Canned food for dogs: types, manufacturers overview and selection features

The nutrition of dogs is the main guarantee of their health, long life, well-being and good appearance. Therefore, the right choice of feed and its specific type becomes an important task of the owner of the animal. In this article, we will consider feeding dogs wet prepared feeds, talk about their types and differences from each other. We also find out which manufacturers can really be trusted.

By ready-made dog food today it is customary to understand its two types - dry and wet.

Canned food is wet or liquid food. Although in reality these are two subspecies of the same nutritional variant. Its main distinguishing features are the following.

• High moisture content. This is due to the semi-liquid consistency. This type of nutrition is ideal for those animals that for some reason do not drink the daily volume of water they need. Wet-fed dogs do not have dehydration.
• Soft and uniform consistency. Even pieces of large meat in this feed are very soft. This food is ideal for older animals, puppies, as well as for pets with gastrointestinal problems.
• Compared to dry feed, canned food in its composition have a higher percentage of protein and a lower percentage of carbohydrates. According to the veterinarians themselves, wet nutrition and is much higher than dry because of the best quality composition.
• Wet foods also almost never use artificial flavors. Such food is made from natural meat, which smells very appetizing for animals anyway.

But if you correctly and responsibly approach the choice of food for your pet and carefully study the recommendations of the manufacturer itself, as well as consult with a veterinarian, then for any dog ​​you can find the perfect option for both dry and liquid food.

Wet food, like dry food, like “natural”, has positive and negative sides. Consider them.

Pros:

• a more natural and balanced composition compared to dry feed;
• most packages are designed for a one-time reception;
• this food is suitable for dogs of all breeds and ages;
• lack of preservatives and flavorings, as well as flavor enhancers;
• in the liquid feed line there are also canned foods intended for animals with certain diseases.

Minuses:

• High price. Wet dog food always costs several times more than dry.
• High-quality food of this type can only be purchased at veterinary pharmacies and specialized stores.
• Open packaging should not be stored for more than one day.
• Not all types of canned food are suitable for daily feeding of a dog. Some can be used exclusively as a treat no more than twice a week.

In fact, dry and wet feeds are, in a sense, complementary.

All dog food options today can be divided into several groups, depending on their main taste and component:

• meat feeds - beef, pork, lamb;
• fish - cod, pollock, salmon;
• from a bird - chicken, turkey, goose or duck.

Also in the assortment of some manufacturers there are feeds with a high content of vegetables, dried fruits or cereals.

Wet dog food has several varieties.

• Canned food. It is sold in standard cans. They can contain both a single serving for feeding the animal, and a daily dose. The feed itself in this case is semi-moist. It can be in the form of a paste or a semi-liquid substance with pieces of food.
• In soft PET packs. This food is often called wet, it is pieces of meat or poultry in sauce, while the most liquid component in a pack can be up to 65%. This is precisely what explains its consistency.

In addition, wet food for dogs is also divided into several types:

• standard food;
• medical nutrition;
• dessert food.

The first option is suitable for daily feeding of healthy dogs of various breeds and ages. The second option is food suitable for those pets who have certain diseases that prevent them from eating food from the first group. And the third type of wet food is a special food that can be used by dog ​​owners as a treat for their pets.

Professional dog breeders, as well as veterinarians, know best what feeds should be paid to in the first place. Therefore, if you need to choose a truly high-quality and safe food, check out the list below.

Foods from this category are distinguished by a high protein content in the composition, the absence of harmful ingredients and preservatives, as well as those that are suitable for animals with any disease. The best in this category are the following.

• Barking heads - wet food produced in England. These canned foods consist of meat by 85%, do not contain dyes and preservatives. Ideal for older dogs, small puppies or animals with a weak digestive tract.The product line has several different flavors: chicken, salmon, beef, pork and rabbit. Each type of feed is enriched with vegetables and vitamin-mineral complexes.

• Belcando - This is another canned meat dog with a mass fraction of meat in the composition of 80%. Completely natural, safe for dogs. Wet food of this brand with various tastes is on sale. In some species, cereals are present, but the manufacturer indicates this information on the package.

All of these varieties of nutrition are expensive.

