Can You Warm Up Dog Food? Vet Approved Facts & Tips
In this article
View 2 More +Nobody likes cold, refrigerated food unless it’s meant to be cold. Like us, our dogs can be sensitive to chilled or cold food. Even if you think your dog’s can of dog food is room temperature, chances are it could still be cold due to where it was stored. If you’ve noticed your dog not eating as much food on colder days, the problem might be that your dog is sensitive to the cold.
Dog food companies recommend serving canned food at room temperature, but sometimes, it needs extra help to reach that point.
Can you Heat Up Wet Dog Food?
You can, and sometimes should, heat up your dog’s canned or wet food. According to Purina, serving food at room temperature makes it smell and taste better. If you store your wet food in the fridge, they suggest removing it up to an hour before feeding or microwaving it to bring it to room temperature. They emphasize that pet owners need to ensure that they do not overheat their dog’s food since they could risk burning their dog’s mouth.
Warming up your dog’s food is generally a good idea. In fact, we recommend heating your dog’s food if you have a picky eater, a sick dog, or a furry friend in their senior years.
Why You Should Heat Up Your Dog’s Food
While companies say to serve your dog’s food at room temperature, there are a few benefits to heating your dog’s wet food. Typically, warming up dog food increases the scent and the overall flavor of the food.
Here are a few cases where you should consider heating your dog’s food before serving it to them:
Feeding time issues may be resolved if you only slightly heat your dog’s food. However, you still need to be careful not to overheat it.
How To Warm Up Your Dog’s Food
Most experts agree that warming your dog’s food in the microwave is not the best method. Some even say that using a microwave to heat your dog’s food can destroy essential nutrients. So, while heating up in the microwave is the easiest option, it's recommended to use warm water, a double boiler, or leave the can on the surface of a container you are heating instead. The best method is to warm the food by using hot or boiling water. You don’t actually boil the dog food; you place the dog food in a safe container and immerse the whole container in boiling water. It should be warm enough for your dog if you boil it for 2 minutes. You should test the food temperature on your skin. If it is too hot for you to touch, it is too hot for you to serve to your dog.
Final Thoughts
If you struggle with your dog during mealtime, heating their meals might solve your problems. Serving warm dog food has multiple benefits. If you wonder if heating the food will make a difference for your dog, you can always check with your veterinarian for their input.
Sources
Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock
Expert dog care, straight to your inbox
News, insights, expert advice, and everything dog.
No spam — unsubscribe anytime.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.
How useful was this post?
Click a star to rate. You can leave written feedback afterwards. (We read all feedback.)
Samantha has been a freelance writer since 2014. She has worked on literary magazines and newspapers as an editor and as a writer, but writing is her passion. Samantha wrote full time while in school, and she continues her passion for writing while working as a full-time educator. She currently teaches Middle School English Language Arts and always encourages writing activities in her classrooms. If she is not writing – or grading, you can often find her reading or binge watching another Netflix series and spending time with her cat, Raven.
