Canned or Dry Dog Food — What’s the Better Choice?

by Mike Sagman
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Ever wondered what’s better? A canned dog food — or a kibble? For me, it took a trip away from home and a call from the kennel attendant that finally helped me solve that riddle.

Dry Dog Food in a Bowl

“Bailey hasn’t eaten a bite in two whole days,” she advised. ”What would you like us to do?

We had gone away for the holidays and had no choice but to leave our little guy with the vet.

And now we were worried.

Bailey’s recent favorite — a chicken and rice kibble — had been brought along with him to the kennel. But now he didn’t want any part of it.

When I asked the aide if she had any suggestions, she quickly replied…

“Why don’t you let me try something. It almost always works, especially with our finicky dogs who refuse to eat.”

When I called back a few hours later I was relieved to find out Bailey had “gobbled up every bit of it… and even licked the bowl”.

Want to know what “it” was?

An Overlooked Dog Food Option

Canned dog food. That was it. Bailey wouldn’t eat the kibble. But he sure did love that wet food.

So, I decided to learn more about canned dog food. I knew Bailey liked it. And he liked it a lot more than he liked kibble.

But I had to be sure if it was OK for him to eat. After all, I’d always heard that canned dog food wasn’t as good for dogs as kibble.

Why Canned Dog Food
Can Be Better Than Kibble

In many ways, canned dog food can be superior to kibble. They typically contain more meat protein than their dry counterparts.

And they’re made with fewer carbohydrates, too.1

can-vs-dry-nutrient-contentPlus, due to their air-tight packaging, canned dog foods contain no synthetic preservatives. So, fats and oils sealed inside cans don’t easily become rancid.

And no artificial flavorings and colorings.

With cans, meat ingredients are closer to their natural state. So, canned products are more palatable — and more appetizing.

Help for Dogs with Dietary Problems

Have an overweight dog that needs to lose weight?

The moisture content of canned dog food can make the same amount of nutrients (on a dry matter basis) occupy more volume. So, your dieting dog can feel fuller — faster.

And what about older dogs?

Seniors are frequently afflicted with chronic dental problems that can make chewing dry kibble difficult — even painful. So, canned dog food can be the perfect solution.

The Truth About Dog Food
and Dental Health

Now, I know it looks like I’ve forgotten to mention how kibble can be better for your dog’s teeth than canned food.

But my own professional background makes that silly rumor difficult to accept.

Find out for yourself.  Be sure to read “Dry Dog Food and the Myth of Cleaner Teeth” to learn the surprising truth.

So, Which Is Better — Canned or Dry?

To help answer that question, take a look at this table…

canned-vs-dry-foodFrom this chart it seems like canned dog food might be a better choice.  But looks can be deceiving.

Where Kibble Wins

Now, when it comes to convenience, nothing beats kibble. Plus if you’re on a budget (and who isn’t these days) a quality dry dog food is almost always a better buy.

But one important warning…

Never leave any canned food in your dog’s bowl for more than an hour or two. Unlike kibble, wet foods exposed to the environment can easily grow bacteria — and quickly become contaminated.

Of course, every open can must be kept refrigerated. Be sure to discard any unused dog food within two to three days.

Why You Should Consider Both

Now, I hope you don’t think I’m recommending canned food over kibble — because I’m not.

There are times when feeding either one or the other may be the better choice for you or your dog. However, there are also times when mixing the two together — a feeding method known as topping — makes an especially tasty choice.

Footnotes

  1. National Research Council, National Academy of Science, “Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats”, 2006 Edition, National Academies Press, Washington, DC, p 317 ↩
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  • Eugene Otsuka

    My puppy refuses to eat any dry food but she gobbles up wet food. I try to use the wet food as a topping but to no avail. How should I go about this? Also, I was wondering how much I should be feeding a 5lb puppy in a day.

    Thanks!

  • Donna

    Thank you

  • Pattyvaughn

    Absolutely!! IMO, it is better to mix brands. Within a brand they may use the same vitamin premix in all formulas, so by combining brands or switching brands, you are more likely to get a different set of micronutrients and different levels of different nutrients, which to my way of thinking can only be a good thing.

  • Donna

    I just recently switched my Bassets to Variety canned food but want to add a little dry food to it but Variety just starting making a dry and its hard to find. Would it okay to mix the Variety brand can food with a different brand dry food?

  • teachergirltoo

    Because I had always fed mine dry I had a terrible time introducing some wet food into their diet. They turned up their noses at everything I brought home. Then I found Lean Cuts. The green can that only has three ingredients: beef chunks and chicken, and vegetable gum. It is not a balanced food because there are so few ingredients, but they get Acana kibble too. Anyway, I microwaved it for 20 seconds to make it warm, and wallah! they loved it. Now they get nice little blob for breakfast in the morning along with their kibble, and can hardly wait for the fridge to open. Someone told me it is sold at Costco too.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Try NutriSource. It’s close to the same price, a much better quality, you’ll feed less, and it is usually easy for dogs to switch to.

  • Storm’s Mom

    Just about anything is better than Pedigree and Iams!! Sorry, I hate to say it and I hope I don’t sound rude. But just click on the “Best Dog Foods” link at the top left of this page, and you’ll find a whole whack of MUCH better foods. As to which one is best for your dog, you’ll just have to try some..every dog is different. Good luck!

  • Paul Hough

    Thank you, What is better than pedigree and iams?

  • Paul Hough

    Thanks for your advice, that makes sense, I was told wet does t usually agree with their stomach. what foods are better than pedigree and iams?

