Should You Consider Canned Pet Food For Your Cat Or Dog?

• Posted on 27 May 2018
• By Dr. Jill Tack
• Posted in canned cat food, canned dog food, canned pet food, minced, moisture, pate, pet food topper, raw diet, shredded, stew
• 0

Have you ever wondered if canned food is good for your cat or dog? Or maybe you are overwhelmed with all the choices out there and aren’t sure where to start? We are going to break down the options to help you make the best selection for your pet.

Have you ever wondered if canned food is good for your cat or dog? Or maybe you are overwhelmed with all the choices out there and aren’t sure where to start? We are going to break down the options to help you make the best selection for your pet.

History of Canned Food Pet Food

Throughout the 1920s and ’30s, pet food options like dehydrated, pelleted, and canned food became available but were typically only purchased by people who had disposable income. These foods were made from meat and grain operation scraps. Raw meat and table scraps were fed to pets whose owners couldn’t afford commercially prepared foods, which was still the majority of pet owners at the time.

The commercial pet food market evolved in the 1930s and early ’40s. During this time, canned pet food accounted for over 90% of the market. However, during World War II, the U.S. government categorized canned pet food as “non-essential.” So, pet owners who could afford to buy pet food had to purchase dry food or dog biscuits. Food rationing for families who couldn’t afford to buy pet food led to fewer table scraps for their pets. After the war, the boom in the consumer industry and growth of processed human foods created more food waste from which commercial pet food could now be made.

Canned Pet Food Styles & Types of Options

Pate - This style canned food is also referenced as a “loaf”. This is when you open the can and its form resembles the shape of the can. A loaf style is typically harder in texture and some pate cans are softer in texture and almost resemble a soft minced texture. Most often, pate’s will have the highest calorie count per can.

Stew - This is a canned food that has small chunks usually surrounded by a gravy or broth. Most often you can see pieces of carrots, peas, potatoes, or other identifiable ingredients.

Minced - This style is most often chopped into very small pieces. You will most often find minced canned varieties with cats or small dog varieties since they do better with smaller bite-size pieces. Minced can sometimes be found with a gravy or broth.

Shredded - This type most commonly resembles what we would find in our food pantry for the humans in the house. This typically is the most appealing to humans because of the texture and consistency that looks familiar. The meat pieces will be shredded with a broth or aspic (which is a gel consistency). Most often, shredded varieties will have the lowest calorie count per can.

When you are shopping for a canned food, besides texture, consider ingredients, protein options, and calories. There are good canned pet foods and there are bad ones. If you’re going to choose canned foods, look for high-quality brands with the highest possible inclusion of premium animal proteins and a whole, named source of meat as the first ingredient (meaning the product contains more of that particular ingredient by weight than anything else).

Why Your Pet Should Eat Canned Food

There are several health benefits for cats and dogs that eat canned food.

• Dogs and cats love it
• Use as a food topper, makes them want to eat their food
• Great for senior animals
• Works wonders for pets with limited teeth or recent dental work
• Stronger aroma than dry food options for picky dogs or cats
• Supports the urinary system and kidneys especially for cats

Some excellent features of canned pet food are:

• Added moisture to your pet's diet
• Limited ingredients and less synthetic vitamins and minerals
• Unique proteins which are great for rotation
• Complete and balanced nutrition
• Easy serve and storage with a longer shelf life

Canned Food For Pets At All Life Stages

One of the biggest misconceptions that we hear from pet owners is that they “don’t want to make it a habit” of feeding canned food. This most often comes from the perspective that when they add canned food, their pets like it so much that they request it more often. This is most likely based on our pets instinct. They know the added moisture is good for their organs and instinctively they request more.

Canned Pet Food Quality Rankings

As a whole, we consider it a middle of the road choice. At The Pet Beastro, we think raw food is the premier option. However, we understand that it doesn’t fit everyone’s lifestyle or budget. Therefore you can easily upgrade your kibble by adding a small amount of canned food at least three times weekly. If you feed raw, you could also have a few cans of food on hand for back up. If protein rotation is something your pet enjoys, you could add a unique protein such as different types of fish, kangaroo, eel, new guinea fowl, goat, etc., by substituting one meal with canned food. Most recently, I found my senior dog at 15 who has been eating raw food since we adopted her has been refusing raw but loves a canned variety. At various stages of your pet’s life, they sometimes give you the clues about what food they enjoy and makes them feel their best.

Whether you add canned food to a long or short term option, the added moisture and protein options are very beneficial for both cat and dog diets. Stop in during our can sale June 1st through June 10th, 2018  to receive 20% off mix or match of 12 cans or an extra 15% off already discounted cases (typically you can save 7-10% when buying a case. With sale you can save 22-25%). We will be happy to help you find the best-canned choice for your dog or cat!