Most dogs light up at the sound of a tin opening. The aroma, the texture, the taste that coats the tongue. Wet dog food makes mealtimes exciting. But is it a smart daily choice or just an occasional treat? The answer is less about a universal rule and more about your dog’s age, health, lifestyle and your goals.
Below is a practical, no-nonsense guide to help you decide how wet food fits into a healthy feeding plan in Australia.
What counts as wet food?
Wet food is a complete or complementary dog diet sold in cans, trays or pouches with high moisture, usually 70 to 85 percent water. It appears as loaf or pâté, chunks in jelly, stews with gravy, even shredded meat textures. The water content is not a filler. It carries nutrients and affects how much your dog eats to hit their daily energy target.
Manufacturers cook wet food in a closed container. This retort process makes it shelf stable and safe to store unopened in the pantry. Once opened, it behaves like any fresh product and needs refrigeration.
The nutrition basics that matter
Think in terms of energy, nutrients and moisture. Most wet foods sit around 0.8 to 1.3 kcal per gram, while many kibbles range from 3.2 to 4.2 kcal per gram. That one fact drives feeding amounts and cost.
●Protein quality often tests well in wet diets. High beef, lamb, and other meat content, along with gentle cooking in a sealed container, can yield good digestibility.
●Fat varies wildly. Some tins are lean; others are rich and glossy. Fat raises palatability but can be risky for dogs prone to pancreatitis or weight gain.
● Carbohydrate content changes with style. Loaf foods can be low in starch. Gravy foods may use thickeners or gel-forming gums.
● Moisture supports hydration. That helps some dogs more than others.
Wet food, often grain free, can be complete and balanced or complementary. Look for a statement that the diet meets AAFCO or FEDIAF nutrient profiles for the life stage, or that it has undergone feeding trials. In Australia, many brands follow these standards and operate under the Australian Standard AS 5812 for pet food manufacturing.
When wet food shines
Dog wet food is not just a flavour boost. In certain scenarios it offers real advantages.
● Hydration support
○ Dogs with urinary issues or those that forget to drink benefit from the extra water.
○ It can help reduce urine specific gravity, a handy aim in recurrent struvite uroliths.
● Appetite stimulation
○ Senior dogs, dogs on medication and fussy eaters often eat more reliably with wet food.
○ The aroma and soft texture tempt dogs with poor dentition or after dental procedures.
● Weight control with volume
○ Because wet food has fewer calories per gram, bowls look fuller for the same calories.
○ Many owners find it easier to manage hunger and begging when meals have more bulk.
● Digestive comfort
○ Highly digestible wet diets can assist during short-term gut upsets or after surgery.
○ Softer stools or firmer ones are both possible depending on fibre and fat, so observe and adjust.
● Tailored clinical nutrition
○ Veterinary therapeutic wet diets exist for kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, urinary stones and more.
○ The water content supports the goals of several of these plans.
Potential downsides and common myths
Wet food is not perfect for every household or every dog.
● Dental health
○ It does not scrape teeth. Without brushing or dental chews, plaque and tartar tend to build faster.
○ Dental problems are not guaranteed on wet diets, but you will need an oral care plan.
● Cost per calorie
○ It often costs more for the same energy compared to kibble.
○ Buying by the carton and comparing cost per 1000 kcal helps tame the budget.
● Storage and waste
○ Open tins need refrigeration and should be used within 48 to 72 hours.
○ Some dogs turn their nose up at cold food. A brief warm-up can help.
● Ingredient worries
○ Thickeners like guar gum or cassia gum are widely used and safe at feed levels.
○ Grain-free messaging has confused many owners. Reports of DCM were primarily associated with certain legume-heavy dry diets in North America; evidence is evolving. Work with your vet if you have concerns.
Reading a wet food label like a pro
A label has to do more than look tasty. A few lines of text tell you whether the food meets your dog’s needs.
● Life stage: puppy growth, adult maintenance, all life stages, senior support or a veterinary therapeutic claim.
● Completeness: look for wording that the food is complete and balanced according to AAFCO or FEDIAF nutrient profiles, or proven by feeding trials.
● Typical analysis: given as-fed protein, fat, fibre, moisture and sometimes ash. To compare to other foods, you need dry matter.
● Energy content: metabolisable energy per 100 g or per can. This is crucial for portion control.
Dry matter conversion:
● Dry matter percent = 100 minus moisture percent.
● Nutrient on a dry matter basis = nutrient as-fed divided by dry matter, then multiply by 100.
A quick example:
● A tin shows moisture 78 percent and fat 5 percent.
● Dry matter is 22 percent.
● Fat on a dry matter basis is 5 divided by 22 times 100 which is about 23 percent DM.
Why does this matter? Dogs with pancreatitis often need lower fat diets. A tin with 5 percent fat as-fed might sound lean, but on a dry matter basis it could be quite rich.
Clinical guardrails many vets use:
● Pancreatitis-prone dogs: aim for fat under about 20 percent DM or under 4 g fat per 100 kcal.
