Semi-moist diets

Semi-moist diets are not intended to provide a balanced diet on their own. They hold a small but significant place in the market, largely, in all probability, because they involve some degree of preparation before feeding.

It is still fairly minimal, involving the addition of carbohydrate supplements as a mixer, often some form of biscuit, to balance the nutritional quality of the food.

This is a psychologically important exercise for the owner, who likes to think that he or she is doing something for the dog, as previous generations did when they mixed a bowl of table scraps with some meat and gravy.

 The one thing to remember is that too much mixing of modern foods can result in nutritional problems. What too often happens is that the concerned owner adds, not just a carbohydrate mixer, but high-protein feed as well, resulting in a diet that is unbalanced, with too much protein.

There is usually no harm; animals, like man, can deal with an astonishing variety of diet, but too high levels of protein can occasionally exacerbate an existing metabolic problem. There is an old adage: "When all else fails, follow the instructions." It is worth bearing In mind when feeding your dog.

One feature of all modern compound dog foods is that they will contain adequate minor nutrients, which did not always happen in the meat and biscuit days. The outcome is that there is rarely any need for the proprietary feed supplements that are still widely advertised.

Calcium, for instance, may have been lacking in some traditional diets, and a bonemeal supplement often used to be recommended. Such a supplement may today do harm in certain circumstances, such as pregnancy in the bitch.