Picky eaters give every pet parent a headache.
Feeding dogs with tooth problems is also annoying.
Learn how to make soft dog food and avoid these problems.
What Are the Benefits of Soft Dog Food?
Soft dog food has immense benefits for your furry friend.
Easier to chew
Soft dog food is easier to chew and digest. This makes them great for senior dogs, puppies, and dogs with dental problems.
Highly nutritious
Consuming soft dog food ensures your dog gets maximum nutrients and moisture. And your dog does not need to eat lots of food for maximum nutrition.
Palatability
Soft dog food is highly palatable. Tasty food is appealing to all dogs, including picky feeders.
Variety
You can add a variety of ingredients to soft dog food. Such ingredients include vegetables and fruits for fiber and vitamins.
Digestibility
Soft dog food is gentle on your dog’s digestive system, thus lowering the risk of digestion problems.
What Are the Drawbacks of Soft Dog Food?
Although soft dog food is healthy and nutritious, it has its disadvantages.
- It spoils quickly.
- It is a bit expensive.
- It can become sticky, frustrating your dog.
Making Soft Dog Food
The process of making soft dog food is easy
Prepare the meat
Meat is an excellent source of amino acids, proteins, and fat. Meat makes up to 60% of your dog’s diet. Ensure there are no bones, and use ground meat. Use one or two types of meat at a time. Common protein sources include turkey, beef, and chicken. Baking, frying, or boiling softens meat. Cover the meat with enough water and set it aside once it softens.
Cook organ meat
The heart, gizzards, brain, and liver are highly nutritious. They make up approximately 10% of your dog’s diet. Cut them into bite-size pieces and cook organ meat with other meat or by itself. Set it aside once it softens.
Blend veggies and fruits.
Like organ meat, fruits and veggies make up approximately 10% of your dog’s diet. Puree them using a blender so that your dog can digest them smoothly. Fruits and vegetables are a powerhouse of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. Use 1-4 at a time, and avoid apple seeds since they are poisonous.
Boil grains
Cook oats, pasta, or brown rice. Grains are rich in carbs and fiber for energy and proper digestion. They make up about 10% of your dog’s diet. Use one type of grain at a time. Set aside once fully cooked.
Mix all the ingredients.
Combine all the ingredients and mix well. You can add a spoonful of plain yogurt for probiotics. Serve as is or blend to make them softer. Refrigerate unused portions and freeze any food you want to keep for over three days.
Tips on How to Soften Dog Food
Here are some tips on how to soften your dog’s food:
Use baby food
A fantastic technique to boost dog food’s nutrition is using baby food. It’s typically smooth and simple to eat but also a fantastic option for finicky dogs.
Use puppy food
For dogs who have puppies or are nursing, a puppy formula is a wonderful option because it can help to offer the extra nutrients required. Just make sure to get puppy formula without any salt or sugar additives.
Add a commercial dog food topper.
Dog food toppers are a fantastic way to give them more flavor and nutrition. Additionally, they’re a great way to vary your dog’s diet, which is beneficial if your dog is a selective feeder.
Use salmon or tuna.
They are rich in proteins And an excellent source of omegas and add flavor to your dog’s food. They also provide fatty acids and vitamins for your dog’s overall well-being. Ensure you purchase canned salmon or tuna with no salt or oil added.
Add peanut butter
Peanut butter adds flavor and fat to your dog’s food. This makes it tasty. Go for plain peanut butter, free from added salt or sugar.
Add eggs
Eggs are a good source of proteins and fat for your dog’s muscles and skin. Ensure you cook the eggs, as raw eggs have harmful pathogens.
Add cottage cheese
It is creamy and nutritious. Its creamy nature softens your dog’s food while high calcium and protein levels support muscle and bone wellness.
Yogurt
It is rich in probiotics, calcium, and protein. Yogurt is creamy, thus adding flavor to your dog’s food. Use plain yogurt, as yogurt with additives is unhealthy for dogs.
Canned pumpkin
Pumpkin has fiber and high moisture content to keep your dog’s digestive system healthy while ensuring it stays hydrated. Go for a pure pumpkin and not pie filling. Pie filling has loads of sugar.
Add water
This is an excellent way of softening dog food. Besides keeping your dog hydrated, adding water makes food easier to chew. Do not add lots of water, as it reduces the food’s flavor.
Add chicken broth
Besides adding flavor to your dog’s food, it softens it. Use a low-sodium chicken broth.
How can you soften your dog’s dental chews?
Steaming softens your dog’s dental chews. Wrap a damp paper towel to the chews and heat under low heat.
How can you improve your dog’s dry food?
You can improve your dog’s dry food by adding chicken broth, water, cottage cheese, plain yogurt, eggs, or blended fruits. This boosts flavor, making the food highly palatable.
Is it okay to moisten dry dog food?
Yes. Moistening dry dog food makes it easier to chew and digest. Senior dogs, puppies, and those with dental problems can easily eat moistened dry dog food. Adding water also boosts flavor.
Is dry food hard to digest?
Yes. Dry dog food is harder to chew and digest than canned food. Dry food can include ingredients that are hard on your dog’s digestive system. However, not all kibbles are hard to digest. Some cheap dog food uses fillers like corn, which are difficult to digest.
Over to You
Soft dog food is highly palatable and easy to chew.
This makes them an excellent selection for picky dogs and those with dental or digestive problems.
Our guide will help you make soft dog food and enjoy those evening walks and cuddles.
Always consult the vet before exclusively switching to soft dog food.