Should You Give Your Dog Wet Food?

Wet food can be a great addition to a dog’s diet, either as their entire meal or mixed with dry food.

There are many textures and flavors of wet food to choose from that can enhance your dog’s mealtime experience and provide health benefits as well. You may be wondering, Should I give my dog wet food? To help you answer that question, keep reading. You’ll learn the advantages and disadvantages of wet dog food, how much canned food to feed a dog, and the best wet dog food options.

Is Wet Food Better Than Dry Food for Dogs?

There are many reasons why adding in at least some wet food to your dog’s diet can be beneficial. Wet dog food contains a large amount of water, typically around 70% to 80%. This can help maintain hydration, especially in dogs that do not drink very often on their own, and for all dogs in a hotter weather environment. In addition, feeding high-moisture foods can help dogs feel fuller after a meal. Feeding a majority wet diet may also reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity in dogs due to its lower caloric density compared to dry dog food, although the best way to prevent excess weight is to feed the appropriate amount, regardless of whether it’s wet or dry food.

Other times when wet food can be better than dry food is if your dog is recovering from dental surgery or if you have a younger or older dog with limited teeth, because wet food is easier to eat.

Wet dog food benefits also include the fact that it tends to contain a higher amount of animal protein compared to dry food, which can help increase palatability, particularly for fussy dogs.

Should I Feed Wet Puppy Food?

During weaning, puppies are introduced to solid foods. The best texture is a soft food, which can be wet food on its own or wet food mixed with soaked kibble. Providing a softer texture food makes it easier for young puppies with small, baby teeth to eat.

As puppies get older, introducing them to a variety of food textures can be helpful to provide enrichment, and it also encourages less fussy feeding behaviors. Other wet dog food benefits are that many different textures are available, including chunky, ground, pieces in gravy and pâté, so your puppy can experience and enjoy a large variety of new textures just by adding wet food into their diet.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wet Dog Food

Do dogs need wet food? Let’s explore some wet dog food pros and cons.

Some benefits of canned dog food over dry food include:

• High moisture to help maintain hydration
• May have increased palatability  
• Variety of textures for enrichment
• Potential for better satiety and risk of weight gain

However, feeding wet dog food does come with some disadvantages. These include:  

• Higher cost to feed  
• A stronger odor  
• Potential to spoil if your dog is a grazer
• May increase the risk of plaque and tartar

How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Dog?

There are many factors that influence how much food a dog needs. This includes their body weight, activity, age and neuter status. Ambient temperature can also play a role, so your dog may need more food in colder environments.

So, how much wet food do I feed my dog? Feeding charts provide an amount of food to feed per day based on your dog’s weight and sometimes other factors, such as activity, and many feeding charts for wet food also have recommended amounts for dry food as well to allow for mixed feeding.

When determining how much canned food you should feed your dog, it’s important to remember that these amounts are only good starting points. You may need to adjust how much you’re feeding to ensure your dog maintains their ideal body weight and body condition. Consult your pet’s veterinarian if you have any questions.

Choosing the Right Wet Dog Food

What is the best wet dog food? When choosing canned foods, make sure to pick those that are complete and balanced for the right life stage of your dog, whether that is for growth and reproduction, adults, or both (all life stages). Look for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Nutritional Adequacy Statement, which indicates whether a wet dog food is nutritionally balanced. Some wet dog foods are not complete and balanced, and these should only be fed occasionally. Some wet foods have special health features, such as helping support sensitive skin or digestion.

You can use the Purina Pet Food Finder tool to help find the right diet for your puppy or adult dog.

Wet Feeding Tips and Best Practices

If you’re wondering how to feed wet dog food, remember the following:

• Just like with dry food, make sure to choose a wet food that is complete and balanced for the life stage of your dog.
• Wet food can be fed as the sole diet, but it can also be mixed with kibble. Always make sure that you adjust how much you’re feeding so that your dog maintains their ideal body weight and body condition.  
• Once opened, wet food has a shorter shelf life compared to dry food. Always keep unused wet food in a covered container in the refrigerator, and use within 2-3 days.  
• Serving wet food slightly above room temperature (95°F to 104°F) can enhance its aroma and flavor, making it even more appealing to dogs.
• Always maintain good bowl hygiene by washing the bowl with warm, soapy water after every meal.

Wet Dog Food Q&A

Is wet dog food good for dogs?

Yes, a complete and balanced wet dog food can be good for dogs. The large water content in wet food can help dogs feel more satiated after eating and can help them stay hydrated. Wet food also has fewer calories by volume or weight compared to dry dog food, which can help dogs stay at an ideal weight and help prevent obesity.

Is wet food better for dogs?

Dogs that are particular about their food may prefer wet dog food because it may be more palatable.  

Younger dogs, older dogs with missing teeth and dogs that have recently had dental surgery may have an easier time eating wet food.

Should I give my dog wet food?

Introducing dogs to different food textures (including canned dog food), especially when they are young, can help provide enrichment and encourage your pup to be less picky about their food. This can be crucial as they get older, especially if they develop a food sensitivity, intolerance or allergy or if they could benefit from a therapeutic dog food.

For young puppies, wet food by itself or wet food mixed with soaked kibble is a good starting point.  

Should I feed my dog wet or dry food?

There isn’t one right choice for everyone. To help you make a decision, check out our article on dry vs. wet food.

Can dogs eat just wet food?

Eating only wet food may be better for certain dogs, such as those with missing teeth or dental pain.

For more expert tips on feeding a dog, explore our other dog feeding articles.