Semi-Moist Dog Food: Pros, Cons, and Best Brands

The semi-moist dog food type is likely a term you haven’t heard before, but it’s a pet food variety you would recognize by sight.

We’re going to look at everything you need to know about this pricier dog food variety and if you ever need it.

Most veterinarians advise against semi-moist dog food. Sometimes referred to as semi-dried dog food, veterinarians will generally recommend any other pet food consistency instead.

Semi-moist/semi-dried pet food brands are also some of the least popular among pet owners.

Generally, if you have been contemplating semi-moist dog food for your pet but are unsure whether it’s the right choice, talk to your vet first.

Different types of dog foods aren't only about nutrition.

For example, dogs with digestive issues, dental problems, and missing teeth may be unable to chew dry kibble.

Likewise, semi-moist pet food and canned/wet dog food products may not be a good option for all dogs.

Quick Glance At The Best Semi-Moist Dog Food We've Chosen

Refresher on the Different Types of Dog Food

Before we look at what is semi-moist dog food, here’s a quick refresher on the different types of dog foods you might be a little more familiar with.

1. Kibble/Dry Dog Food

Kibble is the most commonly fed dog food. While the ingredients of dry food vary, all kibble varieties have a moisture content of around 10%.

This low moisture content creates the crunchy “rock-like” texture of kibble.

2. Wet Dog Food (Canned)

Wet food is frequently fed to older dogs and dogs with dental health problems.

Wet foods are almost always sold in a can or single-serving portion pack and have a moisture content of around 75%.

Wet food is more expensive than kibble but less expensive than semi-moist food.

3. Raw Dog Food

Raw food is gaining popularity with dog owners for its nutritional quality as well as the frequent recalls among other commercially produced foods.

Raw food diets vary considerably but consist of various meat, bone, organ, supplement, grain, and vegetable combinations.

Feeding raw can be quite expensive, depending on where meat is being sourced.

I have experience feeding raw, and the health benefits I noticed in my older dogs were amazing.

That said, if your dog has any type of fecal incontinence or if you are not extremely thorough in cleaning the house, this isn’t the best feeding option for you.

4. Dehydrated Dog Food

Dehydrated food is another popular alternative to larger commercially produced dog foods.

Dehydrated food maintains the nutrition found in whole food products but has 90-95% of moisture removed for lighter packaging and reduced bulk.

Dehydrated dog food is rehydrated prior to feeding.

This is an expensive food choice, particularly if you have a larger dog, but it has a convenience not found with other feeding options.

5. Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Freeze-dried food is often confused with dehydrated food, but although similar in appearance, freeze-dried food contains less moisture.

The average moisture content of freeze-dried meal options is 2-3%, with 98-99% of moisture removed.

Some dog food manufacturers combine freeze-dried pieces with dry food for mixed food.

Not all freeze-dried food options require rehydrating before feeding, but some do.

Freeze-dried dog food is one of the most expensive feeding options there is, but again, it provides convenience and increased nutritional value.

I have fed my own dog freeze-dried food in the past, and I have to say that it is one of my favorite feeding options.

If you have the budget but don’t want to tackle raw feeding, this option is worthwhile.

6. Home-Cooked Food

Home-cooked food is a diet that is comprised of human whole foods that are safe and nutritionally balanced for dogs.

The moisture content of home-cooked foods varies based on the ingredients used in the meal.

Some companies make and sell “home-cooked” foods (these are exceptionally expensive), but it is also possible to learn how to make balanced home-cooked meals yourself.

Home-cooked food is something I have done myself.

During the massive pet food recalls many years ago, I decided to start making my dog’s meals.

While it was a good short-term solution, I soon found it expensive, and I lacked the knowledge to make well-rounded meals with all the necessary nutrients.

Pros and Cons of Semi-Moist Dog Food

Here's how semi-moist dog food fits into the mix with other foods (Goddard KM, et al.)

PROS	CONS
Highly palatable	Artificial colors, preservatives, flavor enhancers
Easy and convenient to serve	Higher in sodium and sugars
Very high in energy	Extremely expensive

Depending on the brand, semi-moist dog food will have a moisture content of between 20% and 40% by weight.

