Choosing the Right Pet Food: Dry Food, Canned Food, or Raw Meat?
All animals must eat daily to obtain essential nutrients, so it's no surprise that dry food, canned food (wet food), and even raw meat diets are widely debated topics among pet owners.
The question of which type of food is most suitable for pets, and how to make the best choice, is a constant topic of discussion. Nowadays, many pet food brands produce both dry kibble and wet/canned food, causing pet parents to wonder: "Since both come from the same brand and likely have similar nutritional values, why produce two different forms?"
Understanding the differences can help you decide what's best for your pet.
Differences Between Dry and Wet Pet Foods
Dry food (kibble) is made by pulverizing ingredients into a dough, cooking it, and then shaping it into crunchy pieces that are sprayed with oils and vitamins. It's convenient, cost-effective, and easy to store without refrigeration. It also helps some pets with dental health by encouraging chewing that removes plaque.
Canned or wet food contains much higher moisture—typically around 60-70% compared to dry food's 8-10%—which mimics the natural water content pets derive from fresh prey. Wet food is often more aromatic and palatable, encouraging even picky or older pets to eat.
Wet food is cooked and sterilized in a way that kills harmful bacteria but may reduce some nutrient levels. It usually contains fewer preservatives than dry food because the canning process itself seals and preserves the product.
Which Is More Suitable for Your Pet?
The choice depends on your pet's individual needs and lifestyle:
- Hydration needs: Wet food is beneficial for pets that drink less water or have medical conditions like kidney disease or urinary problems.
- Palatability: Wet food often appeals more to pets with reduced appetite.
- Dental health: Dry kibble can aid in controlling tartar build-up.
- Convenience and cost: Dry food is easier to store, less messy, and generally more budget-friendly.
Some pet owners use a mix of both forms to balance benefits, giving pets variety in texture, flavor, and moisture while supporting overall nutrition and hydration.
Raw Meat Diets
Raw diets aim to replicate a natural feeding style and tend to have the highest moisture content and least processing. However, raw feeding requires careful handling to avoid bacterial contamination and to ensure balanced nutrition.
Ultimately, selecting dry, canned, or raw food should be based on your pet's health, preferences, and your lifestyle. It's always advisable to consult your veterinarian to craft a tailored feeding plan that meets your pet's unique nutritional requirements.
Pet Food Drying Methods: Hot Air Drying vs. Freeze Drying
The most common method for drying pet food is hot air drying. This process involves first grinding and mixing the raw ingredients, then drying them through heated air circulation. This traditional approach dehydrates the food by slowly evaporating moisture, making it shelf-stable and easier to store.
However, in recent years, a newer technique called freeze drying (or cold dehydration) has emerged. This method uses rapid freezing technology to remove moisture from the ingredients by sublimation—turning ice directly into vapor under low temperature and pressure conditions. Because freeze drying avoids high heat, it preserves significantly more of the food's original nutrients compared to conventional hot air drying.
While hot air drying is widely used due to its simplicity and lower equipment cost, it can cause some nutrient loss as prolonged heat exposure degrades heat-sensitive vitamins and enzymes. Freeze drying, on the other hand, although more complex and expensive, maintains more of the pet food's natural nutrition and flavor by minimizing nutrient degradation and oxidation.
This innovation in pet food production reflects a growing emphasis on maintaining ingredient quality, offering pet owners options that better retain the nutritional integrity of natural ingredients.
Advantages of Dry Pet Food
Dry pet food has several benefits:
- Higher calorie content: Pets can easily obtain sufficient energy from dry food.
- Convenient feeding: The nutritional ratios required daily by animals are professionally formulated by veterinarians and nutritionists. Pet owners only need to provide the appropriate portions according to their pet's weight.
- Easy to store: Once opened, if stored properly, dry food can remain fresh and safe to use for up to three months.
- Cost-effective: Compared to wet food, dry pet food is generally more affordable.
The Process of Making Wet Pet Food
Wet pet food is made from various raw materials, which may include fresh or frozen meats. These raw ingredients are first placed into a grinder to inspect and ensure that no unwanted substances are included.
After grinding, liquid ingredients and other dry components are added and combined in a mixer. The mixing process varies in consistency depending on the specific recipe requirements.
Finally, the wet food mixture is packaged into foil bags or cans and vacuum-sealed to preserve freshness and quality.
Advantages of Wet Pet Food
Wet pet food offers several notable benefits:
- High Acceptance: Its texture and moisture content closely resemble the natural prey animals would hunt in the wild, which generally makes it more appealing and easier for pets to accept.
- Easy to Chew: For senior pets, those with dental issues, or pets that are ill, wet food is softer and easier to eat and digest compared to dry kibble.
- Higher Moisture Content: Wet food contains meat juices and has about ten times the moisture content of dry food. For pets that don't drink enough water, wet food helps boost their daily water intake.
- Aroma That Encourages Eating: One of the most practical advantages is its enticing aroma, which encourages pets to eat actively. This is especially beneficial for picky eaters, pets who are reluctant to take medication, or those with certain illnesses who must eat the same food for the rest of their lives. For these pets, wet food is truly a blessing.
Is Feeding Pets Raw Meat Beneficial to Their Health?
Feeding pets raw meat may contribute to their overall health. Because raw meat is not cooked, its nutrients—such as proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes—remain intact and undamaged. This preservation of nutrients makes raw meat nutritionally richer compared to cooked meat.
Additionally, raw meat helps cats and dogs maintain proper hydration levels in their bodies. This benefit is especially important for cats, which are prone to urinary tract issues.
Feeding Raw Meat to Pets: Important Considerations
Whether it is for people or pets, dietary plans should never follow a single, fixed formula. They must be adjusted according to the individual's physical condition at different stages in life to promote optimal health. The same principle applies when feeding raw meat diets to pets. The menu, portion sizes, and nutritional requirements should all be tailored to the unique constitution of each animal.
Before preparing homemade raw meat meals, pet owners must first understand their animal's health status. It is equally important to do thorough research—such as mastering the appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and nutrient standards for the diet. Without a clear understanding, owners should avoid blindly creating raw meat meals to prevent health issues that may arise from improper feeding.
Furthermore, for cats and dogs suffering from serious illnesses—such as heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease—owners must consult a professional veterinarian before making any dietary changes.
Important Considerations When Mixing Wet and Dry Food for Pets
Some pet owners may wonder, "What should be noted when feeding a mix of wet and dry food?" When pets age, suffer from malnutrition, or have certain health conditions, it is advisable to mix wet foods like canned main meals or supplementary cans with dry kibble. This approach not only increases the moisture content of their diet but also enables pets to receive a wider range of nutrients than from a single type of food alone.
Since wet and dry foods have different storage and preservation requirements, it is essential not only to feed pets regularly and in proper amounts, but also to observe whether they finish each meal completely. Additionally, to aid digestion, you can soften the dry food by soaking it or grind it into powder so that the digestion times for both wet and dry foods align better.
Choosing the Right Pet Food for Your Companion
In fact, whether it is dry kibble, wet food, or raw meat diets, each type has its own appropriate way to be used for pets. Some pets thrive on dry kibble, others do better with wet food, and some are even better suited to a combination of both dry and wet foods.
Since every pet's physical condition is different, the amount to feed each day, as well as the ratio of dry to wet food, should be tailored to the individual animal. For the best guidance on these feeding decisions, it is important to consult a trusted professional veterinarian.
