What are the Benefits of Dried Dog Food?
Why Choose Dry Dog Food?
Many Different Nutrient Sources
Ingredients are Cooked
Limited Ingredient Recipes
Oral Health
Easier Storage
Availability
Lower Cost
Overall Convenience of Dried Dog Food
Why Choose Dry Dog Food?
Imagine browsing the pet food aisles at your local store, wondering about the benefits of dried dog food over every other option you see. Why would you choose dry dog food over other options, like freeze-dried or raw? What exactly could be so beneficial about it?
Maybe the countless different recipes caught your eye, never running low on options. For the savvy health conscious dog parent, it could be the extensive nutritional and ingredient information displayed on each package. Is it simply pure convenience that interests you?
Many Different Nutrient Sources
While wild dogs are mostly carnivorous, they are also opportunistic scavengers and are nourished by many different things. Our own pets require several different nutrient sources to thrive, and providing home-meals with all that included can be difficult.
Most dry dog foods are designed by veterinary nutritionists and the ingredients themselves are extensively researched to provide:
⮚ A wide assortment of vitamins and minerals
⮚ Appropriate percentage of carbohydrates, fats and protein
⮚ Correct combination of essential amino acids
⮚ Higher protein content in rendered meals
Ingredients are Cooked
Think of the average dog food manufacturer. During the manufacturing process, ingredients are mixed together and cooked (rendered) at high temperatures in order to separate moisture while killing off any parasites, bacteria, or other harmful entities.
Now think of raw meat, an ever-growing dog food craze. Dog conscious owners assumed because wild animals eat raw meat from prey, it must be natural and more nutritious. In a way, raw meat is sometimes more nutritious than processed ingredients.
Of course, these owners are also taking a risk. While raw dog food might have nutritional benefits, owners could be exposing their pets to parasitic worms, a host of bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.
Limited Ingredient Recipes
Caring for a pet with allergies or food intolerances can seem pretty tough! No one wants to see their beloved ball of fur itch incessantly day after day, losing fur and sometimes even breaking skin into open wounds.
Dogs suffering from food intolerances or allergies are usually affected by a single ingredient, not the entire meal itself. In order to find and eliminate this nasty culprit, you can select specific recipes in a process of elimination. Some of the most common allergens are from:
Dairy products
Grains
Eggs
Gluten
Soy
Oral Health
When it comes to oral health, dry dog food nearly always beats wet dog food. Not only did several studies show pets eating a diet consisting of dry dog kibble maintained better oral health than those feeding on wet canned food, but the principle also makes perfect medical sense.
The higher moisture content in wet/canned food will cause it to sort of adhere (stick) to your dog’s teeth and gum line. On the other hand, the simple mechanical act of chewing solids, such as chewing on a bone, toy, or dry kibble, can help break up stuck-on plaque.
Make no mistake, wet or canned dog food does have its benefits in certain situations. When it comes to general oral health, however, it falls short.
Easier Storage
Unlike wet or canned dog food, dry kibble doesn’t need to be refrigerated after opening. Owners can let a package sit out until finished, or leave kibble in a timed food dispenser. With a dispenser, dog owners could feed pets while away.
It’s also possible to leave bowls of dry dog food out for ‘free-feeding’, though the basic principle is rarely recommended due to potential over-eating and weight gain.
Easy to Manage Portions
Managing certain proportions of wet or canned dog food can be much more difficult! This usually requires either providing the entire can in one feeding or freezing a leftover portion. Wet dog food won’t last long in a refrigerator once the can has been opened.
FDA regulated dry dog food packages or containers will usually offer specific recommended serving sizes. All an owner needs is a measuring cup, which most pet parents already have on hand!
Many owners prefer to feed their dogs, especially puppies, twice a day. This couldn’t be simpler with dry dog food!
Availability
If you look down any pet food aisle, you’re likely going to see rows upon rows of packaged dry dog food! You might see a canned or wet food section, but the majority is dominated by dry dog food. It’s extremely easy to find.
Your local pet store might or might not carry your particular brand. No need to worry! Many internet retailers exist right at your fingertips that will.
Lower Cost
Anyone who’s invested in wet or canned dog food knows how expensive it can be! Not only is it more expensive, but wet food also contains a higher moisture content and ultimately a lower nutritional (outside of water) content. Depending on the brand you choose, you are purchasing more actual food with dry dog food.
Overall Convenience of Dried Dog Food
Even the idea of dried dog food was created during an age when convenience mattered most to the consumer! Do you need a naturally hypoallergenic dog food to treat your pet’s food intolerances? Are you looking for something high in fiber or grain-free? Do you need a low calorie or low fat recipe?All of these options and more are available with dry dog food.
You can find nearly any combination of ingredients, assuming they are meant for animal consumption.
