Mixer dog food
A dog food mixer is a dry biscuit-style food meant to be combined with wet or raw food, not fed on its own as a complete diet. It's a format aimed at owners feeding wet or raw who want to add bulk, texture and a bit of crunch to the bowl, rather than a separate category of complete food.
What a mixer actually does
Mixer biscuits are typically lower in protein and fat than a complete dry kibble, because they're designed to supplement a meal that's already providing most of the nutrition, usually a wet, raw or tripe-based food. Mixed through, they soak up some of the moisture and add a firmer texture that some dogs seem to enjoy more than wet food alone.
It's worth being clear that a mixer is not automatically a complete food in its own right — check the pack for whether it's marketed as complementary or complete, since feeding a complementary mixer without the wet or raw portion it's meant to accompany can leave a real gap in a dog's diet over time.
How much to use, and getting the balance right
There's no single correct ratio of mixer to wet or raw food — it depends on the specific products involved and your dog's size, activity level and appetite, so it's worth following the guidance on the pack for the combination you're using rather than guessing. Start with a smaller amount of mixer than you think you need and adjust from there.
Watch your dog's weight and stool quality over the first couple of weeks of any new mixer, the same as you would when introducing any new food. If you're unsure whether the overall diet is properly balanced for your dog, particularly a puppy or a dog with a health condition, that's worth checking with your vet rather than working it out by trial and error.
Mixer vs a straight complete food
The practical difference between feeding a mixer alongside wet food and feeding a complete dry kibble on its own comes down to texture, cost and storage rather than one being nutritionally superior. Wet-plus-mixer costs more than dry alone in most cases, and takes more prep at each meal, but some dogs eat far more readily this way.
It's really a household preference question once the diet as a whole is balanced properly — some owners simply prefer the routine of mixing a bowl, and some dogs are genuinely fussier eaters who do better with the combination than with dry food alone.
This format, in stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Laughing Dog Adult Oven Baked Traditional Mixer Meal
A wholegrain mixer meal to add to fresh, canned or frozen meat, not a complete food alone
From£8.69
Pedigree Small Bite Mixer Original
Small-bite Pedigree Mixer for combining with wet food in measured portions
£6.94
Laughing Dog Wonderfully Wheat Free Baked Mixer Meal
A wheat-free oven-baked mixer meal, for combining with fresh, canned or frozen meat
From£9.75
Natures Menu Country Hunter Superfood Mighty Mixer Rolled Oats with Fruit & Veg
Complementary 1.2KG rolled-oat mixer with beef liver, fruit and vegetables
£12.44
Natures Menu Mighty Mixer with Salmon & Potato
Complementary 2KG salmon and potato mixer for combining with raw meat
£11.99
Natures Menu Mighty Mixer with Turkey & Oats
A turkey and oat biscuit mixer, to complement a raw meat-based diet
£11.99
Burns Adult/Senior Dog Hypoallergenic Mixer
Hypoallergenic dry mixer for combining with wet food or a home-cooked diet - not a complete food
£13.49
Laughing Dog Puppy Meal
A 10kg baked wheatmeal mixer meal for puppies and small dogs, fed with wet food
£34.95
Alpha Sensitive Salmon & Rice
A salmon and rice dry food for adult dogs with sensitive digestions, made without wheat gluten, soya or dairy.
£49.00
Alpha Working Dog Maintenance Chicken
An energy-controlled chicken dry food for working dogs with lower energy needs or a tendency to put on weight.
£29.00
Common questions
- Can I feed mixer dog food on its own?
- Only if the pack specifically states it's a complete food — most mixers are labelled complementary, meaning they're designed to be combined with wet or raw food rather than fed alone. Check the label before relying on a mixer as your dog's only food.
- How much mixer should I add to wet food?
- There's no universal ratio — it depends on the specific mixer and wet food you're using, plus your dog's size and appetite, so follow the guidance on the pack and adjust gradually. Start with less than you think and watch how your dog does before increasing it.
- Is mixer dog food good for puppies?
- Only if it's a puppy-appropriate mixer used alongside a suitable puppy wet or raw food, since a growing puppy has different nutritional needs to an adult dog. Check the pack for a puppy recommendation, or ask your vet if you're combining foods for a puppy for the first time.
- Why does my dog's stool change when I switch to a mixer?
- Any change in diet, including adding a mixer for the first time, can cause a temporary change in stool consistency while your dog's digestion adjusts. Introduce it gradually over several days, and speak to your vet if the change doesn't settle or your dog seems unwell.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.