WET FOOD BETTER THAN DRY FOOD FOR YOUR CAT OR DOG?
I was going to do this week’s article on Bladder and Kidney problems in dogs- a follow-up on the one I wrote last on bladder and kidney stones in cats. But I ran out of time for the research I was conducting to give you a wide view of the topic and the best diets for dogs with kidney issues or failure. So, I am repeating one I wrote recently on the benefits of canned food. (Especially for pets with special needs.)
ACCORDING TO THE WHOLE DOG JOURNAL, WHICH IS AN EXPERT SOURCE FOR ALL THINGS DOG, WET, RAW, OR DEHYDRATED FOOD, IS FAR BETTER THAN ANY DRY FOOD, EVEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
MANY VETS WILL PUSH DRY FOOD AS A WAY OF MAINTAINING GOOD DENTAL HEALTH. BUT HOW MANY DOGS OR CATS (OR HUMANS FOR THAT MATTER) TRULY SPEND MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS MASTICATING THEIR FOOD? MOST PETS USUALLY INHALE THEIR FOOD. SLOW FEEDERS HAVE BEEN INVENTED FOR THAT REASON ALTHOUGH THE FROMM COMPANY RECOMMENDS ADDING COLD WATER TO YOUR DOG’S DRY FOOD-AS MUCH AS THE DOG CAN ACCEPT-TO ALLOW THE FOOD TO MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THE GUT FOR BETTER GUT HEALTH. IMAGINE YOURSELF EATING A BEER PRETZEL WITHOUT A BEVERAGE! ADDING WATER IS NOT POSSIBLE IF A DOG GRAZES ALL DAY AS YOU DO NOT WANT THE KIBBLE TO SOFTEN WHICH WILL INCREASE HOW SLOWLY IT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE INTESTINAL TRACT. BUT THERE MAY BE A REASON YOUR DOG GRAZES- BOREDOM WITH THE FOOD.
MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO CHANGE THEIR DOG’S DIET. I’VE HAD MUCH SUCCESS WITH DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND LOST, LIKE MY SHIH TZU, ROSIE, OR GIVEN UP, LIKE ZOEY, OR FOSTERED-TURNED-RESCUE, EBBY. IF YOUR DOG OR CAT GETS LOST, AND THEN FOUND BY SOMEONE ELSE, EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME, IT WILL BE FED WHATEVER THAT PERSON CHOOSES. TOO MANY PETS DON’T CARRY IDENTIFICATION, AND NO PET CARRIES MEDICAL OR FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS. IT'S TRULY HEALTHIER AND MORE APPEALING TO A CAT OR DOG TO ALTER OR MIX THE PROTEINS THAT THEY ARE GIVEN AS LONG AS YOU KNOW THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ALLERGY PROBLEM WITH A SPECIFIC PROTEIN, LIKE CHICKEN OR BEEF, WHICH HAVE BEEN TARGETED FOR THAT. I AM AMAZED HOW MANY OF OUR REPUTABLE PET FOOD COMPANIES CARRY CAN FOODS THAT CONTAIN CHICKEN OR BEEF WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT A MAJORITY OF PETS DON’T HAVE PROBLEMS WITH EITHER. TODAY THERE ARE NUMERIOUS OTHER PROTEIN OPTIONS THAT PETS HAVE NOT CONSUMED THAT CAN BE SAFELY ADDED. KANGAROO, GOAT, GUINEA FOWL, VENSION, PORK, RABBIT, FISH, AMONG OTHERS, CAN BE SLOWLY INTRODUCED, ALTHOUGH I NEVER SLOWLY INTRODUCED ANYTHING. I AM ALWAYS TRYING SOMETHING NEW ON MY CATS AND DOGS AND THEN MONITER THEIR STOOL, OR AMOUNT OF LICKING OR SCRATCHING. FOR INDICATIONS OF A PROBLEM. FEEDING THE SAME PROTEIN ALL THE TIME CAN RESULT IN AN ALLERGY TO THAT PROTEIN. ADDING CANNED FOOD, OR FREEZE-DRIED FOOD, CAN GREATLY ENHANCE YOUR PET’S INTEREST IN EATING, AND OTHER ALL PHYSICAL HEALTH.
UNLESS YOUR PET EATS ALL OF ITS FOOD AT FEEDING TIME, IT IS BEST NOT TO MIX WET AND DRY FOOD TOGETHER. I KNOW THAT EBBY WILL EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING I GIVE TO HER. BUT ZOEY IS A BIT MORE HESITANT. WHEN I ADD A NEW CAN TO THEIR NIGHTLY MEAL, I PUT SOME IN A SEPARATE BOWL FOR BOTH SO THAT IF THEY DO NOT TAKE TO IT, I HAVE NOT RUINED THE MAIN DISH OF GENTLY COOKED RAW SPRINKLED WITH A VARIETY OF STELLA AND CHEWY FREEZE-DRIED PRODUCTS. I HAVE STOPPED FEEDING KIBBLE, ALTHOUGH FOR MANY WHO HAVE BIGGER DOGS KIBBLE IS MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT STILL BETTER WITH SOME CAN, AND COLD WATER. MORE ON THIS TOPIC LATER.
