Like regular parents, pet parents, too, want what’s best for their fur babies and give them the best puppy food. Once the weaning stage stops and your puppy has come off its mother’s milk, it’s time to start feeding the little tyke yourself.

Unfortunately, just as deciding between breastfeeding and formula can be a hassle, it’s not clear most of the time what’s the best puppy food to give your puppy.

First-time puppy parents, in particular, may struggle with transitioning their puppies’ diets from mother’s milk to solid food.

Particularly, other than the question of how much to feed a puppy, it may not be easy to decide between dry and wet puppy food.

Worry not; that’s why we’re here. Stick with us to find out everything you need to know about dry versus wet puppy food and which one is the best for your canine companion.

Three Types of Dog Food For Puppies

While dog parents often get hung up on the choice between dry and wet dog food, there is, in fact, a third type of dog food as well: semi-moist. Clearly, the distinction has something to do with the water or moisture content present in the food.

The description of the four types of dog food for puppies is implicit in their names, but here’s a rundown for more clarity:

• Dry dog food, also called kibble, has a moisture content ranging from 10%-12%. Dry dog food is hard, with a texture resembling biscuits. It comes in waxed paper bags, plastic bags, and less commonly in cardboard boxes. Examples of the best dry puppy food include Nutrisource puppy food for small and medium breeds and Diamond puppy food formula.


• Wet dog food has a moisture content between 75%-78%. It typically comes in a can, which is why people also refer to it as “canned dog/puppy food.” It has a saucy texture, with meat and vegetable ingredients bringing in a gravy. Examples of the best wet puppy food include Blue Buffalo puppy food “Homestyle Recipe” and Royal Canin canned puppy food.


• Semi-moist dog food is halfway between dry and wet food in terms of moisture content—roughly 60%-65%. It usually looks like wet dog food, only drier. A common variety resembles cannelloni pasta, minus the hollowness.

Additionally, dehydrated dog food also exists with a water content between 6%-9%. However, it is mainly meant for consumption by adult dogs.

The Problem With Semi-Moist Dog Food

While semi-moist products are readily available in the market, wet and dry dog food still hold sway in the dog community, among both experts and dog parents. In fact, semi-moist dog food gets quite a bad rap.

Semi-moist dog food typically contains more sugar and sodium than its counterparts. This can be good when you’re trying to get your dog to gain weight, so long as you offset the high sodium content with plenty of water. However, it’s not well-suited for dogs at risk of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and coronary diseases.

Moreover, semi-moist dog food is usually brimming with artificial color, chemical preservatives, and flavor enhancers. Granted, wet and dry dog food also contain these chemicals, but in moderate quantities. Hence, you should use semi-moist dog food for puppies as an occasional treat.

The Big Difference Between Dry and Wet Puppy Food

All types of dog food essentially comprise the same basic ingredients: meat for protein, carbs and fat for other macronutrients, fiber, water for moisture, and vitamins.

The most obvious difference, of course, is their respective moisture content. The varying moisture content results from varying manufacturing processes, as detailed below:

• Wet puppy food— The manufacturing process begins with grinding the proteins, be it beef or chicken, and meat by-products. This ground-up meat is then mixed with a gravy of grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, rice, etc.), minerals, and vitamins. Once processed, the gravy mix is cooked, sterilized, and canned for the shelves.


• Dry puppy food— the manufacturing process begins the same way as wet puppy food. However, instead of gravy, the ground-up meat is combined with a bit of water to help form a dough. This dough is then shaped, heated, and sprayed with essential vitamins, oils, minerals, preservatives, and sometimes even probiotics to produce kibble.

Puppy Nutrition and Requirements

Before diving into the specific benefits of wet and dry puppy food, let’s first discuss puppy nutrition. What nutritional, vitamin, and water content do puppies require?

Unsurprisingly, puppies have vastly different nutritional requirements than adult dogs. This is because puppies grow at an exponential rate and need a lot of essential nutrients to help them develop properly.

Puppy food generally has a higher calorie content than adult dog food, owing to greater quantities of fat (8% vs. 5%) and proteins (22% vs. 18%). Furthermore, the best puppy food contains higher amounts of sodium, calcium, and amino acids. Refer to this nutrient requirement chart by PetMD for further details.

The best puppy food usually contains a healthy balance of all nutrients in compliance with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). All you have to do is look for an AAFCO-approved label on the packaging.

How Much to Feed a Puppy

The general feeding requirements for puppies are as follows:

The Pros and Cons of Wet and Dry Puppy Food

Conclusion

Both wet and dry puppy food are excellent options for feeding your fur baby. If you’re looking for a balanced, affordable, and easy-to-store option, dry puppy food is a great choice. However, if your puppy is picky or has special nutritional needs, wet puppy food might be more suitable.

By combining both wet and dry food, you can create a feeding routine that supports your puppy’s health, hydration, and taste preferences.