Why The Pros Of Dry Food Outweigh The Pros Of Canned Food

As a pet owner, it is imperative to know what kinds of foods are appropriate for your cat or dog. Whether you should feed your pet wet or dry food has been hotly debated among the pet community for quite some time. However, the knowledgeable vets at our East Kew veterinary clinic prefer to recommend dry food for your pet. This is because the pros of dry food far outweigh the pros of canned food, and today we are exploring why.

 

The main pro of canned food

The main pro of canned food is that it is hydrating. This means that vets may sometimes recommend canned food if your pet suffers from certain conditions such as kidney and liver disease.

 

Cons of canned food

The biggest con of canned food is the inconvenience it entails. Unlike dry food, which can be stored at room temperature for up to six weeks, canned food must be refrigerated and often lasts less than a week once opened. This means that in order to feed your cat or dog canned food, you’ll need to buy it in smaller quantities, and make more shopping trips each week – which unfortunately doesn’t suit everyone’s lifestyle.

The other cons of canned food include:

• It tends to be more costly, which can affect your final purchase decision
• It is sticky and encourages the accumulation of plaque and tartar on your pet’s teeth, which is bad for dental health
• Canned food can cause disturbances to your pet’s gastrointestinal system, which can lead to issues such as diarrhea.

 

Pros of dry food

The biggest reason why pet owners choose dry kibble is due to its convenience. It is much more cost effective than canned food and only needs to be bought once every month or so. It’s also easy to portion and leave in the bowl for your pet to consume in his or her own time – rather than canned food, which can’t be left out for too long.

Another major pro of dry food is its positive effect on your pet’s dental hygiene. The effect is similar for both cats and dogs. The dry, tough kibble scrapes against the teeth and helps to remove plaque and tartar buildup. In combination with a proper dental routine, dry food can help keep your cat or dog’s teeth nice and healthy.

 

The main con of dry food

The only con of dry kibble is that it isn’t as hydrating as wet food. However, this is easily fixed by providing a bowl of clean water for your pet to drink beside the food.

Vets on Balwyn is an East Kew veterinary clinic that specialises in pet care. With our state-of-the-art medical facilities and friendly, pet-loving vets, we put your mind at ease when it comes to your pet. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.