diet’s nutritional content, about which you can also checkout mentalitch.

Dietary Quality

Quality matters in most cases. However, in today’s pet food industry, it’s impossible to separate diet quality from marketing strategy. When in doubt, talk about your vet about particular food choices.

Semi-Moist Foods

Semi-wet food is moister than dry food but less moist than canned food. It contains a lot of salt and sugar. Cats and dogs don’t need this much salt or sugar. Sticky, sweet foods may also cause tooth problems. Dental caries (cavities) are common in humans but rare in dogs and cats. Inflammation and infection of the gum tissue promotes loosening and retraction of the gum tissue surrounding the tooth, ultimately leading to tooth loss. Sticky, sweet meals may cause gingivitis and periodontitis. Experts often advise against semi-moist meals and favouring dry or canned foods. Know more checkout mentalitch.

Defying Dry Food Myths

Why do people select dry food for their medium and big breed dogs? Larger dogs and cats need more food, and dry food is simple to carry, store, and prepare. Because canned food includes more water (typically 80-85%) than dry food (generally 10% or less), dry food is usually cheaper per serving, particularly when giving a high-quality meal. Most pet owners feed their pets dry kibble due to cost and convenience.

Many people believe that by scraping or cleaning the teeth during chewing, dry kibble reduces the buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth, thereby delaying the development of dental disease. While chewing dry food works the mouth, it doesn’t offer much mechanical scraping motion. When a tooth’s tip contacts dry food, it shatters before the tooth can scrape it. While canned foods may encourage quicker plaque and tartar formation, plaque and tartar will ultimately accumulate regardless of food type. Optimal oral health requires daily home maintenance, annual dental examinations, and expert cleanings.

Why Buy Canned Foods?

Smaller dogs and cats consume less than bigger canines, therefore excellent canned meals are less expensive. Smaller dogs have more crowded teeth, allowing plaque and tartar to readily build. Some owners claim their dog is used to canned food and will not eat dry food. Dietary restrictions apply, however dental care should be prioritised. Canning food pets may need yearly professional veterinarian dental cleanings. Canned meals are simpler to chew for dogs with dental disease or other oral discomfort.

Cat-Specific Considerations

Until recently, dry food was also suggested for cats. Recent cat nutrition research is changing these guidelines. The usual dry cat food is rich in carbs (typically 45%), which may predispose certain cats to obesity and diabetes as they age. The average wild cat diet is believed to contain 45 percent protein, 45 percent fat, and just 4-5 percent carbs. Dry pet food needs a high carbohydrate content to keep the kibble together. However, canned foods usually have less carbs (about 10 percent ). Many veterinary nutritionists now suggest feeding overweight cats a canned food with protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels similar to a ‘wild’ diet. Interestingly, early studies suggest that feeding these cats canned food does not raise their risk of dental problems.