How Is Wet Dog Food Made? Simple Instructions

Feeding Wet food might be the crowd-pleaser for many canines.

While seeing your pooch feasting on its favorite food is satisfying, there are hidden health risks behind their ingredients profile. How is wet dog food made? 

Once you are clear about its components and manufacturing process, you can rest assured that your pet is receiving the best.

I will also introduce some homemade wet dog recipes and recommended brands for you to consider. Stay tuned!

Is Wet Dog Food Healthier For Dogs?

how is wet dog food made

The answer is no.

Both wet dog food and kibble have different ingredients and functions, so you should choose one or mix the two based on your canine’s preferences and health conditions.

Kibble is famous for its teeth-cleaning function to support your pet’s dental health.

However, as its name suggests, the food is drier and harder to digest than wet food, which provides additional hydration thanks to its high moisture content.

That’s why you should not opt for kibbles if your dog has stomach problems, like gastrointestinal tract.

Continuing to consume dry food only exacerbates the situation and has repercussions for its health in the long run.

On the other hand, suppose you try to clean its teeth; kibble is a perfect choice by providing a brushing effect.

This is attributed to the sodium hexametaphosphate in some products.

How Is Wet Dog Food Made?

The procedure of making wet food for dogs starts from selecting, weighing, and preparing ingredients to combining them all before adding flavors, cooking under high temperatures, and packaging.

You can also make it at home by choosing the right ingredients.

This process includes numerous steps, and choosing the right ingredients is the most important. Here are detailed guidelines on making wet dog food that are worth your consideration.

Ingredient Selection

As presented above, the step of choosing ingredients is very important, which could affect the food’s taste and flavor. 

So what is wet dog food made of? Many types of wet dog food on the market have their main ingredients from animal derivatives or byproducts.

They are the parts of animal surplus used to meet the human food industry’s requirements. 

These include various animals’ lungs, liver, or kidneys, like chicken and beef.

Many pet owners are worried about their nutrients, yet they are safe for consumption and rich in nutrition.

Given the famous brands, they even use fresh raw meat, particularly muscle meat, to offer the best experience to your furry friend.

Other ingredients, such as fats, minerals, cereals, fats, and grains, are added to enhance the flavors and texture.

Ingredient Weighing And Preparation

After being selected, these ingredients will be carefully weighed according to the manufacturer’s specific recipe and product type.

For homemade recipes, you can try a dog food calculator by weight to prepare an adequate amount for your pet.

This step really plays an essential role in the wet pet food manufacturing process, as a balanced ratio of ingredients in a meal is key to a well-rounded diet.

For instance, if you add too many additives to the dish, your dog meal might be good in flavor, yet it will seriously threaten its health in the long run.

Or suppose your dog is prone to constipation; purchasing a product that emphasizes nutrition from proteins instead of fiber is not ideal.

That’s why ingredient weighing depends on the recipe and targeted consumers.

The Making Process

In this step, all food components, like animal meat, byproducts, vegetables, etc., are sliced into pieces and combined before artificial flavor enhancers are added to boost the smell and taste.

They are cooked under high temperatures, and the length of cooking is strictly controlled to avert product spoilage.

Then, they will enter the cooling process while the packaging is tightly sealed. The final step is mass-producing and delivering it to potential customers.

How Is Dog Food Made In Factories?

This section will dive more deeply into details.

  • Step 1: Ingredients, including animal proteins, cereals, minerals, legumes, and additives, are pre-ground and mixed according to the proper proportion.
  • Step 2: The mixture will be minced more than once to form a smooth texture, likely attracting your puppy’s attention.
  • Step 3: After being carefully ground, the food will be cooked with steam and divided into equal portions. Controlling the cooking temperature and time length is vital in this step.
  • Step 4: Add the jelly, sauce, and even vegetables to boost the flavor and make the wet food more balanced by ensuring proteins and fiber.
  • Step 5: The food is carefully packed and tightly sealed to prevent the air and bacteria from the outside environment. This maintains the product’s safety, freshness, and quality to the full.
  • Step 6: Sterilize the packs to eliminate all bacteria risk before transporting them to the market.

What Are The 5 Best Homemade Wet Dog Recipes?

what is wet dog food made of

Below are the 5 best homemade recipes for your dog that you should notice closely.

Turkey Food With The Fixins

This is a perfect blend of brown rice, turkey, and vegetables.

When feeding your lovely dog with this balanced diet, you don’t need to worry about its shortage of nutrition thanks to proteins from turkey and fiber supplied by vegetables.

So how can you cook this meal successfully? Check the following guidance as soon as possible.

  • Step 1: Prepare necessary ingredients and cooking equipment, like a cup, spoon, saucepan, rice cooker, freezer bag, and food processor.
  • Step 2: Add rice to the cooker and pour water onto it while heating the olive oil in the saucepan for 2-4 minutes.
  • Step 3: Cut the turkey meat into pieces before frying them in the saucepan until the meat turns yellow-brown.
  • Step 4: Add the rice to a pan first and stir the turkey gently before tossing other ingredients in, including zucchini, spinach, carrots, etc.
  • Step 5: Turn off the heat after 5-10 minutes and let the meal cool down. Remember to use your freezer bag to keep leftovers. 

Bullets And Rice

This dish is also rich in nutrition and easy to make. Even better, making and serving the meal for your canine doesn’t take long.

How is wet dog food cooked? The following instructions will help you master this recipe.

