Should you soak dry dog ​​food?

Should dry dog ​​food be soaked? This question is of interest to many owners who previously switched their pets to dry food. There's talk that hard kibble can damage the gastrointestinal tract lining and trigger gastritis and even ulcer in a dog, frighten many responsible owners. But our article today will attempt to answer this and related questions, and shed light on whether, why, and how to soak dry dog ​​food.

We've discussed the benefits of a consistent yet balanced diet many times. Feeding dry food has become somewhat of a necessity for people living in large cities who aren't willing to devote a lot of time to creating a balanced diet for their dogs. However, there are opinions, or rather doubts, about whether it's okay to just feed your pet these dry, crunchy treats. Is there a catch? Should you soak dry dog ​​food, or is this unnecessary? Or, conversely, is it okay to soak dry food? Will it ruin the food?

In general, there are many questions - let's try to sort everything out in order.

How much water does a dog need in its diet?

Dogs are natural carnivores, so their diet should contain at least 80% water. Where do we get this figure from? Meat contains exactly this amount of water, with the rest being nutrients. A dog whose diet consists exclusively of dry food must consume the necessary amount of fluid to ensure proper digestion. If this doesn't happen, the dog may drink little or not have unlimited access to water, and digestive issues may develop.

Dry dog ​​food has a moisture content of no more than 10%—this tells us that when feeding dogs exclusively dry food, it's crucial to ensure they have access to a significant amount of water along with their food.

Is it possible or not?

Can you soak dry dog ​​food? Yes, you can! But let's not rush to do this right away—let's consider the question more from the perspective of when we really need it. Essentially, eating food soaked or dry, but washing it down with water, is practically the same thing. The only exceptions are the chewing process (contact with the teeth and oral mucosa), and the initial contact with the stomach lining.

Can you soak dry food in kefir? Yes! Although it's better to feed dry food and water separately, and kefir separately.

When is it not necessary to soak?

As we know, the traditional way to feed a dog dry food is to serve it in its natural state with a bowl of water. When should we continue to use this approach?

• The dog eats and drinks with appetite;
• You do not observe any deviations in her mood, coat or gastrointestinal reaction;
• The dogs have no problems with the oral cavity (teeth and gums are intact and there are no signs of damage - redness, bleeding, etc.).

When should this be done?

When should dry dog ​​food be soaked? By "should" we mean it's absolutely necessary. So, let's break it down:

• The dog has problems with the oral cavity (see above), but she loves this food very much and refuses it with great difficulty;
• Your veterinarian recommended this to you based on a particular individual diagnosis made for your pet;
• You can do this for puppies;
• The dog loves soaked food and can't live without it 😉

When you start feeding your pet soaked food, remember the following rules:

1. Follow proper dental hygiene guidelines for your dog. If you don't brush their teeth for any reason, at a minimum, provide them with functional treats.
2. Leaving dry food soaked for long periods of time is not recommended, as there's no guarantee that pathogenic bacteria won't develop in it. After all, the manufacturer intends to feed your dog dry food.

Rules for soaking feed

Let's move on. Since you've decided to soak your pet food, let's figure out how to do it properly.

For adult dogs

How to properly soak dry food for an adult dog? Now that we've learned whether soaking dry dog ​​food is necessary (and it's recommended), we suggest learning the specifics of this procedure. Find out how to properly soak dry food for adult dogs so it retains its nutritional value and still looks appetizing and appeals to your pet's taste.

• Pour a small amount of water into your dog's bowl of dry food, just enough to cover it, and allow it to sit and swell. After this, you can offer it to your pet. At first, dogs are reluctant to sniff this type of food—the soaked food doesn't smell as strong—but once they've tasted it, they eat it with gusto.
• Choosing the right water temperature for soaking is crucial. Veterinarians recommend using a liquid no hotter than 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Although at this temperature, the food takes slightly longer to swell than if you soak it in boiling water, the nutrients are not destroyed.
• To make the dog more willing to eat the breakfast offered to it, you can warm it up a little.

For puppies

How do you properly soak dry puppy food? There aren't any significant differences, but to make your puppy more willing to eat the food offered, you can soak dry food for adolescent dogs not only in water but also in broth or milk heated to the appropriate temperature. Until what age should puppies' food be soaked? Dry food doesn't need to be soaked after 6 months—this is when baby teeth are completely replaced by permanent teeth.

Shelf life of soaked food

If you can simply pour dry food into a bowl and leave it – the dog will eat it when it’s hungry – then how long can you store soaked dry food?

Experts don't recommend storing it soaked for too long. (No one can tell you what's too much and what's not. After all, as we mentioned above, the food manufacturer doesn't allow for such manipulation of its products.) Therefore, prepare a portion at a time that your pet can eat right away. Any leftovers should be discarded. They can spoil quickly, especially in hot weather, and cause stomach upset or food poisoning in your four-legged friend.

Storing soaked food in the refrigerator is also not recommended, as the moisture will gradually destroy its structure, and your pet will ultimately be less likely to want to eat the "porridge."

How do you know if your dog's food needs to be soaked?

From the information above, we've already learned whether it's safe to soak dry dog ​​food. However, many dog ​​owners say this doesn't apply to their pets. After all, they happily eat the "crackers" and don't have any stomach problems.

However, if you've noticed several times that your dog vomits undigested food within 10-15 minutes of feeding (this isn't surprising, as these processes don't occur in such a short period of time, but if the required amount of liquid were supplied, it would have already changed its consistency), it's time for you to put our recommendations for properly soaking dry dog ​​food into practice.

If after feeding (you've measured out the manufacturer's recommended amount), your dog acts as if they haven't eaten, try following our recommendations next time. You'll be surprised to find that after the new feeding option, they seem full and satisfied.

Today we discussed the benefits and harms of dry food, whether it's necessary to soak it, and why it's a good idea. The benefits of soaked food for your pet are obvious, but both you and your pet will need to get used to serving dry food this way from now on. By following our recommendations and storing the food correctly, you can provide your pet with a complete and healthy diet. A healthy dog ​​always has a happy owner.

Read also:

• How to train a dog to eat dry food?
• Bloating in Dogs: Causes and Treatment
• Bull root for dogs