If you have been wetting food for your pup for a while now, you might be wondering when to stop wetting puppy food? The answer is given in our section below.
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When you bring your pup home from its breeder, they might have asked you to wet his food with preferably warm water before giving it to the puppy.
Have you ever wondered why they say so, or when exactly is the time to stop wetting the food?
Answers to all your doubts about your puppy’s food are given in the article.
Why Should You Wet Puppy Food and When To Stop Wetting Puppy Food?
To understand the reason behind wetting food for your pup, let’s take a peek into a puppy’s development and feeding habits since it is born.
Puppy Food Basics
After birth, an infant depends on its mother for her milk. Even if the mother can’t provide proper nourishment to the puppies, the breeder gives them packaged milk.
By around the fifteenth to the twenty-first day, the puppies open their eyes, and after that, their teeth start developing. From around the thirtieth day, the breeder starts introducing solid food.
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At first, the food is soaked in boiled water to make slurry food. After the puppies get used to it, the quantity of water is slowly reduced.
From around eight weeks, you can stop wetting your puppy’s food.
Why Add Water?
Water is added for multiple reasons. The most crucial is to prevent choking. Most puppies are fast feeders as they grow up in a competitive environment with several other pups.
Wetting of food is also essential if you observe that your puppy does not drink enough water. Water in its food will prevent dehydration.
Food Options Available For Dogs
A lot of variety is available in today’s dog food market. You should choose one that is not only convenient but also healthy for your pup. Let’s analyze each of the options.
Kibble
Kibbles are dehydrated food stuffed with proteins, starch, vitamins, etc. A good brand of kibble will provide a good balance of carbohydrates and proteins.
Most of them have a high amount of sodium and starch for preservation purposes. High amounts of sodium are not suitable for a dog’s health and can significantly affect its kidney and cause several renal disorders.
It is convenient to use and takes less than a few minutes to feed your dog. A good quality kibble is preferred over a poorly balanced meal, especially for puppies, as they require a significant amount of minerals and proteins for their proper growth and development.
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Wet Food
Wet food is also called canned food. The food may contain chicken meat or some other meat or fish like salmon or tuna.
You need some time to serve the food. You need to either microwave the food or put the can in boiled water. Then open it up, and let it cool down before serving it to your pup.
They, too, contain a significant amount of preservatives that may affect your dog’s health.
Most dogs would prefer wet food over kibble as it is tastier. It is not dehydrated; hence there is less chance of your dog being dehydrated.
Raw
Many dog owners are now shifting to a raw diet for their dogs. Raw diet refers to meals based on raw meat or other raw edibles such as fruits and some vegetables.
A raw diet is a high protein diet and has both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include better skin and structure.
But uncooked meat bore a lot of microorganisms that could cause illness in your dog. Only a meat diet will increase phosphorus levels in the blood that could cause several disorders in your dog.
Before switching to a raw diet, consult a certified vet and follow his instructions during the change.
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Home Cooked Fresh Food
Home-cooked meals are the best choice for both human beings and their companions. A balanced home-cooked meal should have about 60-70 percent proteins (meat, cottage cheese, pulses), some fibers (vegetables), little carbohydrates (rice), and fats(bone broth).
It would be best if you ask your vet to plan your dog’s meal.
Few edibles that are good for humans but are dangerous for your dog are raisins, chocolate, citrus fruits, etc. before giving anything to your dog, check on the internet if it’s okay.
Moreover, keep an eye on your dog’s health every time you introduce a new item to his meal.
Along with a home-cooked meal, your vet might ask you to give some multivitamin and calcium tablets or syrups.
What Criteria Should You Check Before Buying Food For Your Dog?
The ingredient list of the food
Check for low starch and sodium content when you are buying food for your dog. Also, check if possible allergens like wheat are present in your dog’s food.
Allergies of Your Dog
Most dogs are allergic to wheat and some kinds of nuts. Check with your vet to know if your dog has any allergies. Keep those substances miles away from your dog.
Health Condition of your Dog
Many dogs suffer from renal and hepatic problems throughout their life. A simple way to eliminate or prevent them is maintaining a proper diet.
It is advised to regularly do liver and kidney tests. If your dog suffers from any such disorder, feed them exceptional hepatic or renal food available in the market.
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Answers To Few More Questions About Puppy Food
When should I stop giving my puppy wet food?
Around eight weeks, your puppy will get used to kibble, and you can stop wetting his food.
If you see your dog not eating dry food, you can continue to add water.
A little water in your puppy’s food is good but make sure to not soak it for long as wet food could harvest microbes.
Should I get my puppy’s dry food?
Yes, if your puppy is less than eight weeks old, you should get your puppy’s food with some water to avoid choking and getting him used to dry, solid food.
What’s Best For Your Pup?
While shopping for your dog’s food, always think about what is best for him. Each dog is different from the other, and so is the nutrition requirement.
It is advised to schedule regular appointments with the vet and do a complete blood check-up at least once a year as the test results could reveal any problem with the diet.
Early on in their life, it is a good idea to wet puppy food because it prevents them from choking on it and also acts as an additional source of water for them. By about the 8th week, you can start feeding them food that is not mixed with water.
Happy Training!