Is wet or dry food better for senior dogs?

Both types of food can provide your dog with the nutrition they need — as long as you feed your dog a high-quality dog food that’s nutritionally balanced and complete. When it comes to diet, every dog has unique, individual needs, regardless of age. So, there's no one easy answer to the question of soft food versus hard food. That being said, there are a few reasons why you may consider switching your senior dog to soft food. Teeth Sensitivity As your dog gets older, their teeth may become more sensitive, which can make chewing kibble more difficult and even uncomfortable. Switching to a soft food can help to alleviate your pet’s oral discomfort when eating. Many nutritionally balanced wet dog foods offer high protein content with fewer carbs than dry food, which can benefit older dogs with slower metabolism. Whether you choose dry food, soft food or a mix of both, ask your vet before making any transition.

Wet dog food, often referred to as canned or tinned dog food, has several potential benefits: Helps to hydrate your dog. Wet dog food is a great source of water, which is essential for keeping your dog hydrated and maintaining many body functions. If your dog doesn't drink much water, or you live in a dry, hot climate, wet dog food can help keep your dog hydrated. Helps dogs who have trouble chewing, such as loss of teeth, misaligned jaws, or even a uniquely small mouth, in these cases, wet dog food may be much easier for them to manage. Smells appealing, older dogs may lose some sense of smell, and therefore might not eat their dry food with the same gusto or interest that they used to. Dogs that are ill or recovering from surgery may have a poor appetite, too, wet foods often have a rich scent and flavour that could help increase their appetite. The benefits of dry dog food, also known as kibble, has some slightly different advantages, however when it comes to mixed feeding, you can do this by mixing the foods together in the same bowl, offering dry in the morning and wet in the evening. Just make sure you're not increasing your dog's calorie intake when mixing these foods, especially if they’re on a weight management plan.

Changing what they eat Moving from an adult diet to one that is more suited to a senior dog is not as straightforward as it may sound. A diet to support ageing should contain antioxidants, high quality protein, reduced levels of phophorus which isn't needed in such quantity and can help to reduce the burden on the kidneys, and extra joint support for those ageing bones and joints. As your dog gets older, it’s a good idea to switch over to a diet that is lower in calories. Suddenly switching to any new diet can cause your dog to have an upset stomach. When changing your dog’s diet, it’s usually best to add a small amount of new food to their current one, and gradually change the ratio of old food to new food over 7-10 days. If giving dry food, make sure it’s kept somewhere dry and clean and ideally in a re-sealable or airtight package to keep it tasting and smelling fresh. If you forget or it’s not possible to do this, then you can briefly warm wet food in the microwave, but make sure it’s not hot as this could burn their mouth.

Wet dog food, or canned food, sometimes provides benefits that dry food doesn’t offer, such as: Higher moisture content: Wet food may be a good choice if your dog doesn’t drink as much as they should, or if they have a medical condition that could benefit from proper hydration. One example would be a dog with a history of urinary or kidney disease. Palatability: Canned dog food is often more aromatic and flavorful when compared to dry food. This may entice sick or older dogs to eat if their appetite is decreased. Easier to chew: Dogs that have dental disease or other oral abnormalities may find wet food easier to chew than dry food. On the other hand, dry dog food, or kibble, often offers certain benefits that wet food doesn’t provide, such as: Dental health benefits: Dry food encourages dogs to chew their food, which aids in preventing tartar buildup and secondary periodontal disease. Convenience: Compared to wet food, dry diets are much easier to pre-portion, and they won’t spoil if left out all day. Both types of dog food are good choices, but each has their own benefits and drawbacks depending on the nutritional needs of your pet. Mixing wet and dry dog food is another option that may provide the best of both worlds.

Generally, you will want to look for healthy wet food for your senior dog because it has many advantages. Wet food is easier to eat for dogs with dental health issues, but if they have good dental health, dry kibble can help keep teeth and gums clean and healthy. Wet food contains more moisture, so it helps older dogs stay hydrated. It contains more Omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for older dogs, than kibble because it can be destroyed as the kibble is being processed. The main thing is to find a quality food that has been designed for the health needs of senior dogs. But just because wet food is labeled “for senior dogs” doesn’t mean that it is good for your older dog. Older dogs need about 50 percent more protein to maintain muscle mass compared to younger ones. Balanced nutrients to lower strain on various organs Lower in calories to help with weight Lower in salt to maintain cardiovascular health.