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Is a dry food and organ diet sufficient for my adult dog's health?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 2 years and 8 months old | 62 lbs

My dog Frankie is a bull arab and is nearly 3. We are a little stuck with nutrition and wanted to advice please. At the moment we are giving her a cup of dry food (grain free) and a can of wet food (not grain free). Recently I've been wanting to change out the wet food because it's just one from the supermarket that I don't believe is very good for her. She also eats organs and bones. Could I change it for dry food and an organ everyday? I don't know if this is sufficient or good for her? Thanks

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By C. Rathjens, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 18th, 2019

You have a lot of flexibility since she's a young/middle age adult, and I'm assuming she's healthy. Basically any food made by a reputable company is going to be fine for her. There has been more and more evidence coming out recently that grain-free diets aren't healthy for dogs (linked to a particular type of heart failure called Dilated Cardiomyopathy) and raw food also presents risk of salmonella and e.coli to both the dog and family around the dog, so I'd generally recommend staying away from both of those options. The brands I like are Hills, Purina, and Royal Canin because they have veterinary nutritionists on staff, have good quality control, and generally make solid products. I hope that helps a bit!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on September 23rd, 2018
I wouldn't worry about blood sugar is not eating, that's only a concern if she is diabetic. I would not add yogurt and cottage cheese to her food, it's extra calories she doesn't need and dairy causes GI upset in dogs. I would also strongly urge you to switch her to a diet with grains in it. Vets are see a rise in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who are fed grain free diets. It is believed there is something in the grain free diet that is causing more dogs to develop DCM, and the FDA is now investigating that link. Grain free diets are a fad, and now it looks like it's a dangerous fad. I'd consider feeding her a food such as Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, and Iams. I hope this helps!

https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/newsevents/cvmupdates/ucm613305.htm
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on December 8th, 2019
Pepper may like the taste of grass, but it may be she has intestinal worms. Make sure she is dewormed. Having intestinal worms would make her hungry a lot too. Please do not feed her a grain free food. Grain free is a very dangerous fad. Vets are seeing an increase in dogs developing dilated cardiomyopathy who are fed grain free diets. The FDA is investigating that link and has named Merrick as a brand linked to it. Please put her on a puppy food that contains grains. Brands I recommend include Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Iams.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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