Combining Different Dog Foods: Dry, Wet and Raw

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Can dry food, wet food and raw food be combined?

Yes, combining different types of food is not wrong in itself. It is important to distinguish between complete food and complementary food. Complete food is intended to cover the dog’s needs at the appropriate life stage, while complementary food is intended only to supplement the menu. When combining two complete foods suitable for the same life stage, it is generally easier to maintain a nutritional balance than in a situation where a significant portion of the calories come from bones, meat and other individual ingredients. If these terms need explanation, I have written about the difference with examples in the article “Complete food vs. complementary food: is all wet food complete food?”.

Why do I base my recommendations on the recommended daily allowances for complete feeds?

If I combine dry and wet food from the same manufacturer, both of which are complete foods suitable for my dog’s life stage, I base my calculations on the recommended daily allowance on the packaging of each food. The manufacturer’s feeding instructions are intended to help the owner choose the daily amount appropriate for their dog’s weight and needs. If kilocalories are not listed separately on the packaging, this allowance should still be used as a practical starting point.

The feeding recommendation is often a range, for example, 1400–1600 g of wet food per day for a 30-40 kg dog. Within this range, I choose an appropriate starting amount considering the dog’s activity, body condition and weight. I choose the daily allowance for dry food according to the same principle. If two complete foods from the same manufacturer are intended for a dog with similar needs, it is reasonable to assume that the full daily allowance chosen for each should cover approximately comparable daily energy needs.

If I want to give 75% dry food and 25% wet food, I will therefore take 75% of the recommended daily allowance for dry food and 25% of the recommended daily allowance for wet food. This does not mean that a gram of dry and wet food are equal in terms of energy value. I do calculate the amounts in grams, but the percentages apply to the full daily allowance of both complete foods themselves, not to equally weighed amounts of food.

This is a simple and practical starting point, not a promise that the daily allowance of different products contains the same amount of energy, down to the kilocalorie. If the dog’s weight or body condition changes, he has special needs, or I want to check the calorie distribution more precisely, I also compare the energy content of the feeds (kcal/100 g) and adjust the amounts. For individual raw materials, such as meat or bones, the logic of the complete feed manufacturer’s daily allowance cannot be automatically used.

I have gone through this more detailed version, where we first calculate the daily energy requirement and then the foods in kilocalories to grams, step by step in the article “Food quantities and how to calculate them?”.

10% or 20% additives?

The WSAVA’s standard practice is to keep treats and unbalanced supplements to around 10% of daily energy intake. Sometimes larger limits are used, but this does not mean that 20% of unbalanced supplements is automatically risk-free for every dog ​​and every life stage. In puppies, pregnant and sick dogs, the exact nutrient intake needs to be assessed. Special consideration should also be given to situations where the ratio of two complete foods changes.

Rotation and digestive adaptation

Optional food changes can provide a variety of flavors, textures, and ingredients. This does not in itself prove better health, but it is a practical way for many dogs to diversify their diet. If your dog tolerates the changes well, not every change may cause problems. For sensitive digestion, make the transition gradually, monitoring stool, appetite, and skin symptoms.

Safety and individual fit

Raw meat and bones require a separate hygiene and injury risk assessment. Not all dogs, especially very young, immunocompromised or chronically ill animals, are suitable for feeding at the same level of risk. In a dog on a special diet due to illness, even a small deviation can alter the effectiveness of the treatment.

FendaF practical example: dry food + wet food

Let’s take a 40 kg dog whose daily allowance for Winner Plus lamb-potato dry food is 435 g according to the package. If I want to use 75% of the allowance for this complete food, I get 435 × 0.75 = 326.25 g (rounded to 325 g). If the recommended daily allowance for another complete food, for example a suitable wet food, is 1600 g for the same dog, 25% of this is 400 g. My initial sample menu is therefore 325 g of dry food + 400 g of wet food. These are not equal parts of grams, but parts of the recommended daily allowance for two different complete foods.

For a dog with a lower energy requirement, I have also used the example of reducing the dry food norm by 20%: 435 × 0.8 × 0.75 = 261 g and 350 g of wet food, based on its norm of 1400 g. This is an example of adjusting the amounts, not a definite 20% reduction in the calories of the entire menu or a universal safe limit. Especially when losing weight, it is necessary to monitor the entire day’s energy, body condition and adequate intake of nutrients.

FendaF practical example: dry food + wet food + raw

If I choose a distribution of 50% dry food, 25% wet food and 25% raw food, 435 g of dry food gives half the daily allowance of 217.5 g (rounded to about 215–220 g) and 1600 g of wet food gives a quarter of the daily allowance of 400 g. For raw food, I have used a rule of thumb of 2.5% of the dog’s body weight: for a 40 kg dog, this would be 1000 g per day and a quarter of that would be 250 g. In the example with a smaller amount, I have calculated about 174–175 g of dry food, 350 g of wet food and 225 g of raw food.

But there is an important difference. If raw simply means meat, internal organs or meat and bones, then 2.5% of body weight is not the same as the daily allowance calculated based on calories and nutrients specified by the complete feed manufacturer. Therefore, 250 g of raw cannot automatically be called 25% of the daily energy, nor can such a combo be considered balanced in itself. If a balanced raw complete feed is used, the daily allowance and energy content of which are known, a similar logic based on the complete feed standards can be applied to it. In the case of individual raw materials, the amount of kcal as well as the intake of calcium, vitamins and microelements must be checked separately, if necessary.

The claim that raw bones and dry food should be separated by three hours due to “gastric juice competition” is not well-supported, although some integrative veterinarians recommend giving them separately. Additionally, bones may carry separate risks of choking, dental injury, intestinal blockage, and pathogens.

Why do I prefer combining?

Irene and I combine dry food, wet food and raw food because we like to offer our dogs variety and see what works for them individually. Conor Brady has compared eating foods with different levels of processing to eating tartare, sushi and processed food in humans. This example helps to explain why I don’t see a problem with combining dry food and wet food per se. However, this does not mean that raw food is always microbiologically safe or nutritionally balanced.

My experience with food rotation and individual animal tolerances is simply a practical perspective. Menu diversity can be valuable, but it is not a proven protection against nutritional deficiencies or allergies, as this is ultimately determined by the nutritional totality.

Sources used

FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines (2025) — https://www.fediaf.org/self-regulation/nutritional-guidelines/

WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines — https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/

WSAVA Selecting a Pet Food — https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf