Dry kibble or dry dog food has so many benefits. It is one of the best options for dog owners. Because it is affordable, and supper is easy to store. But sometimes, canines can’t tolerate their regular dry food. It isn’t easy to chew dry food for dogs with sensitive teeth. It’s excruciating for them and can be difficult for the old canines. For this reason, dog owners switch to canned dog food. But canned food is more expensive than dry dog food. There is a solution for you if you can’t afford canned food or don’t want to switch. So you answer that you can soften your dry dog food. But how to soften dry dog food? Different people use different ways to make soften dry dog food. But the best way is to follow the instructions that are usually written on the package of the dry dog food. Softening dog food will help your dog get all its nutritional benefits and be very easy to chew.
Here, we provided you with five tips to soften your dry dog food.
01. Add Water:
Water can be a lot beneficial when you are adding it to your dry food. It can cost you less and can quickly moisten your food. It also makes the food tastier, and dogs like to eat it because of its aroma. Adding warm Water is ideal. It can help the dog with good digestion and keep it hydrated because many dogs don’t like to drink Water, so it can be helpful for those species.
Dogs having digestive problems with gastrointestinal disorders can be helpful when adding Water; it helps cure intestinal motility. Sometimes they show symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, so adding Water can help them fix it.
Benefits of mixing Water with dry dog food
You can add a small portion of Water to your dog food, like a quarter of a glass, to make it wet, and if needed, you can add more Water until it is a paste. A dry food absorbs a lot of Water when you add it—but adding a lot of Water to a dog’s food may not be like eating. Remember, you should maintain a water ratio to your food. You should not use boiled Water.
02. Add Broth:
Adding broth can make the dry food a lot tastier. Dogs like to eat it because of the enriched aroma coming from it. It can be healthier. Dogs have many choices when it comes to their food, so you can make broth to make them eat good tasty food and healthy food. You can add different types of broth to your dry food, like chicken broth, beef broth, and bone broth. Not necessarily to use these types of meat broth. You can use fish juice, for example, tuna juice, which you can get in a can.
Benefits of adding broth
Broth contains a lot of sodium, so you should keep in mind to use a lot of sodium broth and also keep in mind to add the broth in a particular portion as per your dog’s size, weight, and age. You should maintain the ratio when you are adding.
It can be beneficial, like keeping the dog hydrated and the dog’s liver good. It also keeps the dog’s joint health in good condition as it contains glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin. It helps to keep the dog’s skin in good condition. Not only the skin but also coat health. It does also increase the appetite.
03. Add Yogurt:
Yogurt is such a food product that makes hard food easier to eat. Plus, it’s a tasty treat. It gives your puppy a digestive boost. It is a source of Calcium, vitamins A, phosphorus, zinc, pantothenic acid, potassium, minerals, antioxidants, and protein. Plain Greek yogurt contains lower lactose levels and no natural and artificial sweeteners.
It’s also xylitol free. That’s why it’s great for your dog. Your dog may even like the texture of Greek yogurt more. It would help them if you began with a small amount because some dogs may have trouble digesting the lactose in yogurt. Stop adding this ingredient if you see any symptoms of lactose intolerance, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or gas, and in this case, try something else.
Benefits of yogurt:
- It contains lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium.
- Yogurt helps your dog with Weight loss.
- It helps to boost immune system function, reducing the risk of cancers and diseases.
- Make healthy skin and coat, and improve digestion health.
- Provide Calcium that supports a strong heart and nervous system and helps to build strong bones and teeth
How much yogurt can your dog eat?
- Small dogs: Daily 1 teaspoon.
- Medium dogs: Daily 2 teaspoons
- Large dogs: Daily 3 teaspoons
04. Add Milk:
You can use milk to soften the kibble. It’s a safe and tasty meal. A kibble that is moistened with the use of milk is quite famous for breeders that want to feed their newborn pups. Milk will provide a lot of vitamins, Calcium, and other nutrients to the food and flavor. It has many health benefits. Adding milk to your dog’s food will entice your dog to eat it. Place the kibble and milk mixture in a fridge hours before dinner so that it gets plenty of time to soften. It would be good if you did not offer your dog an entire bowl in one sitting because it can result in diarrhea, vomiting, loose stools, and stomach upset. That’s why a small quantity is safer for your dog’s health.
Is Milk Healthy for My Dog?
Occasionally, a few tablespoons of cow’s or goat milk can be excellent for your dog. Milk contains Calcium, protein, and vitamins A, D, and B12. But milk is too high in sugar, that’s why it’s doesn’t an excellent way to get this nutrient. 30% fat, 40% carbohydrate, and 30% protein are perfect for a dog’s diet, and milk contains a similar ratio of 30% protein, 30% fat, and 45% sugar. But the problem is sugar in milk. Some dogs can’t tolerate this amount of lactose.
How Much Milk Can Dogs Drink?
Small quantities of milk are safe for your dog. Occasionally, a few tablespoons of cow’s or goat milk can be pleasant for your dog. You can mix a few tablespoons with dry dog food, but you can’t mix a large amount of milk. It can be harmful to your dog.
05. Add Canned dog food:
The last one is mixing canned food with dry dog food. Add canned food is one of the easiest methods to soften dry dog food. Canned food contains Water, so you can easily mix it with your dry dog food. But it would be best to remember that canned food has a lower nutrient value. That’s why you have to ensure the ratio of canned to dry food is healthy for your dog. This method makes your dry dog food more delicious and soft. First, you might consult your veterinarian to know where these two foods complement each other.
The Benefits of mixing canned food:
- It is more cost-effective than only feeding canned food. Mixing canned food helps to increase the amount of moisture. It is beneficial for dogs with diseases like kidney problems or bladder stones.
- Mixing canned food with dry food is helpful for their teeth. It provides crunchy kibble to help their dental health.
- It provides the moisture your dog needs for healthy immunity, digestion, organ function, and overall well-being.
- It helps healthy digestion for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Why Should You Soften Dog Food?
Sometimes your dog doesn’t like the same food daily. Your dogs want to taste different food. So you can use some methods to make their food tastier. You can mix broth, Water, milk, or yogurt. It makes your dog food more delicious—hopefully, your dog like it. Some dogs with teeth or gums, mainly older dogs, face this problem. It is very painful to eat dry food for them. They need softening or wet food, but canned food is very costly. To solve this problem, dog owners can follow this method. They can mix their dry food with Water, broth, milk, or yogurt.
Final Thought of Best Way to Soften Dry Dog Food
Softening dry dog food is affordable, and easy to get all the nutrients your senior dog needs. So, How to soften dry dog food? We suggest the best 5 ways to ease dry dog food. These all are proven and effective methods. Hopefully, it will help you to soften your dry dog food. You can choose depending on your budget and your dog’s health needs.