Should you soften your dog’s food? Here’s how and why

The benefits of softening dog food

Before we discuss the specifics of how to soften dog food, let’s explore why it could be a good idea. Here are five ways adding moisture to their kibble might help your pup:

It aids dogs with dental issues

One of the most common reasons people consider soaking dog food in water is to make it easier to chew. Kibble is pretty solid, and this often poses a problem for pets who have dental conditions. For pooches with toothache, sore gums, damaged teeth or similar concerns, crunching biscuits can be painful or even impossible. Knowing how to soften dog food enables you to make eating kibble enjoyable for your furry friend again.

This may be particularly relevant if you have a senior pooch, as they’re more susceptible to gum conditions and cavities. Likewise, puppy teeth aren’t as strong as adult teeth. As such, understanding how to soften dog kibble for very young pups can also be useful. Your puppy should have all their adult teeth by about 6-7 months old. After that, you could stop softening their food. Brushing your mutt’s teeth and giving them dental chews will help continue to protect their oral health as they grow.

It boosts hydration

Just like us humans, staying hydrated is vital for your pet’s wellbeing. It helps flush out toxins, supports joint and brain health, plus enables them to better regulate their body temperature. You can encourage your pup to drink more by leaving out several bowls of fresh, clean water around the house. However, if your canine companion still doesn't drink enough, adding moisture to their meals may boost their water intake. This is especially true if your pooch only eats kibble and not wet food.

Knowing how to soften dog food might be particularly beneficial if your mutt is prone to dehydration. For example, this includes senior pooches, puppies, animals who are nursing, and toy breeds. Some signs that your pup may be dehydrated are a dry nose, thick saliva, excessive panting, lethargy, and sunken eyes. If these symptoms are severe, take your pet to the vet. Soaking dog food in water won’t be enough to fully rehydrate them, and if left untreated, dehydration can be serious.

It can make kibble more appealing

Not all reasons for wanting to know how to soften dog food relate to health. There’s also the simple fact that it could make those dry biscuits more appetising for our fluffy friends. Sometimes dogs get bored of their food, and adding a little moisture could help keep mealtimes interesting for them. One explanation for this is that warm water helps release more aroma from kibble. And we all know how important smell is for our pooches! So, if you have a fussy pup, this could persuade them to tuck in.

Of course, there are other ways to bring variety to your pet’s bowl. As an example, you could mix some extra ingredients into their kibble to change the taste, scent, and texture. Safe and wholesome toppings to try include cooked and unseasoned meat, eggs, brown rice, beans and fish. You might also offer your pooch fresh blueberries, strawberries, carrots, broccoli, peas, courgettes, cranberries, and raspberries.

It may help with digestive problems

Another area of your mutt’s wellness that soaking dog food in water could be useful for is digestion. Kibble can be tricky to digest, especially for senior pups or those with sensitive tummies. But knowing how to soften dog food makes it easier for your pet’s body to break the biscuits down. And this may also enable your pooch to absorb more nutrients from their meals, which is beneficial for all aspects of health.

It's important to note that softening dog food won’t cure any digestive conditions your pet struggles with. If your pup experiences unwanted symptoms like vomiting, constipation, or diarrhoea, you’ll still need to take them to the vet. You might also want to add some gut-friendly ingredients to their meals, such as pumpkin, beetroot, and sweet potatoes. Jerusalem artichoke is another fantastic choice because it’s rich in a type of fibre called inulin.(1) This acts as a prebiotic, nourishing the good bacteria in your pet’s gut.

It’s useful for weight management

Obesity is unfortunately a common problem in our pets, usually caused by too many calories and not enough exercise. It contributes to a host of health issues, including an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and respiratory problems. If your pooch has a tendency to consume more than they should, knowing how to soften dog food might help. How? Well, adding moisture to kibble causes it to expand. This should mean that your pup feels fuller more quickly, and that they’re therefore less likely to overeat.

Softening kibble could also encourage your mutt to eat more slowly and leave them feeling more satiated. That can be another way to prevent them from gobbling down too much grub. Just remember that you still have to be vigilant about how many treats you give them!

How to soften dry dog food: step-by-step guides

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of doing so, let’s move on to how to soften dog food. Here are four of the most common techniques you can use:

Soaking dog food in water

One of the quickest and easiest methods for how to soften dog food is soaking kibble in water. Warm water – but not boiling – is preferable to cold because it’s both quicker and releases more aroma from the biscuits. Soaking dog food in water is easy:

• Start by measuring out a portion of kibble in your dog’s bowl.

• Add a splash of lukewarm water – the exact amount will vary depending on the type and quantity of kibble.

