My dog often turns his nose to wet food that had been sitting in the fridge and is served to it immediately.
However, if the same food is left at room temperature for a few hours to return to average temperature, he enjoys it.
Instead of waiting hours for the food to return to the appropriate temperature, I often opt to microwave the meal, and within a few seconds, it is at the right temperature for my dog to enjoy.
But can you microwave dog food?
Yes, you can microwave dog food, especially wet food. Remove the dog food from the fridge or freezer. Transfer it to a microwavable plate—microwave on high power for 10 to 15 seconds. Remove the plate from the microwave and use your finger to taste the internal temperature to see if it’s right. Suppose the food is at room temperature; wash your hands and feed your pet.
It is always appropriate to microwave your dog’s food to a temperature equal to room temperature. Most dog foods are supposed to be eaten raw, and heating them for too long alters their texture, taste, and nutritional value. Too much heat could also burn your dog’s mouth and throat tissues.
This article explains the possibility of microwaving dog food; among the discussed topics are Benefits of Microwaving Dog Food, How to Microwave Cold Food for Your Dog, What is The Appropriate Temperature of a Dogs Food, and Does Microwaving Dog Food Interfere with the Food’s Composition. The article ends with answers to frequently asked questions.
Benefits of Microwaving Dog Food
Several benefits come with microwaving your dog’s food. Some benefits include making the food more enticing, enhancing the aroma and taste, killing harmful bacteria from the food, softening the food for your dog, and much more.
Microwaving gives the dog food the appropriate temperature
If your dog is picky like mine, wet and cold food is always a no. It will not even dare, but warming it in the microwave to give it an appropriate temperature will give your dog a reason to try out the food and even find it more delicious.
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Microwaved food is enticing to the dog
Who doesn’t like warm food? If you don’t like cod food, how do you expect your dog to enjoy it? Microwaved food is more enticing since the heat tends to enhance the food’s taste and aroma. Your dog may enjoy it even more.
Certain studies have proven that dogs often lose their appetite because of constantly being fed cold food. Warming their food gives them a chance to experience something new that will maintain their appetite.
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Microwaving food kills harmful germs
Cold and wet food create a perfect breeding environment for certain germs and bacteria. The bacteria can be pretty harmful to your dog if they eat the food without warming it up. Microwaving the food will kill the germs and bacteria
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Microwaving makes the food soft
The heat from the microwave is essential in softening certain foods for your pet. Certain vegetables become softer for your pet to chew on when microwaved.
How to Microwave Cold Food for Your Dog
Remove the food from the fridge, place the food on a microwavable plate, and microwave for a few seconds.
When intending to microwave some food for your dog, ensure you know the type of food you want to microwave and whether it is just cold or frozen. Below is a simple step-to-step procedure that I use to microwave my dog’s food.
Requirement
- The dog food
- A microwavable plate
Procedure
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Remove the dog food from the ridge or freezer
As you remove the food from the freezer, ensure to only scoop enough for one serving. Microwaving the entire food at once may affect the texture and taste of the food after a while. Also, it may take longer than expected.
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Transfer the food to a microwavable plate
In the same way, you are careful about the type of plate you should place in the microwave when cooking your food; it should be the same way you should be when microwaving your dog’s food. Place the food on a microwavable plate; that way, the plate will not cause any health danger to your dog.
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Microwave the food
Place the food in the microwave, and on high power, microwave the food for 10 to 15 seconds. However, this is only the estimated time when the food is only cold. It may take longer to microwave dog food that has been frozen.
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Test the warmth of the food
You may use your finger to test how warm the food is. Dip your finger into the food to ensure it is still not too cold for the pet or it is too hot for it to eat. The appropriate temperature for your dog’s food is room temperature. Food warmer than room temperature will burn your dog’s tongue and throat. It may also cause bowel bloating issues for your pet.
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Serve your dog
After confirming that your dog’s food is at the appropriate temperature, transfer it to the dog’s plate and ensure you thoroughly wash your hands and the microwavable plate.
What is The Appropriate Temperature for a Dogs Food
The appropriate temperature for your dog food should always be room temperature. Which is 68 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remember, the main reason you should microwave your food is that the food has been stored in the fridge or freezer. Suppose you choose to microwave the food; ensure to microwave for a few seconds so that it can only warm to room temperature.
