It's one of the most common questions for anyone who lives with and loves dogs and cats. Is it better to feed them dry food, or is wet food the right choice?
First, a note. It should be said that the choice — when it comes to the "ideal" diet for dogs and cats — is often determined solely by a matter of our little friends' tastes. Tastes that tend to be more sophisticated and harder to satisfy in cats than in dogs.
Dogs have more taste buds than cats, and a more developed olfactory mucosa. This leads to an observation. Dogs choose food primarily by the smell it gives off (and certainly not by visual perception, as is the case with humans), whereas cats have discerning tastes precisely because of the limited nature of both their gustatory and olfactory abilities. This is why cats at home often present more difficulties when it comes to daily feeding than dogs do. And this is also why felines tend to prefer wet food, which is traditionally more flavourful and appealing than dry food.
When choosing the ideal food for your dog, if you opt for dry food (of excellent quality, of course), you will amply meet its nutritional needs. Dogs, unlike cats, have no problem drinking. Cats, on the other hand — like all felines — naturally drink very little. Furthermore, cats have the unfortunate habit of not increasing their water intake even when their needs rise, for example when it is very hot. It is true that we may see them drink more in summer, but still not enough to meet their increased requirements. The clearest evidence of this is their urine, which is dark and highly concentrated. Wet food will be perfect for the cat at home and will also provide the necessary amount of fluids. Not to mention that dry kibble is never as "fragrant" as tinned food and certainly does not entice cats to satisfy their appetite.
On the other hand, however, your pet — especially if it is greedy — will eat wet food much more quickly, skipping the chewing that is the first essential stage of digestion. This is another important consideration, particularly if you have a dog that is always hungry and tends to swallow without chewing. Digestive problems are indeed often lurking as a result of this habit. Returning to dry food, it is worth knowing that kibble serves a useful function for both dogs and cats: it cleans the teeth and oral cavity, keeping plaque and tartar under control.
As we can see, there are many aspects an owner must consider when making the winning choice of diet for the four-legged friend at home. Many owners therefore find themselves resorting to a compromise: giving their pet dry food "dressed" with wet food. And this choice often proves to be the right one.
Here are the key points to bear in mind when choosing food — dry or wet — for our little friends.
Advantages of dry food: it contains all the nutrients needed for a complete and balanced diet and requires no supplements to be added to the daily meal. Easy to store (in multi-kilogram bags) and to keep, especially if you have more than one animal. Specific lines available for the various life stages of your pet (puppy, adult, senior) and for certain conditions that need to be managed with an appropriate diet. Gum and dental massage. With kibble, the pet is also required to chew, does not swallow air, and digestion is made easier. It tends to be less expensive than wet food.
Disadvantages of dry food: especially for cats, it is not very palatable. Kibble contains no fluids. It will therefore be important to make sure the water bowl is always full.
Advantages of wet food: it contains more water and is more digestible than dry food if the animal is not too greedy. Due to its texture, it is perfect for older animals and for dogs and cats that have difficulty chewing. It tends to be more palatable than dry food.
Disadvantages of wet food: it spoils easily and is therefore not suitable for dogs and cats with a poor appetite that tend to leave food in the bowl for a long time. A larger quantity must be given because, as it contains a lot of water, the daily food ration needs to be increased. Greedy animals chew it very little, which can lead to difficulties with digestion. It tends to cost more than dry food.