  • Crazy4cats

    Also, plain pure canned pumpkin helps by adding some fiber. In addition, I also use organic no sugar added applesauce to my dogs food periodically to help with loose stools. I think it is the pectin in it that also helps with firming up the poop. Good luck!

  • losul

    I can’t imagine why everyone would tell you that. Wet foods are much more natural, and dry foods have to be turned into wet in the dogs stomach anyway before digestion process can begin. At least some wet foods (the less processed forms the better) in the diet is way better than kibble (the least desireable form of dog food) by itself, IMO.

    Like Patty, I think a mixture is fine, if that’s what you want to do, along with a good variety, although you could consider upgrading from pedigree and Iams.

    Kangals are cool dogs. Here is a pup eating yogurt.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kangal_dog_puppy_eating_yoghurt.jpg

  • Hound Dog Mom

    I agree with Dave – most dogs love canned food and digest it well. Canned food is also much more species-appropriate than dry food due to the high moisture content and higher levels of protein and fat. Like Dave, three of my favorite canned foods are Nature’s Logic, ZiwiPeak and Nature’s Variety. I also really like Tripett (Tripett is just a topper, not a complete food but picky dogs love it) and Addiction.

  • Dave’s Hounds

    In my opinion you can’t go wrong with a high quality canned. You will be feeding a better product. Take a look at the 5 star canned. I feed Natures Variety Instinct, Nature’s Logic, and Ziwipeak. I have also had a lot of success with freeze dried like Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance where you rehydrate with warm water – wait 5 minutes and feed. The food actually smells great.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Feeding a mix of wet and dry is fine. Please consider switching up what foods you are using, feeding a variety of foods helps to make sure all your nutritional bases are covered.

  • Charlene

    I buy my kibble at a locally owned pet store and have gotten to know the owners well in the 9 plus years we’ve had our Airedale. She’s been on a quality lamb and rice kibble for about 4 years and now refuses to eat it (I guess I would get sick of the same food every day too). So I am mixing another brand with it and she’s eating fine but her stools are loose. John the dog store owner says to try canned food. I wonder if her digestive system will like that? Anyone have any experience?

  • LawofRaw

    Hi justina,

    What pet food product are you interested in importing? Are you familiar with your own customs importation laws? Are you wanting to import in bulk for selling purposes or import just because you don’t have a particular product available, locally?

    I’m just throwing out some questions for you, that if you haven’t already considered, you may want to. As far as wanting to find out how the exporting of the product(s) you want, can happen, you could check out the products’ company’s respective websites and make your inquiry via their ‘Contact Us’ page.

  • justina

    I am planning to import wet and dry dog and cat food , if anyone can help me , where i should contact the export department , Market in Indonesia , pls send me email , thanks , Email add : Justina_neng@yahoo.co.id

  • Paul Hough

    I’ve just got a kangal puppy (12 weeks) I believe he may be cross bred but not sure, everyone tells me wet food is bad for a ogs stomach and dry food is better, is this the case?
    I’m currently feeding him half canned puppy pedigree and half iams dry food is this ok?

  • Pattyvaughn

    Just like most people can handle a variety of different types of food in our stomach at the same time, most dogs can too. The biggest issue is when a dog is used to eating only one thing long term and then something else is introduced, that can cause an upset. Your dog is used to your feeding routine, so obviously it isn’t causing any problems. I’d rather see a dog eating a variety of different foods, but at her age, changing things up may not be easy.

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    There’s lots of interesting reads here! Swansonvitamins(dot)com sometimes has probiotics on sale buy 1, get 1 free.

  • Ms. Sam Haddock

    I have an affenpincher, Millie, and I feed her half cup of canned in the morning and half a cup of dry (Iams) at evening. I brush her teeth at least 3 x a week. My vet can’t get over that she is so healthy, no joint pain or abdominal distress, and she will be 14 this year. I do give her probiotics (acidophilus) 3 x a week as well. She poops a little “cigar” twice a day like clockwork. I have never had any questions before but a friend told me that dry OR moist, but that I was screwing with Millie’s digestive system and hence the reason for my dog food search.

    I’m so glad to read all the opinions here, and I’m very comfortable with keeping Millie on the same regime. I know in the past I wasn’t so attentive to previous pets…..as far as diet goes, all were well cared for and very loved and I basically let the kids take care of training them. Now kids are grown and gone and I have come to cherish my little friend…..Oh hell! She’s my kid now. Y’all know what I mean. Will be interesting to come back and read up on other topics. Thanks for an interesting read.

  • Cindy

    janel, please listen to HDM in this post on balancing meals.

  • Cindy

    janel,

    One of my basic books: Strombeck’s Home Prepared Dog and Cat Diets (1999, not the most recent revised, which contains some major errors)

    I do believe that balanced homemade diets, with attention to the best ingredients and variety, are ideal.

    At the same time, when you say that your 2 dogs don’t like/refuse to eat kibble and canned, my first thought is that the problem is more likely than not the particular kibble/canned you’re feeding, not ALL kibble itself.

    It’s compounded if you give tasty scraps from what you’re eating WHILE you’re eating, if your dog’s food isn’t very appealing. Other problems can occur with *how* you feed.

    Which brands/formulas have you tried?

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi janel –

    First off, you need to invest in a recipe book if you’re going to be making homemade meals – this is very unbalanced.

    Second, I would highly suggest trying to incorporate more foods than just chicken. For now though, for each pound of chicken add a crushed human multi-vitamin (without calcium or with less than 5% DV calcium), a finely crushed eggshell, 1 tsp. flax oil, 1 tsp. fish oil and 1 tbs. metamucil. Do not feed cooked chicken bones ever. If you are willing to feed raw chicken bones you could feed chicken wings or necks (good for small dogs) with a little boneless chicken (2 parts bone in to 1 part boneless), omit the eggshell and give the supplements separately.