Most dogs are already used to leaving off raw-canned foods. Warming only enhances the aroma and taste of the food to capture the interest of your pet. Suppose you want to give your dog home cooked meal; ensure the food stays in a cool place until the temperature of the food is back to room temperature before serving it to your dog. Food that is too hot will irritate or burn the delicate mouth tissues of your dog.
Does Microwaving Dog Food Interfere with the Food’s Composition
Some studies have proven certain raw foods may change their composition when exposed to microwave heat for too long. Microwaving raw foods like vegetables will alter their vitamins and fat content. It would help if you only microwaved a dog’s meal to ensure the food reaches room temperature.
With extreme heat from the microwave, the fat content in the food is oxidized into toxic entities, which alters the cellular structure of fat globules, causing steatorrhea due to indigestion. After a while, the food is no longer tasteful and pleasant to the pet.
Therefore, it is advisable to only microwave pet food to room temperature. And also, only focus on wet food. It is better to let the vegetables sit at room temperature until they are back to average temperature before serving your dog.
Reasons You Should Only Microwave Dog Food to Room Temperature
As we have observed earlier, dog food should only be microwaved for a few seconds so that it does not warm up beyond room temperature. When the food is way hotter than the temperature in the room, certain things like burning your dog’s skin, reducing the food’s nutritional value, and bowel issues for your dog might occur.
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The food may cause burns
After you have over microwaved your dog’s meal, there is a possibility of forming hot spots in the food. The hot pots might cause severe burns to your pet’s delicate mouth and throat tissues. Therefore, you may stir the food to ensure the heat is evenly distributed to avoid injuries formed by hot spots.
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The heat may reduce the nutritional value of the dog food
Studies have proven that certain dog foods lose their texture, taste, and nutritional value when exposed to extreme microwave heat. Foods like vegetables and food grains should only be warm at room temperature. Microwaving them for too long will alter their vitamins and fat content.
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Microwaving particular dog food causes bowel issues
When you microwave particular dog food for a long time, especially vegetables and grains, you alter their fat components, which turn into harmful substances that cause indigestion and bloating for your dog.
Alternatives to Microwaving Dog Food
Suppose you are having issues timing your dog’s food in the microwave; you may consider other options for warming your dog’s food. Such options include pouring a certain amount of hot water into the dog’s food. The hot water will warm up the food to the appropriate room temperature; however, ensure that you do not add too much water to change the taste of the food.
Suppose the dog’s food has been stored in the freezer; take the frozen pack or container and immerse it in hot water for a few minutes. You can also leave it at room temperature for a few hours if you are not in a hurry.
Finally, you could also use a warm metallic dish, place the food in the container and let it stay for a few minutes before serving your dog.
FAQS
1. Is it okay to warm up dog food?
Yes, it is okay to warm dog food. However, it is only good if you warm it to the appropriate room temperature. Warming your dog’s food will increase its flavour and aroma.
At the same time, too much heat on the dog food may cause bowel or bloating issues, burning of the mouth and throat tissues of the dog, or may alter the nutritional value of the dog’s food.
2. How do you warm up dog food?
There are several ways to warm dog food. They include microwaving for a few seconds, pouring a certain amount of hot water into the dog’s food, taking the frozen pack or container and immersing it in hot water for a few minutes, leave it at room temperature for a few hours if you are not in a hurry and warming a metallic dish, placing the food in the container and letting it stay for a few minutes before serving your dog.
3. Can you microwave raw dog meat?
Raw dog meat should be eaten raw; however, if the meat is freezing due to being stored in the fridge or frozen, you may consider microwaving it to room temperature or thawing it in the microwave.
Warming and thawing should not cook the meat above room temperature, as dogs should be allowed to eat raw meat.
4. Can I microwave chicken for my dog?
Yes, you can microwave chicken for your dog. However, home-cooked chicken stored in the freezer must be microwaved to an internal temperature of 165 F to eliminate any foodborne Bacteria in the meat. Allow the chicken to cool to room temperature before you finally decide to feed it to your dog.
Conclusion
It is acceptable to microwave dog food; however, it should only be microwaved to room temperature of 68 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Too much heat will not only interfere with the nutritional value of the dog food, but it will also alter its taste and texture and alter the fat content in the food oxidizing it into toxic entities that may cause indigestion.