• Stir to ensure all the biscuits are wet.

• Leave the kibble to absorb the water for a few minutes until it’s soft.

• Serve the meal to your mutt straight away.

Using a low-sodium broth

Of course, water isn’t the only liquid you can use when it comes to how to soak dog food. If you’re trying to entice your pooch to eat their dinner, a low-sodium broth might be the perfect alternative. Chicken, beef, and vegetable broths are all great options. However, make sure they don’t contain any ingredients that could be harmful to your pup, like onions, garlic, or chives.

• Portion out your mutt’s kibble.

• Heat the broth until it’s warm but not boiling.

• Pour the broth over the biscuits and stir.

• Leave the mixture to soak until the kibble is soft and the broth is cool enough for your pet to eat.

• Dish up the meal.

Mixing kibble with wet dog food

Another method of how to soften dry dog food is to mix it with your pup’s wet food. This allows the juices from the wet food to absorb into the biscuits and gives them a softer texture. Just remember to reduce the amount of kibble you use in order to compensate for the extra calories.

• Measure out a smaller portion of kibble.

• Add an equal quantity of wet food.

• Stir until the two foods are evenly mixed.

• Serve the combined meal to your pup.

If your pet doesn’t currently eat wet food, introduce it to their diet slowly. Start by adding a small amount of wet food to their kibble, then gradually increase the proportion over several days.

Popping it in the microwave

The final technique we’re going to look at for how to soften dog food is microwaving it. This is another effective option for enhancing the smell and flavour of the grub too:

• Measure out your mutt’s normal amount of kibble.

• Pour in a small quantity of water or low-salt broth.

• Stir well.

• Microwave the mixture for about 20-30 seconds on a low heat.

• Check the temperature to ensure it’s cool enough for your pet to eat.

• Serve the meal.

Boosting nutrition when wetting dry dog food

Knowing how to soften dog food isn’t the only way you can make your pup’s meals more beneficial for them. While you’re mixing in the warm water or broth, you could also add some functional ingredients to increase the kibble’s nutritional value. That could be Jerusalem artichoke powder to support digestion, or ashwagandha powder to help with stress and anxiety.(2) Alternatively, medicinal mushrooms like lion’s mane may support the immune system and gut health.(3)

Another option is to mix a cold-pressed oil into your pooch’s kibble. This counts as a fifth method for how to soften dog food, plus offers some extra wellness benefits. For example, here at Boosie we offer chia seed oil to support cardiovascular health and sea buckthorn oil for healthy skin, eyes, and fur. Whichever you choose, check with a vet first to make sure the ingredient is suitable for your pet’s individual needs.

Are there any disadvantages to soaking dog food?

One last issue to consider when thinking about how to soften dog food is the potential downsides. First, soaked kibble is more susceptible to bacterial growth, so don’t leave it sitting out for too long.

Second, one research study found that feeding your pooch water-softened dry food could have some adverse outcomes. More specifically, it increased pathogenic bacteria in the gut microbiome and raised cortisol levels. Researchers concluded that soaking dry dog food might cause stress and negatively affect intestinal health.(4) As such, we recommend monitoring your furry friend closely to see how they react if you feed them softened kibble.

Finally, some studies show that tucking into dry kibble results in better oral hygiene for our pups. Assuming your pet doesn’t have dental issues, you’re potentially missing out on this benefit by softening their biscuits.

If you decide to put your new knowledge of how to soften dog food into practice, we recommend starting slowly. This is because sudden changes in diet sometimes cause tummy troubles for our pets. Begin by just lightly softening the kibble, or mixing dry and soaked biscuits together in one bowl. Depending on how your pooch responds, you could then increase the quantity of liquid or proportion of softened biscuits.

Softening dog food: a quick reference guide

Here’s a brief summary of how to soften dog food:

Regardless of the method you choose, you can also add extra ingredients or warm up the meal in the microwave. All our pets are unique, so it may take some trial and error to learn what your pooch likes best. You could even cycle through these techniques to keep things interesting for them!

Should you soften your dog’s kibble or not?

Now that we’ve shown you how to soften dog food, it’s up to you whether to try these methods out. As we’ve seen, there are pros and cons to doing so. The right approach will vary according to your pooch’s individual needs, so we recommend consulting a vet for personalised advice. For example, if your pup has dental problems, soaking their kibble could be very helpful. However, it’s important to take steps to mitigate the possible disadvantages of softening your dog’s food. That includes not leaving soaked biscuits out for long, and looking after your pet’s teeth and oral health. And as always, let your pup’s reaction guide you – you should be able to tell if they like soft kibble or not!