Dry food or wet food? |
Kibble, canned food, freshness sachets: when it comes to feeding our dogs and cats, there's plenty to choose from! But for you and your friend, kibble has many advantages.
The difference between kibble and soft food (pâtée) lies in their water content. Kibble has undergone a treatment that has caused it to lose much of its moisture, whereas pâtée has retained this moisture. Wet food generally contains 68% to 78% water, while dry food contains only 8% to 10%.
But whatever type of food you choose, you must never forget the vital need for water in all living things. Your pet must have permanent access to fresh, clean drinking water. It goes without saying that animals fed kibbles will see their water requirements increase, as they will find little of it in their ration!
What do our companions prefer?
In general, cats prefer moist food. However, a cat fed dry food from an early age will do just fine! Nevertheless, it's important to choose between wet and dry food. Indeed, it's not advisable to give cats both types of food, as this practice encourages them to eat larger quantities and promotes weight gain! Most dogs, on the other hand, are not fussy, and will accept either type of food. Beware, however, of bad eating habits, which are always difficult to correct.
The advantages of dry food
From a practical point of view, kibbles offer innumerable advantages: they're generally less expensive than their canned counterparts, which is no mean feat if you're a fan of large dogs! What's more, they have a longer shelf life than wet food. A tin of pâtée should be eaten within 24 hours of opening. Bags of kibble, on the other hand, can be kept dry for weeks! Finally, dry food should not be kept in a cool place, which avoids the sometimes unpleasant odors in our fridge.
Health is everything!
All these considerations aside, it's important to keep the most important thing in mind: your pet's health. And in this area, kibbles score another point!
In fact, they delay the appearance of tartar through a mechanical rubbing action when crunched. Tartar is the number one enemy of teeth: it accumulates near the gums, causing inflammation. This can lead to infection and premature tooth loss, which can seriously compromise your pet's ability to eat. This is why many dogs and cats need to have their teeth scaled at least once in their lives. Feeding kibble for the rest of your pet's life means taking care of its mouth!
Of course, the inevitable wear and tear of teeth occurs over time, and it's sometimes necessary to feed our older dogs and cats soft foods when they can no longer crunch!
In conclusion, don't forget that a healthy diet must be correctly balanced to provide our pets with the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals they need.