    Also – have you ever tried Tripett (canned green tripe)? You could try mixing some of this with a balanced canned or dry dog food – very few dogs with turn their nose up to green tripe.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140685339 Betsy Greer

    So, you’ve been feeding one just chicken muscle meat and the other eats a little muscle meat, but mostly chicken bones?

  • janel alba

    Hi ! I have a japanese spitz and a terrier ! The spizt does not like canned food or dry food, so we just feed him chicken ! And the terrier doesn’t eat the canned or dry food either she doesn’t eat much chicken but just the bones,we stop feeding the bones as she started coughing ! And she doesn’t like the chicken flesh just the bones! Please help! What should I feed them ! The vet said canned but they aren’t eating ! I feel so sad for them, its like they will only eat when they are starved :(

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Lisa –

    Try Tripett – take a few spoonfuls and mash it up with some water to make a “gravy” and mix it in with her kibble to make sure it’s all coated. Tripett is canned green tripe – it’s not a balanced food so you can’t use it as a complete diet but it’s good to mix in with whatever you feed. It has a very strong smell and most dogs go absolutely nuts for it. If you can’t find it in stores, websites like Wag.com and Petflow.com sell it and they offer free shipping.

  • Lisa

    I have that same problem with boxer who has always been a fussy eater since she was 7 weeks old and now she is six even when I open up a fresh wet can she smells it and walks away I really don’t know how to get her to eat she will eat but on her turns . I feed her wellness simple solutions turkey and potato dry and wet mix in. I give her more wet and less dry and she still smells the food and walks away from her bowl and at times she will just nick pick and take a few bites and walk away . I will not feed her that crap dog food because of her allergies and sensitive tummy any suggestions? I don’t give her any table sraps or any treats due her tummy issues and certain ingredients wil bother my boxer like corn, by products and grains are not boxer friendly Help

  • Strey

    thank you! :)

  • Strey

    Thanks :)

  • Pattyvaughn

    I use canned to boost protein and reduce overall carbs so I go for the canned foods that are high protein, low carb.

  • sandy

    I usually don’t try to compliment the protein/fat/carbs but focus on total calories since I have small indoor dogs. I use Wellness Stews, Core, Merrick, Weruva and Addiction. Fromm also has good canned foods. The Kirkland Cuts n Gravy canned food is supposed to be only $1 per can. Only available at Costco.

  • Strey

    I have a question. When mixing Wet and dry food should you consider the Protein, fat, and carbs in both of them? So that they can compliment each other? I dont know if i make sense xD Im going to start feeding my dog Fromm Gold which is grain based , so should i mix it with a high protein wet food? suggestions?

  • Hound Dog Mom

    To get the actual protein percentage in a canned food subtract the % moisture from 100% to obtain the % dry matter. Then divide the as fed protein % by the % dry matter and multiply by 100.

    For example -

    EVO Chicken & Turkey Dry formula states 42% protein and 10% moisture. So the actual level of protein is 100% – 10% = 90%. 42%/90% = 0.47 X 100 = 47%.

    EVO Chicken & Turkey Wet formula states 12% protein and 78% moisture. So the actual level of protein is 100% – 78% = 22%. 12%/22% = 0.55 X 100 = 55%

    :Luckily Dr. Mike does these calculations for everyone. :)

    It’s also healthier for dogs to consume foods rich in moisture – dogs, by nature, are meant to derive a large percentage of their daily water intake through their food. Not to mention canned foods are much less processed than dry foods.

  • Pattyvaughn

    The huge difference is in the amount of water in the food. The only fair way to compare dog foods is on a dry matter basis, in other words, compare them without water. If you take the water out of kibble the guaranteed analysis changes very little because it is already almost dry. Most kibbles are 30% or more carbohydrates because kibble is a bakery product and has to have a carb source to hold it together. If you take the water out of most canned food, you will find the numbers to be very different. The carbs will be much lower and the protein much higher. Dr Mike did all the work on his dashboard displays. He shows the food’s info on a dry matter basis. So look at the foods you are interested in here to find what their DMB is and then compare.

  • Confused

    Even if you feed everyday? I’m confused with reading the labels of canned food. Specifically – the protein listed on the cans is significantly lower than the protein listed on the site. For example: Merrick’s Whole Earth Farms Adult Formula lists 9% on the can for protein, but on this site it’s estimated to have 41%.

    This is why I never switched my dog to canned food. The protein seemed too low. Now it seems like the protein is very high?

    Can you please explain this huge difference in protein percentages?

  • http://usajerkytreats.com/ James Bailey, USA Jerky Treats

    I would look into homemade meals which by far are the healthiest possible way to feed your dog.

    Steve Brown wrote a good book to introduce people to homemade meals: “See Spot Live Longer”

    Canned foods have a whole set of dangers you should be aware of before you go that route. Just type “The dangers of canned foods” into your search engine and see for yourself what they are!

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi boxerMom –

    Canned food is much healthier than dry dog food. Canned food is more species-appropriate due to the higher moisture content and higher protein content. If you’re feeding a good quality 4 or 5 star canned food your dog will be much better off than on a dry food.

  • boxerMom

    I have a Boxer that seems to have occasional problems swallowing her dry dog food. One time she would have choked to death if I hadn’t been home. I did the himleck(SP?) maneuver on her and out popped a piece of dog food. I switched from that dog food to a different shape and brand, but she still has occasional issues. Now i’m thinking about canned dog food but I want good nutrition for her. Is there any other Boxer owners that have this same problem?

  • hayley

    Yes you are. Always feed my dogs with canned or people (beef, chicken) leftovers mixed with dry. They are healthy and I dont go to a vet. Shots are given thru Animal Control for 1/4th the cost (no vet needed).

  • Renee

    My Yorkie is THRIVING on her canned food- California natural and it is complete and balanced just like you mentioned. She will snack on kibble at night- she likes a few kibbles before bed. There is a MAJOR difference in her behavior while eating canned food as opposed to kibble. Which is a great food-(wellness). She digests the canned food easier and she has much more energy! Btw- stools are perfect. She loves canned food!

  • Hound Dog Mom

    BTW – that’s got to be a pretty neat looking dog. I’ve heard of Bandogges (mastiff X american bulldog), but never a mastiff X english bulldog.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Suzanne –

    A quality wet food is much healthier than dry food. Wet food is typically higher in moisture and protein and lower in carbohdyrates than dry food making it more species-appropriate. Most healthy dogs can switch foods with no or only minimal digestive upset. However, if your dog has been eating the same food for a long time you may want to switch gradually – mix the canned and dry for a week or so then start feeding completely canned. A spoonful of plain canned pumpkin and probiotics and help digestive issues during a food change as well.

  • http://www.facebook.com/suzanne.evens.3 Suzanne Evens

    I have a half english bulldog and half red mastiff and she normally eats dry food. Would it be fine to just switch over to wet food or would that mess with her stomach?

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi cursiousone –

    Canned food is much more species-appropriate than dry food – it has a higher moisture content and is typically much higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates than dry food. If you can feed your dog all canned, it’s preferable to feeding all dry. If you can’t feed all canned, mixing canned into the dry will help to boost the quality of the dry food.

  • cursiousone

    Its it good to feed my dog dry food and wet food? Anyone know?

  • Bob

    I mix Tripett canned dog food (5-star rating by Dog Food Advisor) with dry dog food for my dog. Works great.

  • Dave

    I have a Maltese Shih tzu mix and he is definitely a fussy little bugger. I started out with dry food and found it cost MORE because the little runt just wouldn’t eat it. Then I switched to the canned and even then he was particular on the brand and varieties. So I started mixing the two together and found that he likes the blend just fine. He’s extremely active and his weight has stayed constant for the last 2 years. So don’t worry about mixing both together, and my vet says he’s one of the healthiest dogs he’s ever seen. Now if I could just get him to slow down once in a while,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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  • Pattyvaughn

    Read more Jay. Read a lot more, including the labels on canned foods.

  • Shawna

    Hi Jay,
    The analysis of kibble is determined on a “dry matter basis”. Canned foods have to be converted to dry matter basis if wanting to compare the nutrient analysis to dry foods. Once converted to dry matter basis, canned foods almost always have a better nutrient profile than most kibbled foods.

    Kibble does remove debris from the lower parts of the tooth but it breaks apart before reaching the gum line where tartar and plaque are the real enemy (unless formulated to not do so – such as some prescription foods). Not to mention that many dogs don’t “chew” kibble but rather swollow it whole or crunch once.

    Mixing kibble and canned is NOT bad for the GI system. That’s just nonsence. Anyone who says that needs to study how food is digested. When food is eaten enzymes start to break it down. As food becomes “chyme” it is released and moves on down the digestive tract while food not yet ready stays to digest further.

    Canned food actually digests better than kibble because the stomach needs moisture (water) in order for appropriate amounts of hydrochloric acid to be released. The hydrochloric acid then activates the enzyme pepsin which begins digestion of protein in the food. Because of this, it is likely that the protein in kibbled foods are not as well digested as that in canned foods.

    Another reason canned digests better is that the enzymes that break down food have to slowly work at the little ball of food to get at the type of food (carb, fat or protein) that they digest. In a canned food the individual enzymes can start working on what they digest much quicker (if not immediately).

    Yes, some canned foods are not complete and balanced but MANY are. Those that are can be fed exclusively.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jack.tripper.3950 Jack Tripper
  • http://www.facebook.com/jack.tripper.3950 Jack Tripper

    he is referring to dry matter basis with the nutritional numbers, obviously. canned food is like 80% water, 10% protein, 5% fat, 5% carbs (approximately). that’s not a bad thing, that’s just how real food comes. kibble is dehydrated so it only has around 10% moisture. obviously his background and experience is not based on a single call from a kennel, he has read and researched hundreds of books, articles and websites and published thousands of reviews.

  • InkedMarie

    Jay, to be blunt, you have no idea what you’re talking about.

  • Jay

    Are you insane? Your so full if it. Look at the analysis on the cans! The values are far less! It’s not a myth kibble keeps teeth clean either, that much is common sense. It’s also bad in the GI and mixing the two together like people do is even worse. Even the backs of the cans on most foods state not to use with a staple diet. Use intermittently only. If your only background and experience with this is based on one single call from a kennel you SHOULD not be spreading such misinformation.

  • SpoiledMiniAussie

    If you want to feed your dog wet food on a budget…try Evangers brand. They have their own canning facility in house so the cans are half the price and better quality than most. I’m a vegetarian, but I have to admit that if there was a zombie apocalypse, I would be happy to eat my dogs wet food! Hope this helps someone out there, I was glad I discovered it.

