Dry Extruded Dog Food
Generally speaking, the most common dog food on the market is dry extruded dog food, a mainstream commercial pet food. It is produced by mixing various nutritional ingredients, followed by extrusion, shaping, drying, dehydration and flavoring processes. Its moisture content is usually below 12%.kaf
This type of dog food features comprehensive and balanced nutrition, long shelf life, easy feeding and portability, as well as affordable prices, so it is widely popular among pet owners. It is also easy to digest and absorb, with a digestibility rate of around 70%. Its unit heat energy ranges from 6.27 to 6.69 KJ per kilogram, delivering abundant energy.
Nowadays, dry extruded dog food has entered countless pet-raising families. While some families still do not feed their pets with this product, the popularization of scientific pet care knowledge and the booming domestic dog food manufacturing industry have gradually expanded its application and rationalized its pricing.
Nevertheless, due to its industrial production process, dry extruded dog food has several drawbacks. It usually has a single flavor and poor palatability. Preservatives, mildew inhibitors and antioxidants are necessary additives in production. In addition, high-temperature extrusion will damage trace elements to varying degrees, resulting in reduced nutritional value.
Wet Canned Dog Food
Wet dog food mainly refers to canned dog food and pure meat cans commonly sold in stores. Its raw materials include meat, starch, grains, fruits, vegetables and trace elements.
Served fresh right after opening, canned dog food has much better palatability than dry extruded food, with a higher digestibility of up to 80%. Pure meat cans also contain high energy, reaching 25.08 KJ per kilogram.
Its main disadvantages are high raw material costs and retail prices, making it uneconomical to feed adult pets with large appetites. Besides, it is perishable once opened and must be consumed immediately.
Concentrated Powdered Dog Food
As of January 2014, concentrated powdered dog food was not yet available in China, but it had gained great popularity among pet lovers in the United States.
Made by mixing fresh meat, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fats, the product is fully cooked at high temperature and then dehydrated. Without extrusion treatment, it remains in powder form with moisture content below 10%. It retains nutrients well, provides balanced nutrition and is easy to absorb, with a digestibility rate as high as 85%.
Its biggest advantage is flexible feeding: it can be served directly, or mixed with homemade meals in proper proportions. This method guarantees pets’ nutritional needs while greatly cutting feeding costs. On the downside, its long shelf life leads to lower freshness and poor palatability. It is also less convenient to serve compared with dry extruded dog food.
Instant Dehydrated Dog Food
It is a new type of healthy dog food with fully transparent ingredients. It is made from dehydrated meat, vegetables, grains, plus vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fats. All ingredients are fully cooked at high temperature and then dehydrated. With no extrusion process and moisture content under 10%, it preserves complete nutrition and is easy to digest, with a digestibility rate of 80%.
This dog food is natural, healthy and additive-free. It can be turned into warm wet food simply by pouring hot water, featuring great palatability, convenience and hygiene. As a dehydrated product, it requires no preservatives and enjoys a long shelf life. The only shortcoming is that it cannot be eaten directly and needs soaking before serving, similar to instant noodles.