● Kidney disease: phosphorus under about 150 mg per 100 kcal, moderate protein, omega 3 support.
● Heart disease: lower sodium, often around or under 100 mg per 100 kcal, depending on stage and medications.
Wet vs dry vs a mix
Here is a snapshot to compare feeding styles.
|
Criteria |
Mostly Wet Food |
Mostly Dry Food |
Mixed Feeding |
|
Hydration |
Excellent due to high moisture |
Relies on water bowl |
Good if wet makes up a meaningful portion |
|
Energy density |
Low, helps with satiety |
High, small portions pack calories |
Flexible |
|
Palatability |
Usually very high |
Variable |
Very high |
|
Dental effects |
Needs active dental care |
Some dental diets help slow plaque |
Still needs dental care |
|
Cost per 1000 kcal |
Often higher |
Often lower |
Middle ground |
|
Storage |
Refrigerate after opening |
Pantry friendly |
Manage both |
|
Portion accuracy |
Easy to overfeed with heaped spoons |
Cups can be inaccurate unless weighed |
Weigh both |
|
Special diets |
Many therapeutic options |
Many therapeutic options |
Useful for customising texture and calorie density |
|
Shelf life once opened |
2 to 3 days in fridge |
Weeks in an airtight container |
Mixed handling |
How much wet food to feed, in real numbers
Rules of thumb rarely fit every dog. Weight, age, breed tendencies, desexing status and activity all change calorie needs.
A reliable method:
- Calculate Resting Energy Requirement, RER = 70 x (body weight in kg)^0.75.
- Apply a multiplier for lifestyle to estimate daily calories. Common multipliers:
○ 1.6 for a typical desexed adult
○ 1.8 to 2.2 for entire adults
○ 1.2 for seniors who are couch potatoes
○ 2.0 to 3.0 for active working dogs
○ Puppies vary by age and size. Check the food label and your vet’s guidance.
Worked example for a 20 kg desexed adult:
● RER = 70 x 20^0.75. 20^0.75 is about 8.94. RER is about 626 kcal.
● Daily target with multiplier 1.6 is about 1000 kcal.
Now read the tin. If the food provides 320 kcal per 400 g can, that’s 0.8 kcal per gram and ensure it's grain free if needed.
● 1000 kcal divided by 320 kcal per can equals 3.1 cans per day.
● Split across two meals, about 1.5 to 1.6 cans per meal.
Mixing with kibble:
● If kibble provides 360 kcal per cup and you want half the calories from wet food, feed 1.5 cans wet (about 480 kcal) plus about 1.4 cups kibble (about 520 kcal).
● Weigh portions for accuracy. Cups and spoons vary.
Monitor and adjust:
● Aim for steady body condition. Feel ribs with a light sweep of your fingers, see a waist from above and a gentle tummy tuck from the side.
● Adjust by 10 percent up or down every 2 weeks until body condition is on target.
● Recalculate after desexing, changes in activity, or seasonal shifts.
Safe handling and storage at home
● Unopened tins: store in a cool, dry cupboard.
● After opening: cover the tin or decant into a sealed container, refrigerate and use within 48 to 72 hours.
● Serving temperature: many dogs prefer room temperature. A short warm-up in a water bath or 5 to 10 seconds in the microwave for a portion can help. Stir well and check for hot spots.
● Freezing: portion leftovers into silicone trays, freeze and thaw in the fridge. Most textures handle freezing fine.
● Hygiene: wash bowls daily in hot soapy water. Replace scratched plastic bowls that trap bacteria.
Dental care if wet food is your mainstay
Teeth do not clean themselves. If you feed mostly dog wet food, plan some extra care.
● Tooth brushing is the gold standard. Daily is ideal, a few times a week still helps. Use dog-safe toothpaste.
● Dental diets or VOHC accepted chews can reduce plaque and tartar accumulation.
● Water additives and gels exist. Results vary. Ask your vet which products have credible evidence.
● Schedule routine dental checks. Early tartar removal is simpler, cheaper and safer than major extractions.
Mixing wet and dry the smart way
Plenty of dogs thrive on a blend.
● Start with a clear calorie plan. Decide what proportion of calories come from each side, not just what looks like half the bowl, and consider including wet dog food to adjust moisture and palatability.
● Keep the diet complete and balanced. If adding home-cooked toppers, avoid large amounts that could unbalance calcium or other nutrients.
● Prevent pickiness. Mix thoroughly rather than placing wet food as a garnish. If your dog eats the gravy and leaves the kibble, reduce the contrast and portion size, then build up slowly.
● Consider texture goals. If your dog bolts kibble, a little wet food, such as lamb or beef-flavored options, can bind it together and slow intake. A puzzle feeder or lick mat spreads the meal and adds enrichment.
Special cases where vet input matters
Some conditions benefit from careful wet dog food diet selection and monitoring.
● Pancreatitis or fat intolerance
○ Choose lower fat on a dry matter basis, often under 20 percent DM. Check fat per 100 kcal as well. Many therapeutic wet diets are designed for this.
