Almost every pet owner sometimes thinks about the possibility of transferring a pet to dry food. This question remains relevant both for experienced livestock breeders and for those who have just decided to settle with a four-legged friend. To make a decision, it is important to weigh the pros and cons.
Despite the fact that the arguments of the supporters of "dry" animal nutrition seem very convincing, there are many opponents of the removal of natural products from the diet of our smaller brothers. To ensure your furry friend a long and healthy life, you should carefully study the arguments of both.
Pros: convenient and useful
Of course, the food must be of high quality and appropriate for the breed and lifestyle of your cat or dog. In this case, you can really experience all the benefits of "drying" feeding. For example, there is no need to prepare food for your pet. For the owners of several furry friends, it can become a real means of saving time and money spent on feeding four-legged animals. In addition, a balanced composition is also important. The feed contains all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and trace elements. This option also has a relatively low cost when compared to canned food or a selection of natural products required for a complete diet.
Experts also say that the likelihood of oral problems in animals is reduced. By consuming dry food, your pet removes plaque and calculus from its teeth, which could lead to gingivitis, inflammation, bleeding and gum decay, as well as tooth loss. This solution also guarantees the constant access of the cat or dog to the bowl of food. Natural or canned food cannot be put in a bowl for a long time - it can go bad after a few hours. Dry food is free from this hazard.
"Cons": tasteless and dangerous
However, it is not without reason that spears have been breaking for several decades in discussions about the benefits and dangers of dry food. Opponents of "drying" advise not to forget that, in addition to the obvious conveniences, it also has noticeable disadvantages. For example, your pet may not want to eat unappetizing "crackers", which will cause difficulties when trying to change the type of feed.
Veterinarians say that dry food is less digestible and inferior in nutritional value to canned and natural food: its pure content of nutrients is lower. It is believed that many types of feed are characterized by a high content of simple carbohydrates that affect glucose levels and minerals. Hormones, soy, pesticides, and other chemical additives are often added. Their use can lead to dire consequences for animal health.
Also, for the production of dry feed, substandard meat products are often used: parts of cattle and poultry carcasses rejected at factories, unsuitable for human consumption. So meat of sick animals gets into animal feed - sometimes even with oncological diseases.
The choice is not easy, however, no matter how you decide to feed your faithful four-legged companion, the main thing is to carefully monitor the quality of the treats that you offer him.
