With so many dog food options out there, you would think this age old debate between canned or kibble dog food has been settled by now. Turns out the answer, pardon the pun, isn’t so cut and dry. 

“I don’t see a big difference there.” says veterinarian Walt Ingwersen. “Both can be good, both can be bad. It depends on how they’re produced.” 

While there may not be one answer for all dogs, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of wet and dry dog food to find out which is right for your dog and your lifestyle.

Pros And Cons Of Dry Food

The biggest advantage to dry dog food is cost. “Dry foods came about simply out of convenience.” explains Walt Ingwersen. Dry food is more longer lasting, budget friendly, and easier to store. While it does last a lot longer than its wet counterpart, this is because it has a lot more additives. Dry food is also a lot more calorie dense, so you’re getting more bang for your buck. Plus it’s not going to take up a lot of space in your refrigerator. Just make sure that if your dog is on a dry diet, that they’re getting plenty of water.

Pros And Cons Of Wet Food

Wet food may come at a price, but it does come with its advantages. It’s a less processed alternative, so it’s closer to a natural protein. If your dog is prone to stomach issues or is even just a picky eater, you may have better luck getting them to eat dry food. Also, the extra moisture can be very helpful for dogs who are dehydration prone. In addition to cost, the main drawback of wet food is short shelf life. It goes bad quickly after opening, so be sure to put any leftovers in the fridge.

Why Not Both?

A mix of wet and dry dog food can be a great way to test out which is right for you. As long as you are monitoring your dog’s caloric intake, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with either mixing wet and dry in the same bowl, or alternating between the two. Wet food can also come in handy as a treat to reward good behaviour.

Wet Or Dry, Ingredients Come First

Whether it’s wet or dry, nothing is more important when choosing the right dog food than closely reading the ingredients on the label. A lot (though not all) of your dog’s ideal diet is meat, so the top line ingredient should be meat, and that’s it. If it says “beef”, that means the entire product is at least 70% beef. If it says something like “beef dinner” or “with beef” or “beef flavour”, you’re looking at less than 10% actual meat.