Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food For Puppies is Good? Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies is good.
When a puppy reaches around 7 or 8 weeks old, its chewing muscles are developed enough to eat solid foods.
They should still be consuming some puppy milk, then, and the best way to get them used to a new eating pattern is by adding canned food into the diet.
The easiest way is by mixing canned wet dog food with dry dog kibble because this will allow them to get comfortable with the texture of both varieties of food.
At around 8 weeks to 10 weeks old, puppies can start eating regular dry dog food.
By this time, they should already be getting used to the new canned food in their diet by mixing it with dry kibble.
They might spit this mixture or feed it right back up, so don’t fuss if your puppy does this.
Below I will share some tips that will teach you how to mix wet and dry dog food for puppies and the benefits of mixing.
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Benefits Of Mixing Wet And Dry Food For Puppies Together
Many benefits of mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies together include. When a new puppy eats only canned food, there will be no digestive upsets.
This means that its meal’s nutritional value is maintained because the puppy’s body completely absorbs the dry kibble.
By mixing canned and dry foods, a puppy can easily adjust to this new eating pattern as it is already used to both types of food.
Here I have listed 7 benefits of mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies.
1. Increases Palatability
Mixing wet and dry food for puppies increases the palatability of both varieties of food.
If a puppy is used to eating only dry dog kibble, it will be more accepting of what it is eating in the future when you mix wet and dry dog food for puppies.
2. Improves Digestion
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies improves digestion because its many digestive enzymes can better break down the different nutrients in both foods.
When dry dog kibble is eaten by itself, it will not be completely digested because the puppy’s digestive enzymes do not act on it.
However, when mixed with canned food, these enzymes are released and will break down the food better. This way, a puppy can get all the nutrients that it needs.
3. Increases Water Intake
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies increases water intake because even though the foods do not have the same water content, there are still some water-soluble nutrients.
A puppy can drink more milk by mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies. Therefore, its body will get the daily amount of water it needs.
4. Prevents Diarrhea
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies does not just improve digestion because it also prevents diarrhea.
This is because mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies helps to make the nutrients in both types of food more easily absorbed.
5. Reduces Food Allergies
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies also reduces a puppy’s risk of suffering from food allergies.
There is a greater chance that your puppy will be allergic to the ingredients in canned food than in dry kibble because many manufacturers add preservatives and other additives to canned foods.
6. Helps in Weight Management
If you are worried about your puppy’s weight, mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies is a good way to help your puppy maintain its weight.
A puppy that only eats canned food will most likely gain weight because it contains many water-soluble nutrients, which makes it easier to absorb the calories in the food.
7. Reduces Constipation
If you are tempted to give your puppy milk instead of canned food, mix wet and dry dog food for puppies because this will reduce the chances of constipation.
A puppy drinks more when fed canned food, increasing its chances of becoming constipated.
However, by mixing canned and dry food, a puppy will most likely drink more milk.
That way, it will have a better chance of having regular bowel movements.
How To Mix Wet And Dry Dog Food For Puppies
You can mix wet and dry dog food for puppies by adding canned food to your puppy’s kibble or using the two varieties of dog food to form a meal.
If you want to mix canned food with dry kibble, you can use a blender to blend both types of food and cook for about three minutes.
This way, the two foods will stick together and become cohesive substances your puppy can eat.
Alternatively, you can form the two types of dog food into one piece before feeding it to your puppy.
You can do this by heating them in the microwave or cooking them on a stove top on low heat until they are combined.
Which Dogs Can Benefit The Most From Mixing?
Most dogs can benefit from mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies because they are not allergic to the ingredients in either type of food.
The best example is your senior dog that has been eating the same quantity of canned food, which has caused its body to lose weight.
However, mixing canned and dry dog food for puppies might be more suitable if your puppy is not used to eating dry kibble as a meal on its own.
1. Picky Eaters
If you have a picky eater, mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies is the best solution because it will satisfy your dog’s appetite and increase your dog’s chances of better accepting the types of food.
2. Puppies
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies is a good idea because mixing these two types of food will help a puppy accept both varieties better.
3. Low-Appetite Dogs
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies is also a good idea if your dog has an eating problem.
However, you should find out what your dog’s diet contains so you can use the right type of food for your dog’s diet.
4. Labrador Retrievers
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies is also a good idea if you have Labradors since they are more used to eating dry kibble than canned foods.
Tips For Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies has benefits, dog food palatability, digestion, water intake, and many others.
Here I have listed some tips on properly mixing your puppy’s diet.
1. Size Of Wet And Dry Dog Food Is Important
When mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies, the size of each type of food should be the same because it will help to prevent your puppy from eating more of one type than the other.
2. Warm Both Types Of Dog Food
When mixing the two types of dog food, you should warm the wet food to make it less cold. This will make it easier to mix with your dog’s dry kibble.
3. Keep The Water Content Of Wet And Dry Dog Food The Same
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies has different water content. You must ensure that you keep their water content the same because wet dog food has more water than dry kibble.
Mixing Wet And Dry Dog Food Ratio
If you are wondering about the best ratio for mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies, here is a list of recommended ratios.
1. 50% Canned Food & 50% Dry Dog Kibble
This is the standard ratio used by most dog owners when they mix their puppies’ kibbles and canned foods. This ratio ensures that your puppy will get all the nutrients it needs.
2. 40% Canned Food & 60% Dry Dog Kibble
This ratio is used by dog owners that prefer dry kibble to canned food. This is the recommended ratio for dogs that have problems with their digestion.
3. 30% Canned Food & 70% Dry Dog Kibble
This recommendation is used by dog owners who wish to use more canned food than dry kibble in their puppies’ kibbles. This is usually the recommended ratio if you want to control the amount of canned food your puppy eats.
4. 25% Canned Food & 75% Dry Dog Kibble
If you are worried that cooking canned food before mixing it with kibble will reduce its caloric content, this is the perfect ratio for you. This ratio also ensures that your puppy gets all the nutrients it needs while feeding it a diet low in calories.
Best Wet Puppy Food To Mix With Dry
As you can see, mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies has many benefits. It is also important to note which wet dog food you should use when mixing the two types of food.
You must use a high-quality wet puppy diet when mixing to ensure your puppy gets all the nutrients it needs.
Here I have listed some of the best wet dog food to mix with the dry kibble for your puppy’s diet.
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness
- Nature’s Variety Instinct Original
- Canidae All Life Stages
- Wellness Core
- Diamond Naturals Grain Free
- Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream
- Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Dog Food
What Can Be Mixed With Dry Dog Food?
If you want to know what can be mixed with dry dog food to increase your puppy’s appetite, here is a list of solutions.
- Canned Puppy Food
- Yogurt
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Dairy Products
- Meat And Eggs
- Extras (Supplements)
Can You Mix Different Brands Of Wet And Dry Dog Food?
You can mix different brands of wet and dry dog food for puppies, provided you find out the ingredients in both types of dog food.
You should read the label and check whether the two types of dog food used are safe for your puppy.
If one type is unsafe for your puppy, you should not mix it with the other because you will give it a potentially harmful diet.
The Conclusion
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies is good because it ensures your puppy gets a balanced diet.
You should mix the two types of dog food in a way that will allow you to control the amount of caloric intake, protein, and fats for your puppy.
Mixing wet and dry dog food for puppies is also important if your puppy has an eating problem. You have to find out which type of dog food your puppy prefers before mixing them.
Thanks for reading!