Does Dry Dog Food Deliver What Manufacturers Promise?

In any supermarket in the department of dog food you can find dry food right next to wet food. Both variants are characterized by unique properties. In this guide, we take a look at dry dog food. Dog owners will find out whether it’s worth buying and whether their pelt nose is getting everything it needs.

What Is Dry Dog Food?

For dogs, cats and other pets, pet food manufacturers offer masses of dry food varieties for purchase. The popular type of food is also abbreviated as “TroFu”. Dog dry food consists of uniformly sized pieces shaped like pellets, cookies or kibble. They often contain the following ingredients

  • Meat, offal, slaughterhouse waste.
  • Grains.
  • Vegetables.
  • Minerals.
  • Vitamins.
  • Yeast.

Differences Between Dry And Wet Food

The biggest difference in dog food between dry food and wet food is the moisture content. The dry chunks are solid and have a maximum residual moisture of 14 percent. In the soft wet food has more than 60 percent moisture. As a result, it is heavier and must be stored in tightly sealed cans.

Another difference is the nutrient content. “NaFu” is characterized by significantly less energy, protein and other ingredients per 100 grams. This is because the water content is greater and water contains neither calories, nor macronutrients. This is often accompanied by the following feeding mistakes

1. You feed too much dry food and the dog gains weight.
2. One feeds too little wet food, so that the dog starves.

If you avoid these mistakes, you can feed both types of food to your dog.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Dry Food

You think dry food is the best food for your dog? It has many advantages, but unfortunately, it also has disadvantages.

Among the advantages of dry dog food is its low weight. This is convenient because most people can easily carry large bags of food. Dosing is quite easy with a measuring cup. Feeding is quick and can be done without a can opener. Due to the hard consistency, the dog incidentally cares for his teeth and strengthens the chewing muscles.

The low prices are also convincing, because wet food is usually much more expensive. A portion of cheap dry food for the dog costs only a few cents. Even premium and luxury products are cheaper than cans of wet food and barfing. There are many flavors and varieties to discover for different needs.

In the list of disadvantages, the main thing that stands out is the high starch content. Not all dogs can tolerate dry food. In the digestive tract, it absorbs liquid and swells. This can lead to abdominal pain. A frequently mentioned criticism is the origin of the animal ingredients. These usually come from factory farming. However, this is also the case in some other types of food. Incorrectly stored dog food and dry food also attract pests.

When you weigh the pros and cons, as a regular dog food, dry food is a good choice.

Production: Cold Pressing, Extrusion And Meat Juice Fermentation

In the production of dog food, dry food occupies a special position. There are now several methods of production: the extrusion process, cold pressing and meat juice fermentation.

In the cold pressing of dog food and dry food, all raw materials are ground, mixed and sprayed with water. This is followed by pressing in special molds, which presses the liquid out again. Because in this process temperatures do not rise above 70 ° C, it is called a gentle manufacturing process. This dry dog food does not swell in the digestive tract, but simply disintegrates. It is therefore particularly well tolerated for two reasons.

During extrusion , machines press the ingredients into shape under high pressure and with hot steam. The feed is also baked and dried. Nutrients lost through the heat are replaced by sprayed-on nutrient solutions. This process, unlike the others, has been used for over 100 years. The final product works well as a dry food for soaking.

In meat juice cooking , fresh meat cooks in its own juices at comparatively low temperatures. Producers keep reducing the liquid until what remains at the end is an intensely flavored dried meat. The process originated in upscale star cuisine. This proves once again that this process produces a pleasant-tasting product. It is also healthy and a dry food with a high meat content.

What Is A Good Dry Dog Food?

Experts argue about this question. According to the information mentioned so far in this guide, dry dog food is generally a good choice. Cold-pressed and meat juice-cooked products are once again much healthier than extruded ones. In addition, it is better for the teeth and chewing apparatus of your four-legged friend if the food chunks are rather hard and dry, because this encourages extensive chewing. A dry food with a high meat content seems to appeal to many dogs, but in fact they are also enthusiastic about vegetables and grains.

A good dry dog food will have few ingredients on the ingredient list, with naturalness and as few additives as possible emphasizing quality. It is best to avoid any products that contain sugar in all its varieties, soy, vegetable and/or animal by-products, colorants or flavor enhancers. Ingredients like these are a clear signal of an inferior dog food.

Dog Food: Stiftung Warentest Dry Food Test

Stiftung Warentest has examined dry dog food, most recently in May 2021. The result: only five of 28 products are “very good”. You can find the big test with lots of valuable information, for example on feeding older dogs, here. The test result can only be viewed for a fee.

Why Should You Soak Dry Food?

Soaking dry food can potentially help your dog swallow it better. While the hard “TroFu” pellets help with plaque, they also chafe the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. Swallowing hurts sensitive dogs. You should also soak dry food if your dog has sore teeth to keep him interested in eating. By soaking dry food, you also incidentally ensure increased water intake.

Soaking Dry Food: How Long Can Soaked “TroFu” Stand?

