As compared to wet food, dry food is good for your furry friend as the crunchy texture of the dry food helps to clean the teeth and gums of the dog due to which its oral hygiene is improved.
Here, the discussion is on whether dry dog food can be microwaved or not. So, the answer is yes, you can microwave dry dog food but it is not recommended to do so because of the loss of nutrients. Lets understand this in detail:
1. Nutrients are at risk
When the dog food is microwaved, the nutrients in it get depleted. The enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, and minerals in it get impacted.
When the food is exposed to rapid or prolonged heat, enzymes in it get destroyed due to which it becomes difficult to be digested. This leads to more strain on the pancreas of the dog and thus, the digestion becomes slow.
2. It leads to oxidation and protein damage
When the dry dog food is microwaved, it gets heated up unevenly and the cooking process occurs at a fast rate. The carcinogen acrylamide is formed when meat is heated rapidly.
Also, when the dry dog food containing fats and oils is microwaved, oxidation of fats occurs due to which oils oxidize and become unstable.
It is also indicated that microwaving dog dry food causes rapid changes in the fat molecules and the fats become less digestible. This will be harmful to the long-term health of your pet.
Defrosting raw dog food in microwave
It is not advised to defrost raw dog food in the microwave as it kills essential nutrients in the food. Also, the raw frozen dog food mostly contains bones that are soft and chewy but when microwaved, these can become like rubber and the cooked bone can be sharp as well as dangerous to the dog.
Various methods by which raw dog food can be defrosted are given below:
- The best method to defrost raw dog food is to keep it in a leak-proof container and put it in the fridge overnight. With this, the food will be defrosted and there will be no contamination in the food.
- Put the raw dog food in a Ziplock bag and put it under the hot running water in your kitchen sink for 10 minutes. This will defrost it quickly.
How do you warm up dog food?
There are many ways in which you can warm up the dog food as given below:
1. Keep the food outside for some time so that it reaches room temperature
If this is done for a long time, bacteria can grow on the food making it uncomfortable for the dog. So, while bringing the food to room temperature, it should be ensured that it is not done for a long time.
2. Use warm water to warm up the dog dishes
Putting a hot towel around the dish in which food is served to the dog is a good method to warm the food. With this, the chill from the food can be removed.
3. Microwave the dog food
It will help to remove the chill from the food but at the same time, it will kill the nutrients as well. Also, if the food contains bone, then it can be hardened if microwaved.
Is heat bad for dry dog food?
No, heat is not bad for dry dog food as it is less prone to spoiling but it is not advised to heat the dry dog food. Below are some of the reasons:
- This is because the fat content in the dry food will oxidize when the temperature of the food rises. It leads to the deterioration of the fat content and the nutritional value of the food.
- When the dry dog food is exposed to heat, it will shrink and dry up further. The hydration which the dog receives from the food is lost too.
- Heating the dry dog food will cause a chemical change in the food and so there will be a change in the taste as well.
Due to all these reasons, your dog may not eat the dry food that has been heated up.
Below are some of the signs which indicate that the dry dog food has gone bad:
- Mold formation on the food.
- Change in odor, it becomes rancid.
- Presence of bugs
- The expiration date has crossed.
- Became more dried due to heat exposure.
- Refused to be eaten by the dog.
Is it OK to leave dog food out all day?
Yes, it is ok to leave dog food out all day and this practice is known as “free-feeding”. When the food is left out all day, dogs can graze freely on the readily available food.
Therefore, the dog will have access to its food bowl all through the day and can eat whenever the dog wants to.
In the initial days, it can be a feast for the dog but with time, it can become boring for the dog.
There are advantages and disadvantages to keeping dog food out all day.
Advantages –
- Convenience for the owners.
- Keeps the dog lean – As the food is readily available, the dog does not get attracted to the food and doesn’t overeat.
- Prevents digestion problems in dogs – Dog does not eat quickly as the food is always available and thus, digestive problems do not arise in them.
- Good for dogs who need tranquility – Some dogs can eat only when they feel safe and comfortable. Leaving the food for the whole day will help the dog to eat it at its own time and pace.
Disadvantages –
- There can be an attack of insects and rodents on the dog food.
- The food may not seem to be fresh to the dog.
- This may interrupt the potty training of the dog and there can be no fixed time for it.
Can cold food make dogs sick?
No, cold food can not make dogs sick but it is always good to feed the dog that is served at room temperature. When the cold food is left out for about an hour, it becomes a little warm and it becomes more pleasant for the dog to eat it.
It is also found that the food served at room temperature is tasted and smelled by the dog properly.
Even microwaving very cold food is an option but the owner must avoid serving the food to the dog that is either too cold or too hot.
Conclusion
Based on the discussion done above, it is found that dry dog food can be microwaved but this can lead to a decrease in the nutritional value of the food. Also, the owner must be cautious in serving food that is too hot. If the dry food contains bones, it can become hard on microwaving.
Thus, it is you who have to decide whether to microwave dry dog food or not. Mostly, if your dog is comfortable in eating microwaved dry food, you are good to go.
We have mentioned much information on this and now it’s time for you to have quality time with your beloved furry friend.