This category also includes wet nutrition from various manufacturers. These are considered the best options.

• Happy dog - These are canned meat and pastes with a variety of flavors. The assortment includes feeds made from meat and vegetables, as well as those that include healthy cereals.

• Applaws - the assortment of this manufacturer includes dry and wet feed. The main emphasis is on the manufacture of products for puppies of large and small breeds, as well as for dogs over the age of 7 years.

• DUKE'S FARM - This is a balanced complete feed for dogs of predominantly wet type. A wide variety of tastes and types, affordable price and natural composition - this is what the manufacturer offers its customers.

• Hills ideal balance - These are canned meat from poultry of two types with chicken and turkey. As additives, the manufacturer uses vegetables and vitamin-mineral complexes. The price of such food is affordable, but because of the meager range of products, the demand for products is low.

• Eukanuba - These are canned goods for standard daily feeding of pets, as well as special pastes for puppies and dogs that are obese. The main mass fraction of the product is made from poultry and its offal; as additives, the manufacturer uses vegetables, flax and sunflower seeds, oils and vitamins.

Dog food in this category is suitable for healthy animals of any breed, and the division of products by age category allows you to choose food for dogs of all ages.

This category includes wet nutrition, which consists not only of vegetables, meat and poultry, but also includes cereals. The best food in this category is Pro Plan. This is the best choice for daily feeding of dogs of different breeds and ages. The composition is safe and balanced, the assortment of the food itself is quite wide. There are no additives or preservatives harmful or dangerous to the animal.

Foods from this category are characterized by high calorie content, low protein content in their composition and high content of fats and carbohydrates. Therefore, it is impossible to use them for feeding sick animals or those suffering from obesity. The following products are the most popular in this category.

• Darling - This food has a high content of fats and carbohydrates. The mass fraction of protein is only 5% and falls mainly on poultry by-products. Such food cannot provide the animal's daily requirement for vitamins and proteins. Therefore, the diet in this case should be enriched with meat and vegetables.

• Pedigree - This is quite a budget, but balanced pet food. It contains meat (up to 25%), vegetables, butter, yeast and vitamins. However, cereals are presented in the form of the cheapest and least useful cereals - wheat and barley.

• Chappi - These are canned meat made on the basis of cereals and cereals, the meat component in the list of ingredients is indicated only in third place. Therefore, such food should be supplemented with raw meat or fish additionally.

In a separate category, it is also necessary to place products manufactured by Russian manufacturers.

Domestic brands today also learned how to create high-quality food for dogs premium and super-premium. First of all, you should pay attention to the products of such brands of Russian production.

• Cesar - wet food for dogs in the form of pastes or sauces with pieces of meat or fish.
• Royal Canin is a dietary, daily and therapeutic food for dogs of various breeds and ages. Presented in the form of dry and wet food.

Domestic manufacturers manufacture their products in accordance with all international standards. Therefore, it is not necessary to doubt the high quality of the above feeds.

So that ready-made industrial food for dogs brings the pet only benefit, when choosing it, the following recommendations should be observed.

• It is necessary to consult with a specialist in advance and clarify whether the pet has any diseases. Indeed, in this case, he will need to select medical food.
• It is worth choosing products from trusted manufacturers. Therefore, first of all, you need to study the assortment of the above brands.
• Nutrition should be selected based on the age and size of the dog. For example, for puppies or for older dogs.
• If a dog is given a treat, then it must be made by the same manufacturer as the main food.

As for the additional enrichment of the diet with vitamins and minerals, it all depends on the composition of the feed, as well as the needs of the animal.

To keep the pet healthy and strong, Check out the advice of vets and experienced breeders.

• The diet should be varied. If the dog today ate feed with beef, then tomorrow it should be fish.
• It is best to mix wet food with dry or alternate them every other day. At the same time, both types of food should be produced by the same brand.
• As a treat, a dog can sometimes be given slices of vegetables and fruits, raw or boiled, but it is better to use ready-made mixes.
• The animal should always have access to clean, cool water.

And yet, if wet food remains in the pack, then in emergency cases it can be frozen. Before feeding the pet, the food is thawed and warmed to room temperature.

About canned food for animals, see below.