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Unlocking the Benefits of Mixed Feeding for your Dog and Cat

Last Updated 27 August 2024

This article is written by Pet Circle Veterinarian Dr Olivia Clarke BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Unusual Pets, Avian) in partnership with Hill's Science Diet.

What is Mixed Feeding?

Mixed feeding, the practice of combining dry food or kibble with wet food in a pet's diet, is becoming increasingly popular as pet owners are seeking ways to introduce variety to their pet's mealtimes. Mixed feeding allows your pets to enjoy a range of appealing textures and flavours, whilst meeting their nutritional needs. It's the perfect balance of taste and nutrition! 

When deciding what to feed our pets it is important to choose foods that are nutritionally complete and balanced. Just like humans, nutrition plays an integral role in the overall health and wellbeing of pets, including their digestive health, mental wellbeing and immune function. 

Provided that the foods you select are made with high quality ingredients and formulated to provide your pet with all the nutrients they require, then mixed feeding is perfectly suitable and generally preferred by most dogs and cats! 

 

Pros and Cons of Mixed Feeding

Pros:

  1. Enticing flavours and textures to encourage appetite 

Wet foods are highly palatable, making them irresistible to most pets. They come in a range of forms from pate to mousse and chunks in gravy. Dogs and cats enjoy the different aromas and textures of wet foods that appeal to their strong senses and can stimulate appetite in even the fussiest eaters.

  1. Improved hydration

Wet foods contain a much higher water content, often between 75-78%. This is particularly beneficial for cats as they have a lower thirst drive and are hence more prone to dehydration. Adequate hydration supports both urinary tract and kidney health in both dogs and cats. Of course, don't forget to provide a constant supply of fresh water too. 

  1. Helpful for young animals and pets with dental problems

Very young puppies and kittens may find wet food easier, as they begin to transition from milk during the weaning period. Also, older pets may have dental issues so may also find eating wet food easier.  Feeding dry kibble alongside wet food not only provides animals a softer food to eat, it also helps to moisten the kibble, making it easier to chew, whilst still reaping all the nutritional benefits from reaping the nutritional benefits from both dry and wet food. 

  1. Can assist with weight management 

Wet foods are lower in calories than dry food and the increased moisture content enhances the feeling of satiety, which keeps pets fuller for longer. Therefore, substituting some of the dry food for wet food is a great way to prevent overeating and support weight control in overweight animals. 

 

Cons:

  1. Difficulty in achieving balanced nutrition if mixing different brands.

When feeding a mixed diet it is best to feed formulas from the same brand, such as the Hill's Science Diet, as these formulas are designed to complement each other.  Feeding from different brands may lead to nutritional deficiencies and imbalances as some foods may not be complete and balanced and are only for supplementary feeding.

  1. Increased cost and preparation time.

Mixed feeding can sometimes be more time-consuming and costly, as it involves purchasing both wet and dry food. The good news is that Hill's Science Diet takes the guesswork out by having a large range of complementary recipes in both wet and dry options, making mixed feeding accessible and easier than ever. 

  1. Potential for digestive upset if not done correctly.

All dietary transitions should be done gradually over 1-2 weeks. Sudden changes to your pets diet may lead to digestive upset and may cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting. When mixed feed is introduced slowly it is well tolerated by most pets.

 

Exploring Mixed Feeding Options: 

Here are some of our top vet recommended complementary wet and dry diets for dogs and cats: 
 

Dog:

For adult dogs:

  1. Hill's Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food pairs perfectly with Hill's Science Diet Adult Savory Stew Chicken & Vegetable Canned Dog Food

For large breed dogs:

  1. Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food pairs perfectly with Hill's Science Diet Adult Beef & Barley Canned 
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Tailoring Your Pet's Diet

There are some factors to consider when determining the appropriate mix for your pet:

  1. Age, breed, and size of your pet 

Growing puppies and kittens and pregnant and nursing females have greater nutrient requirements. All of these animals can benefit from mixed feeding but it is critical that their nutritional needs are met. Thankfully, Hill's Science Diet has wet and dry food recipes suitable for every age, all sizes and a variety of needs.

  1. Health conditions and dietary restrictions

If your pet has an underlying health condition it is important to only feed wet and dry foods of a suitable therapeutic diet as recommended by your veterinarian. Hill's Prescription Diet has a range of wet and dry formulas specially formulated to provide nutritional support to pets facing a range of health conditions . Your veterinarian can advise you on what foods are appropriate for your pet so they too can enjoy combination feeding. 

  1. Activity level and lifestyle

Nutritional requirements also vary depending on lifestyle factors. For example, a highly energetic two year old kelpie has greater energy requirements than a 12 year old greyhound with a fairly sedentary lifestyle. It's important to consider this as well when choosing the right food for your pet. 

 

Tips for Successfully Implementing Mixed Feeding

 

  1. Gradually transition your pet onto the new food to prevent digestive issues. 

Start by adding about 5-10% of the new food to 90-95% of the previous diet. Gradually increase this by 5-10% each day until they are being fed the new diet completely. If they develop any digestive upsets during this process then take a break from feeding the new food and start again a little slower once the digestive issues have resolved. It's also a good idea to discuss this with your veterinarian to determine if any treatment is necessary.

  1. Importance of portion control and monitoring calorie intake.

When incorporating mixed feeding into your pets diet it is important to ensure you are feeding the correct portions to ensure your pet is not underfed or overfed. Hill's Science Diet provides feeding guides according to your pets age and weight to help you determine how much to feed. Remember though, these feeding guides are based on the assumption that that food is fed as the sole diet, so you will need to make adjustments depending on the ratio of dry and wet food that you are feeding. If you are unsure about how much to feed, ask your veterinarian or contact the manufacturer for a tailored feeding guide for your pet

  1. Stick to a consistent schedule 

While pets favour variety when it comes to textures and flavours in their food, they love routine when it comes to their feeding schedule. Create a consistent routine that you can stick to with regular meal times for your pet. This helps regulate your pets digestion and metabolism. 

 

Combination feeding for dogs and cats is the perfect way to experience the best of both worlds. Pets will love the variety and tastiness that a mix of wet and dry foods brings to their mealtimes, and their health will benefit too from the range of nutrients available in a mixed diet.  It's important to ensure that the food being fed is nutritionally balanced and appropriate for your pet's age, lifestyle factors and any underlying health conditions. 

 

Further Reading

Want to know more? Check out some of our other articles:

Your Dog's Digestive System Explained 

Scientific Nutrition to Support Health Conditions in Dogs 

Fussy Cat Feeding Tips

Do Cats Need Wet Food? 

Looking After Your Senior Cat