As soon as you soak pellets, the shelf life drops drastically. Due to the additional moisture, germs quickly spread. How quickly dog food and dry food spoil depends on the temperature. On hot summer days and when the air is heated, it’s best to dispose of leftover food after just three hours. Otherwise, in cooler temperatures or covered in the refrigerator, it can be left until the next feeding time.

Is Dry Food Suitable For Puppies?

Puppies, like most dogs, settle on dry food and forget about their mother’s milk quite quickly. However, the pellets must not be too large. Otherwise there is a risk of choking. Alternatively, you can buy a special puppy dry food. However, the ingredients do not make this absolutely necessary. No matter whether you decide for normal or puppy dry food: Soaking in water helps with eating because milk teeth are not yet equivalent to strong adult teeth.

Which Is Better For Puppies: Dry Or Wet Food?

For the health of the puppy, dry food and wet food are equally suitable. However, make sure it is a complete food so that the nutrient supply is correct. A dry food with a high meat content is not necessary. Maybe you as a puppy keeper still prefer “TroFu”: After all, the cute pelt noses like to lie down in the food bowl because they enjoy the experience so much. Unfortunately, they are then also covered from top to bottom with sauce and spread it wherever they run.

When Can Puppies Start Eating Dry Food?

The transition to solid food takes place in puppies with dry food from the fourth week. Wet dog food and dry food sometimes have to be made palatable to them first. This can be done, for example, by enriching the food with a special puppy milk. Often the puppies learn the eating behavior from their mother.

Tips For Storing Dog Food And Dry Food

Dog and puppy dry food will each keep for up to one year after opening. The storage place must be dark, cool and dry. It is not necessary to pack a bag of food airtight. On the contrary, this promotes the formation of mold due to residual moisture.

FAQ About Dry Dog Food

Some questions on the subject of dog food as dry food we encounter again and again. In this section of the guide, we would like to answer them, for example, about dry food with a high meat content.

Is Dry Dog Food Bad For dogs?

Advertising basically praises dry dog food as an excellent complete food. In many cases this is also true. However, a test by Stiftung Warentest showed that not all products are recommendable. So it depends on whether you find the right brand for your dog.

“TroFu: How Many Grams Per Kilogram Of Dog?

To prevent your dog from becoming overweight or underweight, you must give him the right amount of food in his bowl every day. It’s best to follow the instructions on the package exactly. Depending on the breed, activity level, weight and age of the animal, the food requirement differs significantly and must always be determined individually.

Is It Possible To Feed Dogs Only Dry Food?

Yes, it is possible. However, it is important that you use the appropriate food, because only then the nutrient and energy supply is optimal. It is also imperative that the dry dog food is of good quality. A low-quality product will weaken your four-legged friend and, in the worst case, even make him sick.

Which Is Healthier: Dry Or Wet Food?

Both options can be equally healthy, provided the quality is right. Unfortunately, some dogs can’t tolerate wet food, while some benefit from it. Wet food has fewer calories, which makes it less likely to cause obesity. As with humans, too much body fat also makes dogs sick. Also, wet food helps dogs get enough fluids each day.

Does Dry Food Satiate Dogs As Well As Wet Food?

Many dog owners experience that dry food actually satiates better. Especially a dry food with a high meat content and lots of grains has a positive effect. Ultimately, the protein and carbohydrate content are higher, which contributes to satiety. Otherwise, dogs seem to digest “TroFu” more slowly, which keeps them full longer.

Can Dry And Wet Food Be Mixed?

Mixing dry and wet food is not a good idea, as the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported. Dogs’ digestive tracts are not designed for the double load, which can cause digestive problems. In the worst case, the mixture even conjures up incompatibilities.

Is It Possible To Alternate Dry And Wet Food?

Alternating dry and wet food, unlike mixing, is not a problem for the dog’s digestion. The important thing is that there should always be a few hours between feedings. The last portion of food should therefore already be digested, so that your darling suffers no disadvantages. In addition, both types of food must be well tolerated.

Which Is Better: Cold-Pressed Or Extruded Food?

Cold-pressed dog food has the edge as a dry food when compared to extruded food. This is because the gentle manufacturing process preserves more nutrients and vitamins. Nevertheless, a cold-pressed feed can be inferior and an extruded feed can be superior. In each case, the terms only describe the manufacturing process, not the ingredients or their quality.

How Good Is Dry Food From Chappi, Royal Canin And Co?

If you want to know more about the quality of various dog food and dry food varieties, you should read the test from the independent test portal of Stiftung Warentest. We have already reported on this in our guide above. Otherwise, it is a great help in the selection to read reviews of other buyers and to compare the products exactly with each other. In the end, of course, your dog decides whether he wants to eat the served dry dog food.

Dry Dog Food With High Meat Content: Which One Has The Highest?

The dry dog food with the highest content of meat is clearly dried meat. If a dog food or dry food contains a lot of meat, this is often a sign of good tolerance. Nevertheless, you should make sure that your dog also eats vegetable ingredients such as grains and vegetables. A diet of meat alone will lead to deficiency in the dog.

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