  • babyb

    hi i was reading what you had wrote and i have a maltese who has alot of tummy issues and throws up often,alot of dry dog food up in PA has been recalled the past month now leaving not much on the market to buy or safe,we cook food for him and he also likes dry kibble was wondering what your using and maybe make your own dry kibble,im so scared to feed him anything at the pet store now dogs are gettin very ill and even death from dry dog foods if you have any suggestion s let me no.

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  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    If you still have canned food to use up you can also sprinkle in some ground psyllium, commonly known as Metamucil. Some of mine will take the whole capsule in piece of cheese or I open it up and sprinkle it on the food. I buy it in loose bulk form. Or use the pumpkin or sweet potato.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Terribly lucky!! And I’m incredibly envious.

  • Teri

    I’m kind of surprised by how much worry there is over dog foods! Until I adopted a pit bull with severe allergies I never really researched dog foods much, I always fed a mid priced kibble to my dogs and ALL have been incredibly healthy! I had one who lived until he was 2 months shy of his 20th birthday, I have a 7 year old cocker, a 5 year old mutt and except for the pit with allergies, not one of my dogs have ever been sick or needed to go to the vets except for their regular visits for shots and being spayed/neutered.
    Have I just been lucky?

  • Teri

    I will try that and thank you!

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    What about, instead of adding wet food to the kibble, you added some pumpkin or sweet potato instead? It shouldn’t get any diarrhea from it, the dog may like the moisture and taste from it, and if there is some stomach upset then it will help settle things.

  • Teri

    I am surprise to hear wet food actually isn’t as bad for dogs, I always thought it was! I have 3 dogs, one of which has gotten quite fat after being spayed and has SEVERE allergies to many foods and doesn’t tolerate any foods with grains. After going through multitudes of vatious kibble I found that she does extremely well on Taste of the Wild. She is finally completely off the allergy pills and steroids she needed and looks great. The problem is her weight. With the kibbles, the other dogs don’t always eat all their food at one time and the fat little pit bull will usually end up finishing it, and she needs to lose weight. One of the ways I have been able get the other two to finish their meals when I feed them is to mix the kibbles with wet food, however the wet food seems to give my cocker spaniel extreme diarrhea! I’m at a bit of a loss. Any suggestions? Getting her off the steriods should help her weight gain some but any suggestions of types of wet food I could mix with kibble that might be easier on the cocker spaniels’ stomach would be appreciated!

  • monkey

    Just to grt it out of the way, i know kibble doesn’t clean teeth. As for canned foods, does anyone have any experience with if stew type recipes are less harsh on oral health than patte recipes?

  • Lauren

    * Feed canned, then look at the teeth you can see wet food sticks around near the gumline. (Sorry for the spelling in prior post)

  • Lauren

    I believe home made, raw prey model, or BARF are the best choices, next canned if u clean the teeth regularly. Ferd ur dog canned, then look at the yerth. Wet food does stick behind more than anything. However, I also believe kibble, no matter how high quality, is just too far from its contients natural state. Also, Moisture is
    Too low, i believe ove time dogs can become chronically mildly dehdrated. I feed part raw, part canned w/ extra water added, and kibble (on seprate days than the raw) at least this way we have variety in the diet. All food fed is high quality from the 3-5 star teirs only. We NEVER mix wet and dty together as dogs can get picky and refuse dry by itself. Wet is fed by itself in a seoerate bowl. We also alternate about monthly between formulas and brands. Water is provided at all times! No corn, wheat, soy, sugar, by product, artificial preservatives flavors or colors. All dogs get their teeth brushed ar leasr 1 a week a d get raw meary bones and rope toys

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Mathias –

    If your dog is vomiting and refusing food she normally likes you should have her seen by a vet immediately, please do not wait until next week. Vomiting and loss of appetite are sometimes nothing more than an upset stomach that will go away after a few days, but they can also be symptoms of something more serious. It’s better to be safe than sorry. I would also highly recommend switching your dog to a better quality food, Pedigree is about as bad as it gets. If you shop at Walmart there’s a brand carried there called Pure Balance – it’s much better than Pedigree and reasonably priced. Two other foods that would be a big step up from Pedigree than can be found at most grocery stores and Walmarts would be Purina One Beyond, Iams Sensitive Naturals and Iams Simple and Natural.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000109706169 Mathias Bjorkman

    My dog seem to have developed a irritated stomach, some days she throws up her food. I give her pedigree dry food. Normally its no problem but for the last few days she eats and keep is down for a big part of the day but then throws it up. This is not every day. Not sure if she is sick or the food is irritating her stomach. She usually like a slice of cheese in the morning but she would not even want that. If she is not doing better by next week i will bring her to the vet.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mary.llewellyn.92 Mary Llewellyn

    be wary of Hills Science Diet TD original size – does not specify not to use with smaller breeds. Our vet recommended it as better to use than the “small bites” size if the dogs would eat it, as it would do an even better cleaning job – $6,000 later, both dogs had to have broken and cracked teeth removed. Vet said must have been chewing stones. My dogs don’t chew stones – the hardest thing either chewed was this dog food! Hills didn’t want to hear it either. Will never buy another Hills product again!

  • Hickey2005

    canned food contains alot of water sometimes over 70% where dried food contains non

  • Pattyvaughn

    Thanks SSW

    That’s good info to share.

  • SSW

    PP wrote about BPA in dog food, this is from the lining of the can.  Choosing something that does not come in a can should eliminate the BPA.  I say this not as any kind of dog expert, but as someone who recently did extensive research on BPA.  BPA is leached from some plastics, generally #7s and the lining of cans.

  • JellyCat

    Some canned dog foods contain artificial flavorings and especially colorings. Colorings in such foods are typically caramel colour to make food look dark brown.

