Dry dog food or natural dog food? The pros and cons

Which is better: Dry dog food or natural dog food? The pros and cons

This question inevitably arises in any owner of a four-legged pet. The debate about the benefits and harms of each of the two types of diet has been going on for years, both between veterinarians and between breeders.

We, too, will try to figure out which type of food is preferable. And let’s talk about whether you should mix pre-made diets and natural food containers.

Content:

Dry dog food

Prepackaged diets are rapidly gaining popularity among breeders. More and more dog owners are becoming fans of a simple and affordable option for feeding their pets.

Giving preference to dry food, remember the basic rules:

• Choose a diet according to the age, lifestyle, health and breed of the pet;
• Adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations for the daily amount and frequency of feeding according to weight;
• Provide access to clean water.
• If all conditions are met, using a balanced menu will provide your pet with all the necessary nutrients and vitamins.

Pros of dry food

Pros of using pre-prepared foods, veterinarians include:

• Ease of feeding and determining the daily allowance;
• Balanced composition that eliminates the need for additional vitamin and mineral supplements;
• Ability to travel with pets without changing the familiar diet;
• A large number of different flavors, which allows you to choose the best one for the specific pet, taking into account its preferences;
• A huge choice in every price category.

It should be noted that the undeniable advantage of ready-made food is compactness and possibility of storage without a refrigerator. The only condition will be the presence of an airtight container, which prevents the pellets from spilling and spoiling.

Disadvantages of dry food

Critically evaluating the use of ready-made rations should be noted:

• Lack of information about the products used in the manufacturing process;
• An impressive number of allergic reactions developing from the constant use of pellets;
• The content of soy in economy class menus replaces the use of meat by-products and makes products cheaper;
• The use of high temperatures at the manufacturing stage inevitably leads to the destruction of vitamins;
• The presence of preservatives and emulsifiers, as well as the introduction of flavorings into the pellets increases the gustatory appeal for the animal. But negatively affects the dog’s body.

Choosing a ready-made menu for your four-legged pet, you should give preference to products from well-known companies.

Veterinarians remind that the use of economy class menus can lead to the development of allergic reactions, as well as cause the emergence of chronic diseases.

Premium or Holistic diets will provide your pet with a perfectly balanced diet without harming all systems and organs.

Wet Dog Food Vs Dry Dog Food

Feeding your dog natural food

Many veterinarians consider a natural pet diet to be the best solution. But only if the owner is willing to take the time to adjust it according to the pet’s changing needs. And also to use only good quality foods to prepare the daily food ration.

It is important to understand that the term “natural food” does not include:

• Sweets;
• Smoked foods;
• Spoiled foods;
• Canned foods intended for human consumption;
• Condiments, spices, vinegar, salt;
• Tubular bones.

Experts remind us that this type of diet should contain the obligatory set of vitamins and micronutrients. You should not think that it is enough to introduce only bones and grits into the dog’s diet to get the right to talk about a natural diet.

For a dog, the daily menu should include:

• Meat;
• Meat by-products;
• Cottage cheese;
• Dairy products;
• Vegetables; Cereals;
• Fruit;
• Fish, etc.

A veterinarian’s consultation will help you evaluate the foods your pet needs. As well as adjusting the diet based on climate region, lifestyle, physiological condition and age group.

dry dog food or natural dog food? the pros and cons

Benefits of natural feeding

Choosing natural foods has a number of undeniable advantages. Among the most significant, animal feeding experts include:

• The ability to independently select high-quality products for cooking;
• Complete rejection of emulsifiers, preservatives, dyes and other chemical compounds detrimental to the health of the pet;
• The occurrence of an allergic reaction to any component allows you to easily replace it with a hypoallergenic analog;
• The presence in the diet of natural fiber, proteins and fats. They are easily digested and normalize metabolism and intestinal peristalsis;
• Optimal load on the chewing apparatus.

This is important: A balanced diet tailored to the needs of the individual four-legged dog is ideal.

Minuses minuses of natural feeding

It should be understood that for all the positives of the natural type of food, it has a number of disadvantages that must be considered:

• Impressive time costs for the purchase and subsequent preparation of food;
• Making balanced diets based on age and climate region, as well as lifestyle and time of year;
• Travelling with a dog on a subsistence diet presents serious challenges. After all, it must be fed 2-4 times a day. And food has to be prepared somewhere;
• The high cost of the diet compared to ready-to-eat economy food.

Not every owner is willing to strictly follow the vet’s recommendations for feeding their dog.

You should not offer your pet food that is too cold or too hot. You need to diversify the diet and use only quality foods. But if you’re willing to make the effort and provide your four-legged pet with the right natural food, it will be a great solution for keeping your dog healthy.

What’s cheaper to feed dry or natural?

To understand which type of food will be cheaper for the owner’s budget, a simple calculation should be done.

Let’s consider for example the cost of dry food Acana Grasslands Dog per month for a small pet, weighing 6-8 kg:

• The daily dosage is 110-115g;
• The amount of food per month varies between 3,400 and 3,600g;
• A bag of 11,4 kilos (for 3 months) costs 6500r;
• The price of a monthly ration is 2200r;
• The cost of fruit and nice treats will cost another 300-350r;

Total, the food of a small dog a month costs its owner about 2500-3000r.

Let’s calculate the cost of a natural ration for an animal of similar weight:

• The amount of meat products per day is 280-300g. In a month the amount of meat reaches 8.5kg. At an average price of 200r we obtain the amount of 1700-2000r;
• Dairy products calculated by the formula 110g (daily dose) * 31 day * 50r (the average cost of dairy products. For example, kefir, cottage cheese, ryazhenka, sour milk). We get 3kg at a cost of 50r. Total 150r;
• Vegetables and fruits. 112g (daily rate) * 31 day * 50r (the average cost). We get 150-200r; Cereals. 56g*31 day*30r. Total 80-100r;
• We add fish for 200-300r;
• And also meat by-products for 300-400r (bones, tripe, trachea, etc.).

Let’s calculate the total sum even at minimum price: 1700+150+150+80+200+300. The resulting cost of the ration at the lower price limit is 2500r.

Conclusion: Using good products and quality dry rations costs approximately the same for the owner. Therefore the question of the benefit of one or the other method of feeding has no economic basis.

If we compare cheap dry food and natural products of good quality, the choice is clearly in favor of economy class pellets. If we are talking about cheap products (single bone broth porridge) and premium diets from well-known manufacturers, then natural food will be a more affordable option.

Dry food VS natural food. Conclusions

It is difficult to unequivocally evaluate which food will be more beneficial to a dog. If the breeder chooses a quality ready-made diet or gives preference to the creation of a complete food storage container, the benefits of such a decision will be the same.

And the purchase of low-quality products or economy class pellets is quite capable of causing more harm than good. Only a thoughtful approach to determining your own pet’s diet allows you to choose the best type of food for each dog!

If the owner wants to maintain the health of the animal and extend the period of its active life, you should not skimp on food. The right diet will be the key to longevity. And it doesn’t matter if it’s natural food or a ready-made menu that was chosen as its basis!

This is important: veterinarians remind that using a mixed type of food is categorically not recommended. Digestive system disorders will only be the first “swallow” on the way to the development of more serious diseases.