Is It Okay to Mix Dry and Wet Dog Food?
Mixing dry and wet dog food is a common practice among pet owners. The idea is to combine the benefits of both types, such as taste, texture, moisture, and nutritional balance. However, when dealing with budget brands like Ol’ Roy, pet owners should proceed with caution due to concerns about ingredient quality, digestibility, and potential health risks.
Benefits of Mixing Dry and Wet Food
- Improved Palatability: Wet food can enhance the taste of dry kibble, encouraging picky eaters to eat their meals.
- Better Hydration: Wet food contains more moisture, which supports hydration—particularly important for dogs on low-water diets.
- Digestive Support: For some dogs, wet food may be easier to digest and gentler on the stomach.
- Enhanced Nutrition: Properly mixing foods may help meet dietary requirements if done with care.
Considerations with Ol’ Roy Dog Food
Ol’ Roy, a value brand sold at Walmart, offers both dry and canned dog food. However, independent reviews consistently rank its dry formulas as poor due to several issues:
- Low-quality ingredients: Ground yellow corn, soybean meal, and meat by-products dominate the formula.
- Use of controversial preservatives: BHA and BHT are used to preserve animal fat and vegetable oil.
- Lack of nutritional bioavailability: Many nutrients are harder to absorb due to non-chelated minerals and absence of probiotics or high-quality fibers.
- Digestive and health concerns: Customers report vomiting, diarrhea, itchy skin, and even severe health problems.
- Recall history: The brand has faced recalls for contamination, including cases where pentobarbital—a euthanasia drug—was detected in some wet food batches.
When Mixing Ol’ Roy Dry and Wet Food
If Ol’ Roy is the only option due to budget constraints, mixing its dry and wet varieties may offer minimal improvement in palatability. Yet, the nutritional drawbacks of both forms remain, and in some cases may be compounded:
- Ingredient concerns continue: Both formats use unspecified meat sources and artificial additives.
- Potential allergic reactions: Ingredients like garlic or onion extract in cans may trigger adverse reactions.
- Increased intake volume: Low caloric density means dogs must eat more to meet nutritional needs, leading to more waste and potential overfeeding.
Healthier Alternatives
For optimal canine health, veterinarians and nutritionists recommend choosing higher-quality commercial or veterinary diets—especially for vulnerable dogs:
- Puppies
- Large-breed dogs
- Senior dogs
- Dogs with health conditions
Even within a similar price range, brands offering more transparent ingredient sourcing, balanced formulas, and fewer artificial additives may provide better outcomes than Ol’ Roy.
Tips for Safely Mixing Dog Foods
- Balance Caloric Intake: Ensure your dog receives appropriate daily calories by calculating portions of both dry and wet food.
- Check Ingredient Lists: Avoid known allergens or controversial additives in both products.
- Transition Slowly: Introduce mixtures gradually to allow your dog’s digestive system to adjust.
- Monitor Health Responses: Look for signs of digestive issues, skin reactions, or behavioral changes.
- Consult a Veterinarian: Especially for dogs with medical conditions, professional guidance is essential.
Conclusion
It is generally acceptable to mix dry and wet dog food, but doing so with Ol’ Roy may present nutritional and health risks due to ingredient quality and safety concerns. If you must use Ol’ Roy, closely monitor your dog and consider transitioning to a higher-quality formula when possible. Combining different types of food should ideally enhance your dog’s health, not compromise it.
