Is it possible and necessary to soak dry dog ​​food

Modern dog owners have a choice - to feed the pet with natural food or industrial feed. The simplicity of the method and the balance of the product speaks in favor of the latter, so many owners stop on it. But here the next question arises, is it possible and necessary to soak dry food? The only correct answer is no, it all depends on the situation.

How much water should a dog drink?

When feeding a dog with dry granules, it is necessary to ensure that it receives the required amount of water. Such dry food contains at least (no more than 10%) moisture, so the pet must have round-the-clock access to clean drinking water. It is not necessary that the liquid enters the body with food - it is quite normal if the pet will drink after it has eaten.

There is a way by which you can determine how much water an animal needs for its normal functioning. The minimum volume is calculated by the formula - 20 mg multiplied by the weight of the dog, the maximum - 70 mg multiplied by weight.

Thus, a pet with a body weight of 20 kg should drink per day from 400 ml to one and a half liters of liquid. This difference arises from a variety of factors. These include the following:

• in hot weather and in dry climates, the dog needs more water;
• dogs that receive an intense load drink a lot more than their lazier and calmer fellows;
• like humans, dogs have individual characteristics, for example, some of them like to drink water more than others.

In winter, the animals drink naturally, less and do not suffer from thirst, and in the summer, especially after active activities, the pet can drink about 2 liters.

If the owner feeds his pet with canned food or natural products - porridges, soups, broths, dairy products, then some of the moisture in the dog's body comes from food. In this case, the need for water is somewhat reduced.

In winter, the dog can practically not drink, and at the same time its state of health does not deteriorate. When feeding with dry rations, the dog must additionally receive water, regardless of the load and time of year.

Macerate or not

Usually, a pet is fed with production rations as standard: two bowls are put in it, one is dry granules, the other is pure water. When this process does not require additional manipulations, such as maceration of feed? Do not soak solid dry granules in the following situations:

• the pet eats food with pleasure, and then drinks it down with plenty of water;
• there are no violations in the gastrointestinal tract, the pet has wool and skin is healthy;
• the dog responds with joy to the call for food, and after that he is alert and cheerful;
• eating feed does not cause difficulties for the pet; difficulties with chewing and swallowing can occur against the background of pathological conditions of the teeth and oral cavity.

If there are no problems in the process of feeding, then you should not improvise and add water or other liquids to the granules.

When you need to soak pet food

There are a number of specific situations where maceration of granules in a liquid is the only way to feed a four-legged friend. When should I resort to this option?

1. If the dog has problems with the oral cavity and throat - diseases of the teeth, gums, tonsils, etc., but it refuses to use other foods with a more sparing consistency.
2. When a veterinarian advises to soak the granules, focusing on the condition of the pet. In some pathological conditions, this measure is extremely necessary.
3. When transferring puppies from mother's milk to ready-made feed, crumbs are easier to eat with a soft texture.
4. If the dog completely refuses to eat dry granules, but loves to eat them in a soaked form.

Despite the fact that most pets are happy to crunch delicious "crackers" and they do not have any problems with digestion, some dogs have clear signs that eating "crackers" does not go to their advantage

For example, the owner should be alarmed if the dog, who had eaten 15-20 minutes ago, begins to suffer from nausea, and the vomit consists of not digested food. When the body receives, in addition to food, the right amount of moisture, during this period its consistency should change. If this does not happen, then the dog does not drink after eating, thereby disturbing the digestive processes and water balance.

Another situation that requires dry rations to be wetted is that the dog eats the correct portion of food, but continues to feel hunger: it licks the bowl for a long time, requires more food, and behaves restlessly. You can offer the dog pellets, swollen from the liquid, and then the behavior of the pet will change - after eating the dog will be full and satisfied.

How and what to soak dry food for dogs

Most often, experts advise to soak the production rations in ordinary water. But this should be done in such a way that food does not lose its nutritional value. To this end, it is recommended to perform the following actions:

• food is poured into a bowl;
• it is poured with a small amount of water so that it covers the product;
• wait until the granules absorb moisture and increase in size.

After that you can offer a pet dish. Almost always, dogs with some distrust relate to a new product, they begin to carefully sniff around. However, smelling the familiar flavor, they begin to eat and even with great pleasure than before.

It is not necessary to fill the granules with boiling water, it is better if the water temperature does not exceed 35 ° C. In this case, swelling will take more time, but the food will retain its beneficial properties and nutritional value. To make the food more appetizing for the dog, you can warm it up a little.

Milk can also be used instead of water, especially since dogs like this kind of combination much more. The drink can be heated to a warm state and act in the same way as in the case of water. If you want to feed your puppy soaked food, the food is prepared as well. Naturally, a special diet is taken, consisting of smaller granules.

In addition to water and milk, rations can be poured with broths or dairy products. This will improve the taste of food and increase its nutritional value.

How much food is kept soaked

There is no exact data regarding the storage time of the granules that are swollen with moisture, as the manufacturer does not take into account such an application of its products.

Dry granules can be stored for a long time, but this does not apply to feed that has been soaked in liquid beforehand. Ideally, the dog should eat such food at one time, therefore it is not necessary to stockpile it, and it is better to recycle the eaten remains.

In the heat, the swollen product can quickly deteriorate, especially if it is poured with milk, kefir or broth. Eating spoiled food causes intestinal disorders and intoxication. In addition, even in the refrigerator, the granules, being saturated with moisture, turn into an unattractive mush, which is unlikely to appeal to a pet.

Experts do not recommend soaking dry granules, if there are no good reasons for this. Often, by making a pet a pet, the owners can no longer accustom him to a dry diet, which makes feeding much more difficult. If a dog crunches "croutons" with pleasure, while washing it down with enough water, then you shouldn’t stop him from enjoying the meal.