4 Advantages of Mixed Feeding for Your Pet

With the passage of time, the way of feeding pets changes. For example, human food was previously considered the best option to ensure optimal nutrition. Dog food then took first place, due to its ability to maintain a pet’s nutritional needs. However, few owners know the benefits of mixed feeding.

This mixture allows canines and felines to receive multiple benefits for their bodies and, in turn, makes them more comfortable during feeding. The texture of the elements that make up the diet or mixed diet offers the animal a different way of eating, but without neglecting its physical condition or its basic nutritional needs.

What’s mixed feeding?

Mixed feeding is based on a mixture of two elements that ensure balanced nutrition in pets. The first is the aforementioned dry feed, which offers a high caloric and nutritional concentration, in addition to generating a positive impact on the dental health of the cat or dog.

The second is wet dog food, which provides the only aspect that dry feed doesn’t have: a high water content. On the other hand, it’s usually a much more appetizing alternative for pets, due to its different flavors and aromas. However, it doesn’t provide as many calories as dry food.

To counteract the negative aspects of each one, a balanced amount between feed and wet food is recommended. In this way, you cover the daily nutritional needs of your pets, and they can enjoy much more palatable food. However, it’s important not to exceed the amounts and calories that the animal requires to avoid obesity.

The benefits of mixed feeding

As mentioned above, dry feed provides several benefits for dogs and cats, but also for owners, as it’s cheaper. In addition to this, it’s a food that takes much longer to go off than other more “organic” variants.

In any case, some commercial dry food providers cut costs with elements that aren’t ideal for the animal’s diet, as studies indicate. Therefore, it’s necessary to supplement them with wet foods. Here are some benefits of a mixed diet.

1. Reduces carbohydrate intake

The mixed diet is highly recommended for pets with diabetes, as wet food offers a lower concentration of carbohydrates. As indicated by the aforementioned source, some cat feeds have 40% carbohydrates in their composition, when their real need is 1-2%. The mixed diet will provide the feline with fewer carbohydrates and more protein.

Again, in the case of cats, the particles in the dry food allow them to eat small amounts and fill up quicker, which could prevent obesity. In any case, the interaction of this food with the health of the feline continues to be studied. Therefore, the mixed diet will help to “neutralize” any imbalance that any of the eating modalities may have.

2. Healthy and strong teeth

Cleaning a dog or cat’s teeth isn’t only a hygiene need. It’s also important to control the feeding, as it can either improve or worsen the pet’s oral health. Tartar and plaque will be slightly reduced with the implementation of a mixed diet, as the action of chewing the feed improves the ability to eliminate plaque.

Some treats are designed for nibbling. These also prevent plaque formation.

3. It favors food intake

Since wet food provides different flavors and textures, its mixture with dry feed moistens it, and makes it easier for the animal to consume. Each serving will be more appetizing for the pet and, in the case of elderly dogs, the mixed diet makes it easier for them to chew and eat their food.

4. Increases pets’ hydration

As mentioned, wet cat and dog food brings with it a high level of water. Its name indicates this, because, to be sold as such, wet feed must have a humidity level of 60% or higher.

Therefore, it’s a perfect option to guarantee continuous hydration in pets. This is beneficial for the health of the urinary tract, as it increases the dilution of the urine and reduces the risk of crystals or stones appearing in the animal’s urinary tract. It’s also useful to avoid dehydration and other associated conditions.

The key: a balanced diet

As you can see, the mixed diet offers several advantages to your pets. Your pet’s hydration, oral health, and urinary system will benefit from the correct mix of dry food and wet food.

However, it’s important to choose both products from the same brand and not abuse the amounts of each one, so as to not cause obesity in the canine or feline. If you have any questions about the dietary maintenance of your pet, consult a veterinarian.