Why do owners always want dogs to eat dry food?

Question

I want to know, are there any health benefits with dry food? Or are there health risks with wet food? Or is it just preference?

Please give some details or justification w/ your answer. Please give informative answers.
Thank you!!!

To llamasrcool:............come on, now! Why would u even say that? lol

Thnx 4 all ur answers! But wouldn't dry food scrape & damage the gums?

Cool page, Jake. But is n e 1 gonna answer my last question about damaging the gums?

Thnx SO much!!! I never knew some of this stuff! Great answers!!!

Answer 1

I've taken my dogs to the same vet over the years, and she's very knowledgeable. She recommends dry food for several reasons.

The first is that wet food clings to the dog's teeth and can cause a lot of dental problems down the line. Secondly, wet food doesn't fill the dog up as much as dry food, and the dog will want to eat more. Because canned food is usually higher in preservatives and additives, the dog's weight and health can suffer.

The only caveat with feeding a dog (especially a large chested breed like a Rottweiler or a German shepherd) only dry food is that you don't want to let them drink a lot after a meal. Don't let them play a lot or exercise hard to reduce the chance of bloat (stomach twisting on its axis.)

Even dogs who are used to eating canned food can be weaned off it. We inherited my Mom's Scottie who had been fed nothing but canned food. No one thought that Holly would ever eat dry food, so I decided to take her off the wet food slowly.

Slowly? Yeah, right.

Our two male dogs were on dry dog food, and after two bites of their dinners, she wanted what the big guys were eating. Forget that canned stuff. . .she wouldn't touch it!

Answer 2

One reason is dry food is cheaper then wet food to feed, especially if someone has a large/giant breed/mix of dog..They other reason is because of the misconception that dry food is good for teeth and wet food is bad and taht wet food contains more fat then dry.
Dry food is no better for teeth then wet food.Dogs do not chew food the way humans do, they simply break it into pieces that can be easily swallowed.The food wet or dry is not in the mouth long enough to cause any effect, good or bad on teeth. As for fat well dry food contains more calories & fat then wet food does. Wet food has less grain content and more meat content then dry so is really better in that regard then dry. A dog on a diet will lose more weight on wet food then it will on dry.Dry contains more fat and more carbohydrates then wet.Dry food often also contains a lot of preservatives which wet does not..

There are studies out concerning cats and dry food that show that cats that eat a total dry food diet have a higher rate of UTI, bladder/kidney stones and other kidney issues..it is entirely possible that the same also holds true for dogs.

Wet food and table scraps do NOT cause worms!!!! That is an erroneous belief.

There are no health benefits with dry food and no health risks with wet food.

Answer 3

Although wild dogs and other caniae species eat raw meat (fresh, that is no additives and preservatives) they also eat bone, bone marrow, ligaments and tendons, and abdominal contents. These wild animals do not die due to disease linked to dental disease because they don't have dental disease. They aren't put to sleep because they are morbidly obess either. Dry food doesn't damage their gums, it's not bad for them. High fat and high sodium diets are bad for dogs (read "wet food"). In some cases this is better for them when they are being treated for a specific medical condition through diet. But a normal diet should be conservative in amount and dry. This will prevent plaque build up, formation of calculus, gum disease, root abcesses, tooth extraction, systemic antibiotics, and possible formation of endcarditis (heart infection). Giving a dog a can of wet food is like giving a child a chocolate cake for breakfast.
Phd Animal Nutritionist, Research Veterinarians, Animal Scientists have based their lives on this research and the truth is in the medical and scientific journals.

Answer 4

Besides the benefits to a dog's teeth and gums with the dry food, you only need to read the label to know why canned food isn't very good. You're paying for a lot of water, and the nutritional value just isn't there.

Answer 5

If the dog is a large breed, wet food can be gulped too fast and cause a deadly condition known as bloat..
dry food keep s the teeth MUCH cleaner, and is best for dental hygiene..Dry food gives the dog the chewing action that he needs..the equivalent of chewing bones of the wild dog's prey..there is no natural (wild) food for canines that is mush..
Because they have to chew it more, it takes longer to eat, and leaves them feeling fuller and more satisfied..
Dry food doesn't spoil and grow dangerous stuff when it is left out..

Answer 6

Hi over many years of breeding dog I have found that most canned food can give your dogs the runs...dried food of crunchier & better for their teeth rather than soft food unless you are going to make sure the dogs teeth are cleaned every day as dogs feed on wet food tend to lose their teeth...pretty young some of them...
Dried food dosen't attract flies so you don't get that problem...nor does it go off while sitting in a bowl like wet food does...To mantion but a few advantages of dried food...
Regards Jake

Answer 7

Dry food is better for their teeth, nutritionally complete, and doesn't spoil like wet food.

I have also found that my dogs have firmer stool and less gas.

PS You asked if it would scrape their gums---yes, in a GOOD way. Don't you scrape your gums every day at least twice a day??? And cookies, popcorn, granola, peanuts and a zillion other things scrape our gums.

Plus I bet you even use a plastic bristle covered thing to scrape your head every day LOL!

Answer 8

Dry food is better for a dogs teeth.
It helps to keep their
teeth and mouth healthier. I have also heard that wet
food and alot of table scraps can give them worms.

Answer 9

Dry food is healthier, especially for a dogs teeth. The moist dog food promotes tooth decay.

Answer 10

well to my knowledge dry food is best for the teeth of dogs and cats and wet food some times makes the pet become gassy that is all i can tell u to my knowledge i hope i helped