○ Feed smaller, more frequent meals to reduce post-meal fat surges.
● Chronic kidney disease
○ Prioritise lower phosphorus, moderate high-quality protein, and omega 3s. Wet therapeutic diets assist with hydration and appetite.
● Heart disease
○ Sodium control varies with disease stage. Combine wet therapeutic diets with your vet’s medication plan.
● Diabetes
○ Consistent timing and portion sizes matter. Some diabetic dogs do well on specific high-fibre or consistent carbohydrate wet diets, paired with insulin timing.
● Food allergy or adverse reactions
○ Use hydrolysed protein diets or carefully chosen novel protein wet foods. No extras during a strict 6 to 8 week trial.
● Puppies and large-breed growth
○ Growth diets must meet specific calcium and phosphorus ranges. Many wet puppy foods are suitable. Large-breed pups need tighter mineral control, so check the label or ask your vet for a brand list.
Transition plan that keeps tummies happy
Switching abruptly can unsettle the gut. Take a week, sometimes longer for sensitive dogs.
● Day 1 to 2: 75 percent old food, 25 percent new
● Day 3 to 4: 50 percent old, 50 percent new
● Day 5 to 6: 25 percent old, 75 percent new
● Day 7: 100 percent new
If stools soften, slow down. Add a little plain pumpkin or a vet-recommended probiotic for a few days. If vomiting, diarrhoea or skin flare-ups occur, pause and call your vet.
Budget tips for Australian households
Wet food can be costlier per calorie, but there are smart ways to manage it.
● Compare by energy, not by can size. Work out cost per 1000 kcal to find value.
● Buy by the carton during specials. Many supermarkets and pet stores rotate discounts.
● Store pouches and cans in a cool cupboard. Do not stockpile beyond the best before window.
● Use a kitchen scale for accuracy. Overfeeding wastes money.
● Consider a 50:50 or 30:70 wet to dry calorie split. You keep benefits of moisture and palatability while moderating cost.
● Look for brands that state AAFCO or FEDIAF compliance and contactable Australian customer care. The Australian Standard AS 5812 signals strong manufacturing practice.
Common styles and what they mean
● Loaf or pâté: uniform texture, easy to portion and mix with medicines. Often lower in visible starch.
● Chunks in gravy: higher water content per bite, with thickeners forming the sauce.
● Chunks in jelly: set gel holds shape. Dogs who like to lick may favour this style.
● Stew: shredded or diced meat with vegetables. Attractive presentation, variable meat to gravy ratio.
Texture influences speed of eating and satiety cues. Experiment within the same brand to find what suits your dog’s mouthfeel preferences and your handling needs.
What good wet food looks like on paper
When you assess a shortlist, keep an eye on:
● Clear complete and balanced statement for the right life stage
● Named protein sources high on the ingredient list
● Transparent energy declaration per 100 g or per pack
● Appropriate fat level for your dog’s risk profile
● Sensible sodium and phosphorus if your dog has heart or kidney considerations
● Useful extras: omega 3s from fish oil, prebiotic fibres, and named minerals and vitamins
A quick myth check
● “Wet food ruins teeth.” Not by itself. Lack of oral care ruins teeth. Pair wet food with brushing or dental chews and regular vet cleans.
● “Wet food is all water and no nutrition.” The nutrients are concentrated in the dry matter. Dogs meet their calorie and nutrient targets when you feed the right amount.
● “Dogs need crunchy food to be happy.” Many dogs prefer soft textures. Happiness comes from complete nutrition, positive mealtime routines and feeling well.
A simple checklist before you switch
● Speak with your vet if your dog has any medical diagnosis, is on long-term medication, or has a history of tummy upsets.
● Calculate calories from your dog’s weight and lifestyle, then map that to cans or pouches.
● Decide on wet only or a mix, and set your initial ratio by calories.
● Plan dental care from day one. Brushing is best; add chews or dental diets as needed.
● Pick two or three candidate foods that are complete and balanced and fit your budget.
● Transition slowly over a week, watching stools, appetite and energy.
● Re-weigh your dog in 2 to 3 weeks and adjust portions by about 10 percent if needed.
● Reassess every few months. Dogs change with seasons, age and activity.
Dog wet food can be a daily staple, a topper that sparks interest, or a therapeutic tool when health demands a specific approach. With label literacy, a clear calorie plan and a little dental care, it can fit beautifully in an Australian dog’s life.
How 77 Paws Can Support Your Dog’s Nutrition
With so many wet and dry food options on the market, finding what truly suits your dog can feel like a guessing game. That’s where 77 Paws comes in — a trusted Australian retailer focused on real nutrition, transparency, and care.
● Fast, reliable delivery — so your pantry is never empty when mealtime rolls around.
● Curated selection of premium wet and dry foods — chosen for quality ingredients and proven nutrition.
● Friendly, knowledgeable support — from a team that loves pets as much as you do.
Because every can you open or bowl you fill isn’t just food — it’s a daily act of love.
At 77 Paws, we’re here to make those moments easier, healthier, and happier.
