Wet and Dry Food Mixing wet and dry dog food: how to do it well

Yes, you can mix wet and dry dog food. The two things that make it work are choosing foods that are both complete, and splitting your dog's daily amount between them rather than adding wet food on top of their usual dry portion.

Here's how to choose a mixing style, work out portions without guesswork, and avoid the common mistakes.

The short answer

• Use two complete foods. A complete food provides everything your dog needs as a daily ration, so either food could be fed on its own.

• Split the daily amount. If you add wet food, reduce the dry food to match.

• Weigh in grams. Wet and dry food hold very different amounts of water, so scoops and "cups" can mislead.

• Keep fresh water out. Wet food adds moisture, but it doesn't replace your dog's water bowl.

Three ways to mix

There's no single best approach. The right one is whichever your dog enjoys and you can keep consistent.

How much to feed when you mix

The most reliable method uses the feeding guides on both packs.

1. Find the daily amount on each pack for your dog's weight and activity level, as if you were feeding that food alone.

2. Choose your split, such as 75% dry and 25% wet.

3. Take that percentage of each daily amount and weigh it in grams.

A hypothetical example, using made-up feeding guide figures:

• The dry pack suggests 200g a day for your dog. The wet pack suggests 800g a day.

• For a 75/25 split: 75% of 200g is 150g of dry, and 25% of 800g is 200g of wet.

• For a half-and-half split: 100g of dry and 400g of wet.

Notice that the wet portion weighs more. That's mostly water, which is why swapping wet for dry gram for gram would underfeed your dog, and swapping scoop for scoop doesn't work either.

If you'd rather not do the maths, our wet recipe pages include a feeding calculator with mixing options built in: an equal mix, mostly wet with a dry topper, or mostly dry with a wet topper. You'll find it in recipes such as our Chicken wet dog food. Treat any calculator as a starting point, and adjust with your vet's help if your dog's weight or body shape changes.

What wet food adds: water, aroma, and texture

Water. Our Chicken wet recipe is 78% moisture, so a 400g tray brings roughly 310g of water to the bowl. That can be handy for dogs who aren't keen drinkers, though fresh water should always be available.

Aroma. Wet food tends to smell stronger, which can make a meal more appealing. Some fussy dogs eat more readily with a little wet food mixed in. If you use a topper this way, keep the amount and timing consistent so it becomes part of the meal rather than a reward for holding out.

Texture. Softer food can suit older dogs and those who find hard food less comfortable to eat. Our guide to the healthiest food for senior dogs covers older dogs' needs in more depth, and different dog food types compares wet and dry food side by side.

Two common assumptions, checked

"Wet food helps with weight because it's more filling"

It's a reasonable idea, but the evidence doesn't back it up as a weight-control strategy. In one study, 46 dogs were offered generous amounts of either their usual dry food or the same food with water added to make it as moist as wet food. Both groups ate a similar proportion of what was offered, and the dogs on the moistened food gained weight faster (Alexander et al., 2017).

The study added water to dry food rather than testing a ready-made wet food, and it was run at a pet food manufacturer's research centre. Even so, the takeaway is clear: moisture doesn't do the portion control for you. Weighing the total daily amount does.

"Dry food keeps teeth clean"

Don't count on the crunch. Global veterinary dental guidelines put daily toothbrushing at the heart of home dental care (Niemiec et al., 2020). Whichever mix you choose, brushing and regular dental checks with your vet matter far more than the format of the food.

When not to mix

• During an elimination trial. If your vet is investigating a food sensitivity, your dog needs to eat one carefully chosen diet and nothing else for several weeks. In dogs with food reactions, signs settled in more than 95% by eight weeks (Olivry et al., 2015). Adding a second food, even a topper, can muddy the result.

• On a vet-prescribed diet. Prescription diets are designed to be fed in a specific way, so check with your vet before adding anything.

• With puppies, unless both foods are made for growth. Look for "puppy" or "all life stages" on both labels. Large-breed puppies need particular care with calcium and energy, which our guide to feeding large breeds explains.

• Straight after a switch. Introduce any new food gradually over seven to 10 days so your dog's digestion can adjust.

If your dog is sensitive to change, our guide to why dogs get gassy has more on supporting digestion through a new routine.

Keeping a mixed bowl fresh

A mixed bowl spoils faster than dry food alone, because the wet food brings moisture to the kibble too.

• Refrigerate opened wet food promptly, at around 4°C or below, or throw it away (FDA, 2024). Check the pack for how long it keeps once opened.

• Lift leftovers after the meal rather than leaving a mixed bowl out, especially in warm weather.

• Wash and dry the bowl after each use, and refresh the water bowl daily (FDA, 2024).

• Mix just before serving so the kibble keeps its texture.

How AATU wet and dry recipes pair up

• Wet recipes: up to 90% Meat and Fish Ingredients, with our Superfood Blend™ making up the rest. Our Chicken wet recipe is labelled as a complete food, so it works as a full meal or as a topper.

• Dry recipes: 80/20, with 80% Meat and Fish Ingredients cooked using our Low and Slow™ method. Our guide to what 80/20 dog food means explains how that ratio is counted.

• Matching proteins: if your dog does best on one protein, pair like with like. Our Free Run Chicken dry recipe sits naturally alongside Chicken wet, and Free Run Duck dry alongside Duck & Turkey wet.

• Variety: for dogs who enjoy a change, Pork & Wild Boar and Tuna & Salmon add different flavours.

Browse our wet recipes and dry recipes, or try the wet variety pack to see which proteins your dog prefers.

FAQs

Do vets recommend wet or dry dog food?

Neither format is better by default. What matters is that the food is complete, suits your dog's life stage and health, and keeps them at a healthy body condition. Many dogs do well on wet, dry, or a mix of both.

Can I mix different brands of wet and dry food?

Yes, as long as both foods are complete. Use each pack's own feeding guide when you work out portions, and keep in mind that changing two foods at once makes it harder to tell which one your dog isn't getting on with.

Can mixing wet and dry food cause diarrhoea?

It can if the change happens too quickly or the total amount goes up. Introduce the new food gradually over seven to 10 days and keep the overall portion in line with the feeding guides. If loose stools continue for more than a couple of days, speak to your vet.

Is it okay to give my dog wet food every day?

Yes, if it's a complete food fed in the right amount. Wet food can be your dog's whole diet or part of it, and daily feeding is fine as long as you weigh portions and store opened packs properly.

Can dogs live on dry food only?

Yes. A complete dry food provides everything a healthy dog needs, as long as fresh water is always available. Mixing in wet food is a choice, not a requirement.

How should I mix wet and dry food for a puppy?

Use two foods made for growth, then split the daily amounts using both pack guides, just as you would for an adult. Puppies need several smaller meals a day, so spread the mix across them. Our puppy recipes are formulated with growing dogs in mind.