WET FOODS: These are foods with a high moisture content. They are usually cooked at high temperatures to sterilize them and are then sealed under pressure (although not always). These include cans, foil trays, and pouches and the contents include chunks in gravy, chunks in jelly and meatloaf formats. Frozen or chilled pet foods in bags are also available.

DRY FOODS: These are foods that have low moisture content. They include extruded foods (shaped pellets or kibbles), flake foods (flaked cereals) and biscuits/mixers. These are often packed in bags, but biscuits which are to be offered as treats may be packed in smaller boxes. Dry foods still contain meat – which may be added in a fresh or dried state. Dry food may be offered dry, or owners may wish to add water or gravy to the food, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.

RAW FOODS: There is a range of commercially produced raw products available in frozen or freeze-dried formats. Raw pet food products can be complete or complementary. For more information on raw food and a list of manufacturers, please see our fact sheet linked below.