  • Step 1: Prepare a bowl and add pork to it. Remember that the pork should be sliced and ground carefully, which makes it easier for your pup to eat and digest.
  • Step 2: Beat eggs with meat and mix them up to form bite-sized meatballs. Please place them in a microwave at about 400 degrees F and wait 45 minutes.
  • Step 3: During this time, cook the rice according to the cooker’s manual and boil the vegetables for roughly 20 minutes.
  • Step 4: After taking the meatballs from your microwave, use a spoon to mix them with rice before serving them to the dish. You can place vegetables around it to decorate the meal.

Dog Stew

This food is very suitable to eat on cold days, helping raise the inner body temperatures of your furry companion a lot.

It is also simple to make as well a hearty meal to comfort both puppy and its owners thanks to its convenience.

  • Step 1: Make a careful preparation of meat, water, rice, and broth and place them all on the saucepan to cook. Switch the heat to a medium level and stir them for 30 minutes.
  • Step 2: Beat eggs and mix them in a bowl before adding to the food, along with vegetables.
  • Step 3: Pour them into a stew pot at a medium temperature for another 30 minutes. Then, serve the dish cool and let your canine enjoy the delectable meal.
  • Step 4: Put the leftovers in a freezer bag and freeze them in a fridge. This step is optional.

Delicious Jambalaya

This food originates from New Orleans, and its taste will change greatly after you store it in a freezing container or can. Your puppy will surely love it!

  • Step 1: Cook rice carefully with the assistance of a qualified cooker. You should follow the manufacturer’s manual to reap the best result.
  • Step 2: Slice the meatball into pieces. Add olive oil to the saucepan and wait about 5 minutes for it to heat up. Then, stir the meat in the saucepan evenly until it turns yellow-brown on the surface.
  • Step 3: Add rice to the pan, surrounding the meat, and stir them with some vegetables. Hope you will nail it!

The Meaty Legume

The final recipe on this list will not let you down. This dish is a rich source of fiber, helping solve the constipation problem of your four-legged family member.

However, it involves the addition of legumes, which is not very good for a dog’s health in the long run, so just treat this dish to your dog occasionally.

  • Step 1: Slice the kale, carrots into pieces and begin to cook legumes.
  • Sep 2: Cut meat into slices and add it to the saucepan with sweet potato. You’d better pour a little water on the pan to prevent burning the mixture.
  • Step 3: When the water nearly drains, add all vegetables to the skillet and stir them up evenly. Continue to stir when the meat is well done. Medium-rare meat is okay, but it could cause some trouble for canines with sensitive stomachs.
  • Step 4: Serve it, and watch your dog’s reactions when enjoying it. I’m sure this is one of the happiest moments in your life.

Choosing A Good Wet Dog Food

If you want the best wet food for your dog, you must take close notice of its age and size.

For puppies, they are very small, and their body parts don’t fully develop, so their ability to absorb nutrients is still limited.

In this case, choosing a product that is not very protein-dense with a calcium percentage from 1% to 1.5% is highly recommended.

For adult canines, they love wet foods that include real meat protein and high fiber level. The supplement of fatty acids and the absence of artificial flavor enhancers is needed.

Also, it’s best to go for wet food without carrageenan.

Recommended Canned Foods For Dogs

wet pet food manufacturing process

Here are four popular brands for manufacturing dog food for you to consider.

Royal Canin

As its name suggests, the Royal Canin is a luxurious brand of dog food with high-quality ingredients that meet the nutritional needs recommended by the AAFCO organization.

However, its product price is higher than average, so this is not an ideal option for middle-class households.

Purina

Purina is no stranger to numerous pet owners, especially its pro plan high protein puppy food pate that is packed with proteins necessary for muscular development.

Another plus lies in the diverse animal meats, ranging from chicken and beef to salmon.

The Farmer’s Dog

The food made by the Farmer’s Dog often contains vegetables, particularly beans, carrots, and chunky veggies that provide sufficient fiber for your furry friend, facilitating the digestive system.

Blue Buffalo

The product of Blue Buffalo is a great source of glucosamine, omega fatty acids, and chondroitin.

These supplements also benefit its health, yet several risks, like quality-control concerns or improper closing, might follow up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wet Or Canned Dog Food: Is it Bad For Dogs?

Absolutely no. Wet dog food not only provides sufficient nutrients but also enhances hydration thanks to its high moisture content.

In this way, your dog might have fewer trouble eating it.

Is Wet Or Dry Food Better For Dogs With Sensitive Stomachs?

The answer is wet food. This is a perfect choice for dogs with stomach sensitivity, particularly when they often show symptoms of abdominal pain.

This is all attributed to the high moisture content, which provides more water and minerals for the digestive system.

By contrast, kibble lacks water and becomes condensed in the square form.

Due to this, they could make strong contact with the dog’s stomach and even scratch it, eventually causing digestive discomfort.

The Bottom Line

This article has equipped you with all-inclusive knowledge about the question: How is wet dog food made?

Among different steps of this process, ingredient selection and weighting are most important, deciding the nutrient ratio and food’s flavor.

Besides, you can experiment with my 5 best homemade recipes to save some bucks. Hope you will try them successfully, and your dog will surely love the food you’ve made.

Author

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Hi I am Mitchell. Dog Growth is a blog about dog caring and training where I share my experiences to my community. Hope you enjoy it!

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