There are so many types of pet food available in the market these days that finding the right kind of food for your beloved furry friend is a mammoth task. You would always worry if your pet is getting enough nutrition. And if your pet is fussy about food, it would be difficult for you to find the right food that suits their taste and provides the right nutrition.
Some common types of pet food
We have listed some common types of pet food (for dogs and cats) along with their benefits for you to decide the ideal one for your pet.
1. Kibble or dry food
One of the most common foods available for dogs and cats, kibble, is dry pellets. It contains some form of ground nutrition essential for your pet in the form of small edible pellets. The form of processing kibble and the nutrition level vary from brand to brand. Most brands have some form of meat or seafood compounds also added to them for additional nutrition. Available for both cats and dogs, adults and babies, these are easy to feed and eat, with chewable bites.
Most kibble brands try to pack in as many nutritional requirements in their product as possible. So, they contain all forms of carbs, vitamins, proteins, fats, and minerals.
Benefits
While it is true that the kibble diet is considered to be the most convenient form of food for the pet, it is also undoubtedly nutritious and cheap. If you do not have time to elaborately prepare a meal for your pet, a kibble diet is convenient for you. It ensures that your pet receives all the required nutrients.
Other than this, kibble pellets are hard and dry to chew. This makes it an oral exercise for pets, cleaning their teeth as well. Their teeth can be home to plaque and bacteria without proper cleansing. Chewing on kibble several times a day would help their teeth be clean and avoid further dental issues.
Finally, kibble diets have much more shelf life compared to other perishable food items. They are easy to carry and store making them ideal pet food for travel.
2. Wet food (canned or packaged)
An occasional way of feeding your pets is through wet food. It comes in cans or pouches or even tetra packs. Ideally, the best way to add some form of variety to your pet’s meal, wet food, is generally vegetables, meat, or seafood cooked or raw processed in some form of gravy.
Most wet foods are comparatively costlier than kibble food. Hence, pet owners generally feed them to their pets as an additional diet along with kibble. Feeding only wet food is generally not advisable. This would discourage the pet from chewing the food, causing unnecessary dental issues.
Benefits
With a wide choice of flavours and formulas, many consider wet foods much more palate-friendly. They are best for fussy pets or those who get easily bored of certain diets.
As some wet foods are also available raw, they encourage natural and healthy eating in the pets. Wet foods come in different textures, ground, shredded, or simple stews that can entice a pet with fussy eating habits.
They are also ideal for pets that tend to hydrate less as the gravy ensures that their fluid requirement is met.
3. Raw diet
The most natural form of diet for your pet, raw food, is the most complete one. When you are preparing a bowl full of vegetables, meat, eggs, and water for your pet, you have to ensure that all its nutritional requirements are met.
Whether it is a kibble diet or wet food, processing always takes away some level of nutrition from the food. The addition of fats and other flavours may also lead to fat building up in your pet’s body.
Benefits
The nutrition in raw diets gets absorbed easily. It helps your dog build up mass muscle instead of fat, increasing its stamina.
Research indicates that the stool quality of pets eating a raw diet and those eating branded diet vary drastically. As a raw diet is completely natural, most of it is digested and absorbed leaving very little waste.
Raw diets ensure great dental health due to their natural enzymes that combat bacteria and other serious dental health issues.
Pets that feed on raw diets regularly have shinier coats and good skin. Also, they shed much less dander than those who feed on kibble and canned food diets. This is due to the unadulterated omega fatty acids, fibres, and amino acids from the raw food.
Raw mutton, fish, and chicken breast for your pets
Knowing what kind of diet works best for your pet is important to ensure that your beloved furry friend receives the best and wholesome nutrition.
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Thank you for sharing this important information.