Most varieties of semi-moist food for dogs look more like dog treats than pet food.

This type of food is more expensive per energy calorie than either dry or wet dog food brands.

Semi-moist dog food offers a couple of benefits over other products.

Several studies (this and this) observed that dogs and cats always prefer semi-moist pet food over any other choice.

Thus, it's a good option for dogs that are picky eaters because it’s more appealing in flavor and texture.

Semi-moist dog food is also convenient for feeding since it is usually served in sealed packages that prevent the food from drying out.

It's not without its drawbacks, however. Unfortunately, most semi-moist dog food brands will have a higher sugar content than dry or moist dog foods.

While this makes the food more appealing to picky eaters, it also makes it worse for their dental health and dogs prone to obesity.

Semi-moist dog food also has higher salt content, which makes the food more flavorful to a dog but is detrimental to dogs with certain health concerns like heart disease.

Unlike kibble, semi-moist dog foods do not provide the scraping and crunching benefits for a dog’s teeth.

In theory, this may result in increased tartar buildup, which means more cavities and doggy breath (but the juries are still out on this one).

Semi-moist dog food often includes more artificial ingredients and flavorings, which isn't something any pet owner would like to feed their canines.

Semi-Moist Dog Food vs. Other Dog Food Types

Each dog food variety has its drawbacks and benefits, and as noted above, semi-moist dog food has its own pros and cons.

However, it's important to put the types of dog food side by side and see how they compare to each other.

Here's a direct comparison of semi-moist dog foods vs other pet food varieties.

1. Semi Moist Dog Food vs. Kibble/Dry Dog Food

Semi-moist pet food is more appealing taste-wise than dry dog food, but it offers fewer healthier or all-natural options, so it tends to be an unhealthier choice overall.

That said, a decent-quality semi-moist food brand is a healthier option than a low-grade budget kibble option regarding the nutrients it delivers.

Convenience and palatability aside, of these two dog food types, if comparing the highest quality brands, natural kibble will always be a healthier choice than semi-moist food for any dog.

Kibble provides dental benefits as well as better nutritional benefits.

It also doesn't contain as many ingredients as most of us would like to avoid.

2. Semi-Moist Dog Food vs. Wet Dog Food (Canned)

Wet pet food is almost always preferred over semi-moist pet food when it comes to taste.

Although it’s visually similar to treats, some dogs initially prefer the semi-moist food choice.

Both of these pet foods are poor choices for dogs prone to dental decay but good options for dogs with a suppressed appetite.

When comparing the visual appearance of both of these dog foods, a wet dog food brand will look like one solid can-shaped chunk of meat, or it will look like small pieces of meat in a gravy-like sauce.

Comparatively, a semi-moist pet food has a more solid appearance and no gravy-like sauce; it can better be described as a soft dog food.

Nutritionally, semi-moist, and wet food is similar and depend upon the quality of the individual pet food brand and variety.

In most cases, semi-moist foods will still have more salt and/or sugar in them than canned dog food.

3. Semi Moist Dog Food vs. Raw Dog Food

Comparing raw pet food to semi-moist pet food is like comparing a steak dinner to McDonald's.

When prepared correctly (to avoid bacterial contamination), raw food offers higher quality nutrition, health benefits not seen in commercial foods (due to bone and collagen), and no filler or artificial ingredients.

There are many myths surrounding raw feeding, but many are untrue.

Raw food is always going to be a better feeding choice unless health conditions (such as a compromised immune system due to chemotherapy) prohibit raw feeding.

Raw food does come with a high risk of cross-contamination, which is its main problem and the number one concern that critics – scientists and veterinarians – have raised about it.

Raw dog food should always be prepared in a clean, sanitary kitchen that is fully sanitized after serving your dog.

It is also mandatory to thoroughly clean your dog’s bowls following a meal.

4. Semi Moist Dog Food vs. Dehydrated Dog Food

Semi-moist pet food contains lower-quality nutrition than dehydrated pet food due to the difference in the cooking process and cooking times.

