Dry vs Wet Dog Food: Which Is Right for Your Dog?
By Gladwells Pet & Country Stores Online Shop | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: Comparisons
Dry vs wet dog food isn't a winner-takes-all contest. Compare cost, convenience, and nutrition, plus how wet foods like Naturediet and Forthglade fit into a real feeding routine.
Quick answer
Neither dry nor wet dog food is automatically better. Wet food wins on aroma, moisture, and appeal for fussy or sensitive dogs; dry food wins on cost per meal, storage, and convenience. Many owners get the best results by choosing the format that matches their dog's appetite and their own routine, then sticking with a complete recipe that suits their budget.
What actually differs between dry and wet dog food
The biggest practical differences are moisture, texture, and how you store and serve the food. Wet food is typically 70–80% water, which gives it a soft texture and a strong smell that many dogs find more appealing. Dry food is shelf-stable, easy to portion, and can be left in a bowl without spoiling quickly. The nutritional difference depends far more on the recipe than on the format: a complete wet food and a complete dry food can both meet a dog's needs, so check the label for the word 'complete' rather than assuming one type is automatically healthier.
How to read a wet food label before you commit
Wet food labels vary a lot in how they describe their role. Some are complete meals, while others are designed as toppers or mixers. Forthglade Adult Grain Free Just Lamb, for example, is described as a meal to be added alongside a quality mixer of your choice, so it works as part of a tailored diet rather than a stand-alone ration. Naturediet Feel Good Chicken is described as a complete meal, which means it can be fed on its own. Knowing which category a tray falls into stops you from accidentally under- or over-feeding.
Cost, storage, and daily routine
Dry food usually costs less per meal and takes up less cupboard space, but it can become boring for dogs that like variety. Wet food costs more per meal and needs refrigerating once opened, yet it is easier to serve in small portions and often encourages picky eaters to finish their bowl. If you feed a mix, keep the total daily amount consistent rather than topping up freely, because adding wet food on top of a full dry ration is one of the most common causes of weight gain.
Transitioning without upsetting digestion
Whether you switch format or brand, change the food gradually over about a week. Start with a small proportion of the new food mixed into the old, then increase it every couple of days. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, keep the transition slower and avoid changing more than one thing at a time. Wet food can be warmed slightly to release aroma, but never serve it hot.
Trade-offs to weigh before you choose
- Cost per meal: Wet food generally costs more per serving than dry, and trays or pouches take up more space. Dry food stretches further for the same spend. If budget is tight, use wet food as a topper rather than the whole bowl.
- Appeal vs convenience: Wet food's aroma and soft texture can tempt fussy or older dogs, but it spoils once opened and needs refrigeration. Dry food can be left down and portioned quickly. Match the format to how your dog actually eats, not to what looks best on the shelf.
- Complete meal vs mixer: Some wet foods, like Naturediet Feel Good Chicken, are complete meals. Others, like Forthglade Just Lamb, are designed to be mixed with a dry base. Feeding a mixer as a full meal can leave gaps. Read the label wording carefully before you decide how to serve it.
Wet food options worth comparing
- Naturediet Feel Good Chicken 18 x 390g: Naturediet Feel Good Chicken 18 x 390g is a gentle recipe of chicken, rice and carrots, described as a complete meal for sensitive tummies. A complete wet recipe means you can feed it as the whole meal rather than as a topper, which suits owners who want a simple, single-bowl routine for a dog with a sensitive stomach.
- Forthglade Adult Grain Free Just Lamb 18 x 395g: Forthglade Adult Grain Free Just Lamb 18 x 395g contains 90% lamb and added minerals, and is designed to be added alongside a quality mixer of your choice. This is a mixer-style wet food, so it works best when paired with a dry base. It gives you control over the ratio, but it is not a stand-alone complete meal.
Which type fits your dog?
Best for
- Dogs that are fussy, older, or have a sensitive stomach and do better with a soft, aromatic meal
- Owners who want a complete wet food they can serve on its own, such as Naturediet Feel Good Chicken
- Owners who want to build a tailored diet by mixing a wet food like Forthglade Just Lamb with a dry base
Not for
- Owners on a tight budget who need the lowest cost per meal — dry food usually wins here
- Households that need food left down all day without refrigeration
- Dogs on a prescription diet unless the vet has approved the specific recipe
