Query about feeding dry/complete food...

[3Beasties]

Just a musing really.....We feed our lab a complete dog food in the form of biscuits. We've always fed it slightly dampened/soaked which parents seem to think is how it needs to be fed. Is there a reason for this though or can it be fed dry? (with water available at all times).

When wet he gobbles it down at a ridiculous speed without chewing, never mind actually tasting it. When fed dry (only tried once or twice) he takes much longer to eat it and actually chews it.

 

[LD&S]

I think it's better for their teeth fed dry though we add water to ours just before he eats as he eats slower if it's in water but the biscuits are still crunchy.

 

[Dobiegirl]

I always feed our kibble dry although I do add things to it sometimes like sardines etc. One of my dogs is very greedy and will hoover it up so I throw it on the floor or the lawn to slow her down.

 

[3Beasties]

Thank you. You have both confirmed my thoughts about feeding dry, my parents seem to think that it could cause issues (such as swelling in his stomach) which I didn't think was the case.

I think there fear comes from when he was a puppy (before we owned him) and he ate a 10kg bag of food and ended up in the vets needing treatment. Huge difference between a 10kg bag of food and a bowl full though

Now just to tackle the quantities they give him....

 

[gunnergundog]

Thank you. You have both confirmed my thoughts about feeding dry, my parents seem to think that it could cause issues (such as swelling in his stomach) which I didn't think was the case.

...

Actually, your parents have a point....especially with any deep chested breed that may be prone to bloat.

However, whether there is a risk in your particular instance depends on the quality of the kibble in question. To see for yourself, I suggest you get a cupfull of various different kibbles, put each in a large bowl and add half a pint of tepid water to each and wait for a couple of hours. The difference in the results will amaze you and if bloat is a concern should be sufficient to justify the cost of a higher quality kibble......or soaking if needs must!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Throw it on the floor, feed by hand, put large rocks in the bowl, buy one of those knobbly bowls to slow dog down.

 

[satinbaze]

The latest research by Perdue university suggests that soaking dry kibble actually increases the risk of torsion,as does feeding from raised bowls. Not sure why