A lot of people have been asking us why we serve dry
food as part of our daily meal plans. When
we were formulating our diets we did countless hours of research speaking with
local vets and nutritionists, reading reputable sources from the Internet and
even a few late nights reading university textbooks.
So I thought I would take some time to explain the rational behind our
decision. So let's get started:
(A FEW) PROS
AND CONS
DRY FOOD
|
|
PROS
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CONS
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Cheaper and more energy dense
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Lower palatability, the
lack of smell can be a deterrent for many dogs, that’s why it’s left in the
bowl sometimes!
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In most cases very balanced and meets all nutritional requirements
(AAFCO)
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More likely
to contain preservatives and lacks good sources of protein
|
Good for the teeth. Dogs like to
chew so the dry option allows them to meet this need at the same time as
cleaning and hardening gums to prevent gum disease. Note: for some dogs with sensitive gums dry food many not be an
option.
|
Dry foods do not provide
as much moisture as wet foods, this becomes more important as a dog ages,
when an animal becomes ill, and in hotter climates commonly experienced in Australia.
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WET FOOD
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PROS
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CONS
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Wet foods typically contain more meat protein than their dry
counterparts. Dry food companies use
meat by-products instead of fresh meat and sometimes substitute with grain
proteins like Soy
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All dogs are
more prone to developing dental and gum disease when solely on a wet diet.
|
Wet foods are often more palatable than comparable dry diets. While
manufacturers boost the taste appeal of dry kibble by coating it with
tempting fats, gravy, and other flavorings, it’s hard to compete with the
delectable aroma from a freshly cooked meal with quality meats
|
Canned foods
contain a lot of binding agents like gelatin and coloring agents that can
upset your dog’s tummy.
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Not all dogs drink as much water as they should and wet foods can help replace
any fluid deficits..
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Dogs being fed on an
incorrectly formulated home cooked diets are at a high risk of developing
nutritional deficiencies (more below)
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HOME COOKED
MEALS
It’s very common these days for pet owners to prepare
home cook meals for their dogs – that’s how DoggyBag was born! It is
however very important that when cooking for your dog you prepare the right
food that meets their daily nutrient requirements (as defined by the AAFCO) –
Especially if your dog is a puppy, elderly or has sensitivities or special
requirements.
In many cases the home cooked meals don't meet theses
requirements and those nutrient deficiencies could potentially be harming your
dog over long periods of time. As an
example - if you feed your dog a raw meat diet then it’s important to supplement
their diet with calcium to avoid deficiencies in this important nutrient. Calcium
deficiency can lead to brittle bones and other diseases This can be prevented by regularly given
you dog raw bones - however this is not always possible for some dogs with sensitivities
or not always readily available for the owners.
THE VERDICT
So at DoggyBag when we were formulating our daily meal
plans we decided on a dry breakfast and a wet dinner to balance out all pros
and cons.
We offer dry food in the morning
for the dense energy push to keep the dogs going during the day, plus the added
benefit of keeping their teeth healthy. Then
at night-time we serve a specially formulated wet dinner that rehydrates your
dog and gives them quality sources of proteins and minerals to help repair muscles
and keep them living longer.
However we do understand that all dogs are
different and sometimes the mixed meal plan won’t work for all dogs. If you have a fussy eater make sure you get
in touch and we’ll formulate the perfect meal for your pooch. For more information on our meal plans please visit the Our Food section of our website.
If you have any questions please get in touch
and don’t forget to sign your pooch up to DoggyBag today
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