Semi-moist dog food: compromise between wet and dry food
Every dog owner who chooses ready-made food is faced with the fundamental decision of which type of food should be served to their four-legged companion.
Many people then decide between wet or dry food. Both dosage forms have their own advantages and disadvantages, although most veterinarians and nutritionists do not recommend them: they are considered equivalent, so it depends on the owner's decision.
The best of both worlds
In general, wet food is considered tasty, but a bit complicated, while dry food, on the other hand, is not quite as full-bodied, but is considered very practical and can be used anywhere.
Soft dog food is pretty good right in the middle between both worlds: On the one hand, it is very juicy, is very well accepted by most dogs and provides the animals with a comparatively large amount of fluid. On the other hand, it is also very compact and practical, so, like kibble, it can be fed almost anywhere.
Continue to speak too durability – an opened, sealed package can be fed for weeks to months before it goes bad – and the properties in the digestive tract for semi-moist food: it does not swell in the body. More and more dog lovers are using such chunks as smart compromise.
The manufacturing process
That's how it is too Manufacturing process semi-moist food is a little different: While dry kibble is usually extruded and wet food is boiled or cooked over a rather long period of time, soft kibble is pretty much in the middle here too.
This definitely has its advantages: the taste and consistency of the semi-moist croquettes are primarily due to the preparation.
Ingredients are cooked comparatively gently
That's how they are temperatures, in which soft food is cooked, is significantly lower than in most other forms of production: wet food is usually heated to at least 120 degrees Celsius, and for extruded dry food it is even significantly higher, up to 180 degrees.
Bacteria and other germs are killed, The food therefore poses no risk of illness for the four-legged friends. After heating, the product is either filled into cans and sealed airtight (wet food) or, in the case of croquettes, ejected with a nozzle, then shaped and dried over a long period of time. This is necessary for hygienic reasons, but it also alienates or destroys many nutrients – which is why most feed manufacturers make do with many of them artificial additives.
For semi-moist food, the temperature used for heating is significantly lower – it is usually only around 100 degrees. This is a very low value for ready-made food; only cold-pressed dog food is cooked at even lower temperatures.
Meat is fresh & added late
Another characteristic of soft dog food is: high meat content: Unlike dry food, you hardly find any ground animal proteins, but rather a large amount fresh meat, often exist more than 50 percent a meal from it.
Most manufacturers add the meat relatively late, so that is not heated longer than necessary. This means the food remains hygienic, but at the same time the nutrient composition is largely unadulterated. The taste also benefits from such preparation – the meat tastes almost like raw, without there being any risk for the four-legged friends.
Shorter drying time than traditional croquettes
Unlike extruded dog food, semi-moist varieties are only dried for a very short time in warm air. This is the only way to obtain a comparatively high proportion of liquid.
The finished croquettes are a little softer than dry food, but also easier to chew. Unlike extruded food, they do not absorb water, which significantly reduces your four-legged friend's need for fluids. Although he has to drink a little more than with wet food, this can usually be done without much effort.