Semi-moist dog food has a much shorter shelf life than dehydrated food and is much bulkier to transport or travel.

Most dehydrated foods appear as a powder with small chunks in the food.

Once rehydrated, dehydrated dog food has an oatmeal-like consistency, or it may appear like an “add water and serve” stuffing mixture.

However, dehydrated food comes at a higher price and carries the same dental challenges as wet and semi-moist foods.

Given the option of feeding semi-moist and dehydrated dog food, dehydrated food is always the better nutritionally (and more pricey) option.

5. Semi Moist Dog Food vs. Freeze-dried Dog Food

Freeze-dried and dehydrated dog foods are similar in their benefits and tend to differ only in their moisture content and texture.

Freeze-dried dog food almost always has the appearance of dried-up food. It is lightweight and crisp to the touch.

Once rehydrated, this pet food looks more like a stew with chunks of food in it.

As with dehydrated food, freeze-dried dog foods are almost always a better nutritional choice but are more expensive.

6. Semi-Moist Dog Food vs. Homemade Dog Food

Home-cooked dog food is becoming an increasingly popular feeding option, particularly for dogs with specific health conditions like kidney failure.

Home cooking involves the selection of dog-safe human foods and cooking and balancing those foods to create nutritionally sound meals.

Like raw feeding, homemade dog food provides better nutrition (when quality food is purchased, meals are well-balanced and adequately prepared), but this approach can be costly and requires a lot of time.

Additionally, home cooking requires knowledge of safe and unsafe foods for dogs, a dog's nutritional requirements, and how to balance meals with vitamins, supplements, and whole food sources to prevent malnutrition.

Compared to semi-moist dog food, however, home-cooked pet food is by far the better option for overall health but far less convenient.

Best Semi Moist Dog Food Brands

Now you know what semi-moist dog food is, but what options are available?

There are multiple semi-moist dog food brands but nowhere near as many as dry kibble or wet food options.

They are also much less popular among pet owners, which is clearly visible due to the lack of dog food reviews for this type.

Below are some of the best semi-moist dog food brands you can try with your dog, especially if he's a picky eater.

We do not advocate feeding any of these semi-moist food options over another.

Every dog’s diet should be built upon their nutritional needs and health concerns.

Remember: veterinarians do NOT usually recommend semi-moist dog foods and will choose most of the other types mentioned above beforehand.

Keep in mind that many semi-moist dog food options are produced by pet food manufacturers with a history of poor quality food and many pet food recalls.

There are a few exceptions to the rule, but if you are worried about contamination of your dog’s food, it’s preferable to switch him to a wet, raw, or home-cooked diet instead.

Is Semi-Moist Dog Food Right for You?

Now that you know what semi-moist dog food is and know its benefits and side effects, you may wish to decide if this is an appropriate diet for your pet.

With all of the above considered, here is a quick guide that you can follow to help you decide:

	Maybe	No
Your dog is genetically prone to poor dental health		√
Your dog is a picky eater	√
Your dog has a suppressed appetite from medication or a health condition	√
Your dog has heart disease or another health condition that can be exacerbated by increased salt intake		√
Your dog is already overweight		√
Your dog is a picky eater and needs to gain a little weight	√
You are concerned about the nutritional value of your dog’s food		√
You want food with a longer shelf life		√
You are on a tight budget		√
You are on a tight budget BUT have a picky eater	√
You are worried about the contamination of commercial foods		√
Your dog doesn’t consume enough water during the day	√
Your dog has trouble feeling sated after eating dry dog food	√
Your dog has higher protein requirements	√ (some semi-moist dog foods contain more protein than dry foods.)	You can also feed another variety of high-protein dog food like kibble.

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With everything mentioned above and using this table, you should be able to decide whether semi-moist dog foods are the right choice for your pet.

Remember to discuss this with a veterinarian, too, although it's unlikely he or she will be supportive of the choice.

READ NEXT: 4 Different Types of Dog Food and Which One Your Dog Needs

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