  • Melissaandcrew

     Hi KC-

    Its got to be the quality of canned that you are feeding. My crew eats canned, and not a single one of them develops bad breath from it-also, the cans of higher quality food do not have that nasty over processed smell(open a can of a meat based 4 or 5 star food and a can of 2 star and you can smell the difference) As for diarrhea, each dog is different. Typically, if the dog is rotated, they do not get the runs from the canned once they are used to it-unless there is a fat content issue or a “reaction” to a particular brand/flavor.

  • KC

    Another con- wet dog food smells AWFUL, and gives the dogs bad breath. It also gives my smaller dog diarhhea. :(

  • KC

    THERE’S BPA IN DOG FOODS??!?!?!?! WHY?!??! I’m appalled!

  • KC

    My girls go crazy over blue buffalo grain-free, and they’re pretty into Iams mini chunks. Also- they seem to like dry or wet oatmeal for a snack, or put on top of food as a rare treat. Try that. Whole oats are wonderful for dogs. Maybe even add carrots for eye health. Dogs like a little bit of plant foods in their diet in addition to meaty stuff.

  • KC

    There’s been so many recalls on wet dog foods. And even dry for that matter. I wish I had the money to feed my dogs all real food. One of my dogs got food poisoning off beneful a couple years ago. She’s okay now but I never bought that brand again!

  • Rhea

    Eating dry food (cereal) 100 percent would make me wanna die. Can definitely understand why my canines don’t want it.

  • Dave’s Hounds

     I use ziwipeak canned or airdried and my dogs love it. I also rotate Grandma Lucy’s Pureformance dehydrated – it smells great and you add warm water and wait about 5 minutes before serving.

  • Cheryl

    I have a friend who ONLY feeds her boxers “real food”.  She has spoken to her vet about what to have in it but she feels its more natural and better for them since she controlls what they get.  she sometimes makes in advance containers so she always has some and refrigerates it but talk to your vet if he’s getting the nutrients and he’s happy what the hey?

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    Look to the left, click on either “Dry”, “Wet” or “Raw” Dog Foods. Or you can also get there by going to the Library tab.

  • Matilda

    And how do you get to a list of 5 star dog foods?

  • Matilda

    My chihuahua/fox terrier mix is so finicky I am at my wits end trying to find something to feed him. He seems to hate all dry food as well as wet. He only wants to eat whatever I fix for dinner, but he has been gaining weight that way. Anyone know a good canned food and dry food that I could mix that he would eat? I tried once to feed him only dog food and he went four days without eating. I don’t want to go through that again.

  • LoveNewEngland

    Carrageenan, which is derived from red seaweed, is the most controversial gelling ingredient. Even though this ingredient is FDA approved for human consumption, some studies indicate that there is a link to cancer. There are two different qualities, a low grade and high grade. Guess which is most likely in dog food? For high protein, non-stew-like canned dog food, this ingredient is almost always found on the label (especially in the 95% versions), even in the high quality brands. Most importantly, avoid this ingredient in foods that you or your family eats. 

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  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    Canned food does not give puppies worms.  Sometimes worms don’t come out every time they poop.   So there might be a couple worm-free poops in between the ones that you see worms.  Depends on how much of the worms they have.  Also your pup can acquire worms from outside.  I think it’s whipworm or hookworm, I forgot which one.  So be careful if your pup gets into an area where there is alot of waste or eats poop that is not picked up.  The tapeworms come from the fleas.  Alot of my fosters have those when I first get them and they are noticeable but not on every poop!

  • Ash

    so will canned dog food give puppies worms? my puppy didn’t have any worms for a couple days and i gave him a can of food and the next few times he went out he had worms.????

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    What’s the least offensive to worst offensive gelling agent in canned foods (and then there’s bpa)?

    guar
    carrageenan
    xanthum gum
    vegetable gum
    locust bean gum
    bpa

    I’ve found 2 canned foods without these gelling agents but are not bpa free: nature’s logic and instinct.  And then I found some with just one gelling agent.

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  • Betsy Greer

    I’m late in responding to this Mike P,

    I read that HDM recommended some alternate products that you might like.  You might also like Darwin’s.  I love it as a topper and they also carry frozen green tripe:  http://www.darwinspet.com/raw-bones-green-tripe-venison-jerky/.  

  • BryanV21

    I’m not sure about all varieties, but the two that we have (Venison and Fish) are a bit higher in fat. Ziwipeak is an awesome food, though, and compared to what you were feeding would it certainly be a better choice.

  • sharron

    thanks again

    what about ziwipeak? she really likes it!!
    too high in fat?

  • BryanV21

    FYI, the “dry food is good to clean teeth” thing is a myth. Kibble, for lack of a better word, “explodes” when bitten so that it does not scrape against the teeth.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    I agree with BryanV21, Fromm would be a good choice. Two other suggestions I would make is Weruva and Addiction – these are high quality low fat canned foods. You may also want to consider feeding a dehydrated food like The Honest Kitchen or Grandma Lucy’s – they have about the same amount of calories per cup as a dry food but they rehydrate with an equal amount of water so they double in volume giving your dog the same amount of calories with double the volume of food.

  • sharron

    thanks

    she prefers wet -  only reason i give her dry is that so many people have told me that it’s good for her teeth.
    i’ve watched her eat – she doesn’t chew – most of it she swallows whole – she’s like a front end loader. if she doesn’t chew it, how is that helping her teeth?

  • BryanV21

    There’s too much filler in this food, especially for a wet food, so it’s not surprising your dog never felt full with it.

    Fromm 4-Star is a really good wet food, that has lower than average fat in it. And due to less filler, your dog would likely feel fuller with it.

