What Are the Benefits of Mixed Feeding for Dogs and Cats?

What is mixed feeding?

Mixed feeding is the simple combination of two different types of foods together. Most commonly, pet owners like to blend wet food with their dog or cat’s kibble, especially with picky eaters. Here are some popular food combinations for dogs and cats:

• Kibble and canned food
• Kibble and raw food
• Kibble and freeze-dried treats

What are the benefits of a mixed feeding?

Mixing different types of food is a great way to add variety into your pet’s diet. Not only will the moisture of the wet or raw food enhance the flavor, but it will also bring out some of the aromas from the kibble, making it overall more appealing to your pet. We always recommend mixing in a little wet food if you find your pet isn’t enjoying their kibble as much as they once did. Pets need variety, just like us!

Not only will you be making mealtime more exciting for your pet, but you will also be increasing the amount of hydration in their diet. This is a great way to ensure your pet is staying hydrated, especially if they do not drink enough water throughout the day. The intake of these extra liquids will also help decrease the likelihood of developing urinary infections.

Your pet will also benefit from a mix of different proteins if they currently are on a single-protein diet. Your pet will surely appreciate the extra nutrients!

Tip: Make sure to maintain proper portions when doing a mixed feeding for your pet. It’s easy to lose track of how many calories your pet is ingesting when mixing different formulas so ensure you’re following the feeding guides to avoid overfeeding. Kibble is usually denser in kilocalories so keep an eye on the kilocalories as opposed to the quantity of food in their bowl.

You may also want to slowly introduce your pet to mixed feeding to avoid any upset stomachs.

JOIN THE ZOË FAMILY!

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER