dry kibble versus wet food

T

Tracy

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I recently had a cat diagnosed as Diabetic. I found out that it was because the cat was eating dry food. On our vet's advice, we immediately switched over to a high protein/low carb wet food and insulin injections. Well four weeks later, he is totally diet controlled and must always have canned food.

That got me to thinking about Indie and his food:confused2:. Can this happen to a dog? Should I be feeding him more wet food than dry. I know that dogs are not strict carnivores like cats are but I want to do the best that is possible for my sweet little boy. I feed very good dry kibble---not supermarket stuff:dead:.

What are everyone's thought on this? Feeding raw is not an option for me due to my work schedule. If wet should be intermixed with his kibble is there a best brand and how often do you mix it in if at all.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
 
I am wondering if the Vet advised the wet food because of its water content? Cats do not seem to drink as much water as dogs.
Personally I prefer dry food because its better for their teeth.
 
No what I have learned is that dry food for cats contains carbohydrate levels that are too high. My cat now gets low carb high protien which more closely mimics a natural diet.

I wondered if it was the same for dogs as well.
 
I recently switched my cat (about a year ago?) to a wet food because of some of the research that you mentioned. But, like you said, cats are wholly carnivores...and also they require more water than dogs. That's why wet food is so important to them.

Dogs also don't need carbohydrates, but I don't think they can't process them like is the case for cats (though I'm not really sure). I think that's why there is the trend towards grain free foods since dogs don't use the carbs.
 
corbinam said:
I recently switched my cat (about a year ago?) to a wet food because of some of the research that you mentioned. But, like you said, cats are wholly carnivores...and also they require more water than dogs. That's why wet food is so important to them.

Dogs also don't need carbohydrates, but I don't think they can't process them like is the case for cats (though I'm not really sure). I think that's why there is the trend towards grain free foods since dogs don't use the carbs.
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So if dogs don't or can't use the carbs in dry food, does it then predispose them to certain illnesses such as Diabetes which is a possible result of too many carbs? If they metabolize the carbs differently would it be a good idea to lower the carb count by using grain free?
 
Tracy said:
So if dogs don't or can't use the carbs in dry food, does it then predispose them to certain illnesses such as Diabetes which is a possible result of too many carbs? If they metabolize the carbs differently would it be a good idea to lower the carb count by using grain free?
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I don't know the answer to your first question...but I have always thought that less carbs in dog food was better, so I feed grain free. But I can't back that up scientifically.
 
There is a lot of research around about the negative impact of feeding solely dry food to cats, in particular it urinary tract disease. Research does not indicate the same problem for dogs, although I prefer to play it safe and give my dogs one dry meal and one moist every day (same as the cat).

Carbohydrates impact on blood sugar levels, which is why they are so closely managed in diabetics. Dogs process carbs in a similar way to us, cats are different. But both cats and dogs do need carbs - glucose is really important to healthy functions, esp in the brrain, its more about quality and quantity. A lot of commercial foods have high levels of carbs because they are cheaper, but they are usually at higher levels than dogs really need. The jury is out on the impact of higher levels of carbs though.
 
This is very interesting to me as I have a diabetic husband and a diabetic cat...in other words too many diabetics in one house:uhoh: I am becoming very educated in the human and feline kind but there is certainly not as much around on the canine version.

I understand the relationship with carbs and body functions. I guess that is why I wondered if, like you Caro, I should be splitting Indie's meals. He would love it as he goes nuts when I feed the cat but he can't get at the food.

I wonder if there are some known wet foods for dogs that would be a good balance to his dry kibble and how would I know if the carb content is lower. There is a big difference between "guaranteed analysis" and "fed as is" content.

Any suggestions anyone?
 
This is interesting to me being diabetic myself. I can see foods with lots of grain being high in carbs. Also another important thing for diabetes is protein. Meat protein levels may also be a problem if they are low in dry cat food made of grain. I have always heard that the water content in a food is more important in cat food then in dog food. No first hand experience with cats here so no expert at all on this.
 
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