  • sharron

    Hi

    considering putting my yorkie/chihuahua back on to just a canned diet – was on it before, r/d canned food. so she could lose a lb, but found she was always hungry. was feeding her about every 3 hours. is there a better can food that will make her feel full sfter her meals?

    thanks

  • Johnandchristo

    Hey mike…… 

    Thanks !! You feed so good I cant even come close !
    I saw the Brother’s face book and was touched  that they put Christo in there!!

  • Mike P

    John/melissa I believe by mixing it up you avoid making picky eaters.Jubilee always gets one cup of kibble for her second feeding with water and a squirt of fish oil.On days when she’s extremely active and hungary I will give her a additional half cup kibble dry before bedtime.Always eats everything in her bowl and very interested on what I put in it lol.Yes I took the dehydrated line from Beckers video.I thought it made sense when you look at the wolves diet of 70% moisture.I wish I were smart enough to feed raw but I know I would screw things up if I tried.Good thing for us there is Brothers.Nice pic of Christo on the Brothers FB page John!!!

  • Johnandchristo

    Hi Melissa….

    I agree too. I did not say “if you feed kibble your dog will be in a constant state of dehydration” but I did see the Dr Karin Becker video(how to choose a good dog food) , and she stated that a food that was 10 % water would be taxing to a dog’s organs, if fed exclusively for the duration of the animals life. So what Mike P and I (and others) are guestamating is adding water/meat in the kibble to moistion  it would be helpful? Hope so. Your right about making them picky eaters though, I think Christo has me trained sometimes.

  • melissa

    Johnandchristo-

    I don’t always top every meal either-I expect my dogs to eat what is in the bowl, and I do not want a case of finicky eater on my hands I always add warm water and I have to say, it really makes the Acana smell great-so the dogs “think” there is something unique, lol.

    I don’t agree with the statement that “if you only feed kibble, your dog will be in a constant state of dehydration.” I ate a sandwich today, without a drink since I was in a hurry, but I was not thirsty. Yet, two hours later, when I felt thirsty, I drank..as long as the mechanism to respond to the dogs thirst is working, I can not fathom how they would dehydrate : ) The obvious exception of course would be the same as humans out in excessively hot weather.

  • Johnandchristo

    Ps Mike……

    Sometimes I do feed Christo just plain kibble, but I mix in springwater, that I heat a little on the stove. My Flat Coat Dugan would eat kibble like that all most every day day. But always with water.

  • Johnandchristo

    Hi Mike P…..

    I agree with everyone don’t throw out the tripett. I would not get to nuts about it. But I stopped feeding it.
    And as hounddogmom said after 6 months it did not hurt him. I also agree with you about kibble. I am now mixing in chop meat, beef turkey, pork, chicken, Even
    rabbit and salmon. What I do with the chop meat is put a cup or two of water and lightly boil the meat. Let it cool and add the water and meat to the kibble. I’m hoping in this way to get more water into Christo.
    BPAs are really bad, but as Dr Mike said in a post a few days ago if fed over and over again you need to worry. My take on BPAs is the same as k3, I feel its not worth it to take a chance. I think there is more evidence against than for, so I avoid. Just my opinion.  

  • Mike P

    John I am feeding Brothers as well and feel great about that.I assume you top off every Brothers meal? Feeding kibble alone will keep your dog in a constant state of dehydration.That’s why no matter how great the kibble I will never feed only kibble.

  • Mike P

    Thanks melissa for your advice.Jubilee just does so good with the tripe and loves it so much.I like what the tripett has to offer with the enzymes and I feed her that with veggies.I really don’t have a plan sunday through tuesday without the tripett.I feel it’s a better option than just meat canned food.I would just feed her fresh meat then.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Mike P: I wouldn’t throw it out. Just finish off the 8 weeks and discontinue use after. If it makes you feel any more comfortable I fed my dogs a large can of Tripett each for about 6 months before I found out about BPA – they’re still alive and well lol. I now order fresh tripe from mypetcarnivore.com and hare-today.com. You could also look into freeze-dried green tripe options – Dr. Harvey’s and K9 Natural both sell freeze-dried green tripe.

    Edit: Oops. replied to the wrong person.

  • Johnandchristo

    Mike P, this is what I posted a month ago on another thread about BPAs Hi Shawna and Richard,
    Hears some more info about canned food. If the cans are made cheaply(and alas legally ) they can containBPA, a very dangerous chemical. BPA has been linked to cancer, obesity, and diabetes. It can trick your fat cells into taking in more fat. It can trick your pancreasinto producing more insulin which can lead to type 2 diabetes. One serving from a can (not the whole can)is 80 times the amount you should have in one day!!So thats something to think about when feeding your pets, and yes thats one more reason that I’m feeling good about feeding Brothers.

  • melissa

     Mike P-

    Others will probably be more concerned over the potential for the BPA, but I really don’t have this at the top of my concerns. I would not throw out the food, and if really concerned, I would simply space out the servings-perhaps instead of weekly, every two weeks or monthly until done.

  • Mike P

    I’m freaked out now about BPA lined cans.I only feed Tripett 1/3rd can topper 3 times a week Sunday,Monday,Tuesday.The other 4 days a week she gets fresh meat/sardines as toppers.Now I am worried that the sardine cans are BPA lined as well!!Just how dangerous is this BPA and now is it indeed true that canned is a better option than kibble?I have 8 weeks of Tripett left and would hate to throw it away.I emailed Tripett and asked about the BPA and never got a response so I take that as a yes they are lined with poisen.What to do???

  • Art

    excellent info, thank you very much!!

