Is Wet Dog Food Good for Dogs?

Choosing the best food for our dogs is one of the most important decisions we can make as a pet parent, so you might be wondering, "Is wet food good for dogs?" If you haven’t thought about adding wet food to your dog’s diet, now may be the perfect time! Not only can wet food add some variety to your dog's current diet, but it can also provide various health benefits. 

Wet Food Vs. Kibble

As they say, variety is the spice of life, and wet food is a terrific way to accomplish this for your dog's diet. Wet food comes in many different textures – stew, shredded, minced and pâté. It also comes in a variety of packaging options to suit your lifestyle.

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As the name suggests, the moisture content of wet food is much higher than kibble. While kibble typically contains 8-12% moisture, wet food may run as high as 82% moisture!

Another unique difference between kibble and wet food is that unlike kibble, which requires carbohydrates to help create a crunchy texture, wet food can be formulated with lower levels of carbohydrates. Because wet food recipes generally include higher amounts of meat, this results in higher levels of protein and fat and lower levels of carbohydrate. Therefore, wet food makes an excellent option for those puppies and dogs who may require a higher protein, lower carb diet.

Wet food is also ideal for dogs with dental issues or missing teeth that need a soft diet.

Is It Okay If My Dog Only Eats Wet Food?

When choosing the right wet food for your dog, be aware that not all wet foods are appropriate to be fed as the only source of nutrition. Therefore, it's essential to make sure to read the nutritional adequacy statement found on the carton. If the food states that it's "formulated to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for a given life stage" then rest assured it's complete and balanced and can be fed as your dog's primary source of nutrition.

Adding Wet Food to Your Dog’s Diet 

Your dog's diet can include wet food in multiple different ways. Not only can you feed it as a complete and balanced meal, but it can also be incorporated extra moisture via toppers or as a healthy treat! Keep in mind that if you decide to feed wet food as a topper to kibble, it's essential to cut back on the amount of kibble you are currently providing to avoid weight gain.

Additionally, if you are using wet food as a treat, there are many unique ways to incorporate it, such as freezing the food in ice cube trays for a cool treat in the hot summer months!

Natalie WilliamsNutrition Manager

If transitioning your dog to a new diet they haven't tried before, allow a minimum of 10 days. A slow transition will help ensure their system has had a chance to adapt to the change and avoid digestive upset.

In Conclusion

When it comes to mealtime, our four-legged companions appreciate a variety in diet as much as we do. If your dog isn’t taking to wet food right away, you can always try mixing both wet and dry to make the transition easier.

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