If you’ve been asking this question to yourself as the responsible dog owner you are, then you are not alone. While the Internet may have everything you want to know, it has become quite a challenge to know which one holds the truth and which one to follow. But don’t worry, we have you covered.
In this article, we’ll be going over everything you need to know before you decide to mix the two together. So, without further ado, let’s get right to it.
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Yes, you can mix the two
To cut the suspense short, the answer is yes. As long as the raw dog food is not a frozen or baked product, then yes, you can mix in wet dog food with it.
But as with many things in life, we’re here to dive deeper into the topic and figure out how to mix raw dog food and wet dog food together…and if it’s a good idea.
Nutrition in raw dog food vs. wet dog food
Raw Dog Food
Raw food is pretty simple: no cooking involved beyond refrigeration. No ingredients like thickeners or emulsifiers make it more difficult to digest and offer less nutrition than cooked food; there’s no need for additives.
They also contain high protein, calcium, and phosphorus (which is good) as the meat tends to be denser, but it’s low in fat (which isn’t). This means that dogs require more fat in their diet to make up for the lack of fat in the raw food.
You do have to watch out for contamination issues if you’re feeding raw food straight from the bag, too, since some dogs have been known to get sick from raw meat. Most cases are mild and can be treated with medication. But worse comes to worst; you can boil any contaminated product to kill all harmful bacteria.
Wet Dog Food
In general, most wet dog foods contain higher protein levels than dry dog foods. In fact, some dog food brands have just as much protein as any dry dog food on the market today.
To add to that, wet dog food has more moisture content to aid in fulfilling your dog’s daily hydration requirement. Resultingly, the moisture content in the food and the added nutrient-rich vitamins and minerals from the wet food can help keep your dog fully satiated than it would otherwise be. Helping your dog can stay fit and healthy without getting hungry 24/7.
However, keep in mind that wet food can be very high in carbohydrates, leading to weight gain and digestive problems in dogs and diabetes in humans. So ensure you’ve consulted your local vet on the ideal portion sizes for your dog’s daily meal plan.
Every dog is different, which means their diet would have to be based on their health condition. To some dogs, wet dog food will do just fine, but it may lead to a digestive tract issue for others.
Before you mix the two together…
As with any pet food, the best thing to do before switching your pet is to check and seek professional advice from your local vet to determine the best food for your dog’s age, breed, and current condition.
In general, you should feed raw food for dogs less than eight months old and wet food for older dogs. 1
When feeding raw food to puppies, be sure to mix it with a moist portion of wet food; some brands of puppy kibble contain too much water and can dilute the enzymes in the raw food that aid in digestion.
Before feeding your dog a new brand of kibble, check the ingredients to ensure there are no additional ingredients that could cause digestive problems.
Raw food can help elderly dogs feel young again or get a dog that has lost some of its zest for life moving around. It also acts as a probiotic to help improve digestion and can help with allergies if fed from an early age. You can also check out Perfect Poop’s dog probiotics to improve your dog’s gut health.
However, while raw food is great for your canine companion, it’s not appropriate for every dog. The most crucial factor in deciding whether raw food is suitable for your dog is its digestive tract.
Suppose your dog has a short intestine (a condition called fecal impaction). In that case, raw food might be problematic because the digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas are unable to break down the meat enough to allow proper assimilation of nutrients, so it may be better to stick to wet dog food, in this case.
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Mixing the two is okay
The unique nutritional needs of dogs are quite different from those of humans. While humans can live off a diet of raw fruits and vegetables, dogs need a more balanced diet with a combination of proteins and carbohydrates.
If you want to feed your dog both raw and wet food, you’ll need to choose foods that are designed to be mixed together. Most dog food labels will indicate on the package whether the food is meant to be fed with or without water. 2 3 4
While it’s best to feed your dog both raw and wet foods, it’s not entirely a must to mix them, but you can, so long as your vet gives the green light. The most important thing is that they’re well-balanced diets, so they provide all the nutrients your pet needs in the appropriate amounts.
Mixing wet and raw dog food
The easiest way to determine if your dog can safely eat a combination of dry and wet food is to gauge the moisture level in each meal.
If the wet food you’re adding only has a minimal amount of water, you should be able to mix the two. However, if you are adding a large amount of water, you should consult your vet first before making this change, as some dogs may be more sensitive to dietary changes, especially if they’ve been eating the same type of meal for most of their lives.
So long as you’ve consulted your local vet and ensured their digestive tract responded well to the gradual change in diet, then mixing the two is a-okay.