  • Notinvain

    I simply want to express my gratitude to you, Mike, for your invaluable blog. Thank goodness for generous, humane people like you. ~ Thank You, Thank You, Thank You ~
    Barbara L

  • Nikanika427

    Stories like yours are so common it makes me sad. Yes there are a lot of options, but some research will quickly narrow your choices to foods that will be good for your dog and fit your lifestyle and budget. Holistic kibble such as Taste of the Wild are good options if convinience is an issue. You will want to make sure the food is grainfree. Also, always read the ingredients. If the first 10 items contain something you can’t pronounce… its probably a bad buy. Make sure there are a couple whole meat items as well (as opposed to chicken by-product meal – how gross!) Personally, I feed my girls a homemade raw diet. it takes a little more time, but my vet says he’s never seen healthier dogs. I suggest you do some serious research and see what works for you. Remember, just because your dog is doing good on a certain diet doesn’t mean he can’t do Great on another!

  • Ivy Marks

    Hello
    Just found your site through Covy Tucker Hill Kennels in Cali.  Expecting a new shepherd pup next month after the loss of our beloved 10 yr old boy.  My question is while there’s so much to choose from on the market, does a dog get enough nutrition if he receives “home cooked” food?  Sounds silly I know, but my previous dog had so many undiagnosed stomach ailments and was eventually placed on some presecript. food for GSD’s only.  I want to keep this puppy healthy but unsure of which products are best.  Considering last years tainted dog foods in PA, I worry about commercial products.  Thoughts welcomed!
    Thanks

  • Hound Dog Mom

    When I fed Honest Kitchen the dogs got 2 C. THK + 1/2 Can Tripett morning and evening.

  • Johnandchristo

    Hi La…..

    I feed it once because it is not fortified. But it is a very good component to a Raw or top tier kibble. It is filled with digestive acids , and omega threes, plus extra protein, great for dogs. I think its 20% topper to kibble. that keeps the balance of cal/ phosphorous in the right place. 

  • LA

    I ordered the Tripett (lamb tripe) and just wondering is this something can be give at each feeding (twice a day) or maybe just twice a week???

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Yeah if you’re going to feed a canned food make sure it’s free of corn, wheat, soy, colorings, sweeteners, and by-products – and grain-free is always a plus. If the canned is low quality you’re actually better of with the high quality dry. All of the options Dave’s Hounds suggested are wonderful (I’m particularly fond of Nature’s Logic) – but be warned they are a little pricey, some of them over $3 per can. If you’re on a budget, some high-quality budget friendly canned foods are: Whole Earth Farms (rated 5 stars, approx. $1.60 per can); By Nature (rated 5 stars, approx. $1.30 per can); Harmony Farms (rated 4 stars, approx. $1.60 per can); and Variety (rated 4 stars, approx. $1.60 per can).

  • Dave’s Hounds

    Dreamer – I spent a long time researching many different cannced foods for my dogs – I also feed them air dried and freeze dried with a very small amount of kibble. Canned food is not inexpensive but I recommend Ziwipeak, Instinct, Merrick BG, Natures Logic, Wysong Au Jus, and Wellness Core. I am sure there are many other good ones out there but these all work well for me and I like the companies – I did stop Welness Core after the recall but am now rotating through it again as it was not impacted. i generally move away from a company after a recall especially if it is handled poorly or pets died. I would never touch Diamond.

  • Toxed2loss

    He probably “goes nuts for it” because it contains excitatory neurotoxins, that are addictive, and stimulate appetite. Look for ingredients like “natural flavor, broth, citric acid, protein isolate, hydrolyzed (anything), carrageenan, corn gluten meal, MSG…” And a whole host of others.

    Sorry. :-{

  • Dreamer

     I see your point about Dental health, maybe I’m just biased because her shitzu’s teeth are atrocious, although she doesn’t brush. Still I would rather him be eating the highly nutritious kibble than the low quality (not because its canned, just that its cheap stuff) canned food which he fills up on. He goes bananas for the stuff though, I’d feel bad making him sit out while the other 8 eat. Guess that’s how it is though.

    Maybe when I move back out I’ll look into high quality canned products.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Dreamer,

    This is a common misconception. Canned food is more-species appropriate than kibble (higher in protein, more moisture, and less preservatives/colorings). So actually, contrary to popular belief, canned food is better for a dog than kibble – just make sure you’re using a quality canned food. Also canned does not rot teeth and kibble does not clean teeth. Think about it this way, if you went to your dentist and he told you you could stop brushing your teeth as long as you ate crunchy food what would you say? You’d think he was nuts right? Because it is nuts! Kibble does not scrape off plaque and tartar and in fact kibble containing grains can actually contribute to plaque and tartar build up (dogs don’t possess the enzyme in their saliva that breaks down grains so they build up on the gum line). The only effective way to ensure clean teeth is to brush your dogs teeth frequently. Some other things that can help with plaque and tartar build up are raw meaty bones or dental chews specifically designed to clean teeth (just make sure they don’t have unhealthy ingredients). But nothing is a substitute for a good teeth brushing!

  • Dreamer

    I’m staying with my dog at my mothers right now. I’ve been feeding my dog 1 1/2 c. high-quality kibble a day yet my mother additionally feeds him canned food (store-brand) in the morning and and night. I’d prefer she didn’t do this because I feel like this causes him to eat less of the quality kibble and also rot his teeth. Do i have a legitimate concern here?

  • Aseycay

    Oh his poops are fine now. It was only when he was on the grain free food that we had a problem. They were usually just really soft, not formed at all and much more frequent.

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