Kibble vs Canned???

[teacup0819]

Trixie has been eating kibble since bringing her home over a year ago...but the past few months, she seems to have gotten bored/picky about her food. We gradually switched her from RC Yorkshire Terrier to Wellness Super5 Small Breed to TOTW now. In the beginning...she loved the new food....now...not so much so. She has even begun to ignore her kibble and beg at our dinner table

What do you think about my trying canned food for Trixie? I leave her TOTW kibble out all day so she can eat, but do you think I should try some canned food at night??

Which do you prefer...kibble or canned and why??

[Ellie May]

Does she ever get anything from the table?

Adding in canned is fine, but be prepared for more pickiness if you do that.

I like canned for the less processed and moisture qualities, but kibble for ease. Also, dogs that are fed strictly one type of kibble may not know what they are missing so pickiness can sometimes be less of an issue.

I feed whatever works at the time.

[Britster]

I've always used both. It's all just a personal preference really.

Jackson's always been picky. If I left food out, he'd let it sit for days.

So he gets kibble mixed with canned for breakfast and dinner. However I do leave dry food out if he gets the munchies and decides he's hungry. He's good at self-regulating and he rarely goes and munches on kibble, so when he does, I know he's truly hungry so I like to leave it out for him.

But yeah, I like to know he's had proper meals throughout the day. So he gets 1/4 cup of TOTW kibble in the AM mixed with a tablespoon of wet and then the same thing again in the evening.

I also like the added moisture and meat content that canned food often adds. Sometimes I feel like he doesn't have enough water so *shrugs* I don't know... maybe I worry too much, LOL. But also I don't mind adding the yummy flavor to it, it's nice to see him truly enjoy his meals!

[Princes mom]

I have only fed dry kibble...it's better for their teeth.

[ArmaniMan]

I feed mostly kibble although I add canned sometimes- I honestly prefer kibble because it is easier- but I like to let them have variety sometimes which is why I add the canned.

But if you don't mind the work- canned is just as healthy (possibly healthier) then kibble. Kibble has no benefits for the teeth- chewing in general is good for a dogs jaw I suppose but that can be achieved with toys or treats more easily then with kibble anyway.

[teacup0819]

She was eating RC for over a year and then decided she had had enough and was throwing it all over the place and basically only eating it when she was super hungry.

She does get dogswell chicken breast snacks (more often if my dh and ds are home) Could that have turned her off her kibble...she does prefer her snacks to her food

Did she ever get table food.....ummmm....yep. She always beg at the table so we figured she was given chicken as a little pup. We had her pretty well trained not to beg, but Christmas came and so did my father at the dinner table...needless to say.....little bits were dropped her way. No point in telling me it's not good for her...I know...but my dad is 80 and doesn't listen to anyone anymore (well he never really did before he was 80 either lol)

[Princes mom]

Originally Posted by teacup0819

She was eating RC for over a year and then decided she had had enough and was throwing it all over the place and basically only eating it when she was super hungry.

She does get dogswell chicken breast snacks (more often if my dh and ds are home) Could that have turned her off her kibble...she does prefer her snacks to her food

Did she ever get table food.....ummmm....yep. She always beg at the table so we figured she was given chicken as a little pup. We had her pretty well trained not to beg, but Christmas came and so did my father at the dinner table...needless to say.....little bits were dropped her way. No point in telling me it's not good for her...I know...but my dad is 80 and doesn't listen to anyone anymore (well he never really did before he was 80 either lol)

FYI...they are made in China.

[Ellie May]

Could have. Any treat can. Not that treats are bad, but if they get picky, sometimes treats need to go bye bye for awhile. Canned isn't going to hurt, but you shouldn't have to give it.

Best to put pups in their crates when sitting down to dinner if company is over. Chicken may not be so bad, but what if it's something more fattening or fried.. Then you may end up at the ER.

[teacup0819]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

FYI...they are made in China.

I thought only the toys made in China were bad.....snacks too??? If so, do you know of any dehydrated chicken strips that are not made in china?? I give her these instead of a bone.

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Could have. Any treat can. Not that treats are bad, but if they get picky, sometimes treats need to go bye bye for awhile. Canned isn't going to hurt, but you shouldn't have to give it.

Best to put pups in their crates when sitting down to dinner if company is over. Chicken may not be so bad, but what if it's something more fattening or fried.. Then you may end up at the ER.

Believe me....I hear ya on the fattening/fried foods....luckily my dad only gives her bits of turkey or chicken since that it mostly what he eats.

I think the crate might be the best idea!!

[Princes mom]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

I feed mostly kibble although I add canned sometimes- I honestly prefer kibble because it is easier- but I like to let them have variety sometimes which is why I add the canned.

But if you don't mind the work- canned is just as healthy (possibly healthier) then kibble. Kibble has no benefits for the teeth- chewing in general is good for a dogs jaw I suppose but that can be achieved with toys or treats more easily then with kibble anyway.

I respectfully disagree...google it, and ask several vets.

[Ellie May]

My girl's teeth were terrible when she ate kibble alone. No food can eliminate dental problems

With any diet, homecare and dentals as needed should be done.

[ArmaniMan]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

I respectfully disagree...google it, and ask several vets.

Google:

Not True – Crunchy kibble will keep your dog’s teeth clean and tartar free:
Think about that for a minute. Eating kibble is NOT a good toothbrush. It would be like brushing our teeth with a handful of pretzels, yummy, but not exactly recommended by nine out of ten dentists. While nothing should replace brushing your dog’s teeth -– a big ole raw meaty bone has been affectionately labeled “nature’s toothbrush” for good reason. (If your dog is not an experienced chewer, your flip-flops don’t count, take it slowly, and gradually work up to larger bones). (See this site for more about cleaning your pet’s teeth.)

from: Kibble Cleaning Dog's Teeth - and other Myths | Darwins Natural Pet

Imagine going to your dentist and being told to forget your toothbrush. Because all you really need for good dental health… is to simply eat a few crunchy tortilla chips every day.

The Truth About Dry Dog Food and Dental HealthAnd like magic… your teeth will be sparkling clean.

Sound absurd?

Well, you’re right. It’s utterly ridiculous.

But that’s precisely what most of us have been told about the magical tooth-cleaning power of dry dog food.

from: Dry Dog Food and the Myth of Cleaner Teeth

My vets- both the regular vet and the specialty hospital I use agree- they are the vets I use and trust, so I wouldn't ask any others.

Aside from all the research I have done, much of it boils down to common sense- I brush my teeth multiple times per day and go to the dentist 1-2x per year- I would not eat crackers and call it a day- so I would not do the same for my pets.

[Gracie2006]

I just asked my vet today about dry vs canned and dental health. They said there is really no advantage to dry over canned. The dry crumbles down, mixes with saliva and has the same effect on the teeth as canned, unless you buy a dental diet kibble which is harder and actually cleans their teeth some when the chew.

[JDS]

Lulu was eating RC from the time she started eating kibble (with her breeder) until after her LP surgery. For some reason she just stopped eating it. I don't know if it was a bad bag (I had just opened a new bag) or if she just got tired of it. Nonetheless, I went out and bought some TOTW canned & kibble. At first I mixed the RC kibble with the TOTW canned...Lulu simply spit out the RC kibble and ate the canned like she was starving!

She's been eating TOTW for about 6 months or so now. I leave some kibble out always & give her one or two meals of canned mixed with kibble daily. One thing that I don't like about TOTW is the kibble size. Lulu is a bit on the small side (3.5 lbs, 15 months old) and it is hard for her to eat the kibble. So, I simply crush it up for her to make it a bit easier for her to eat. She loves the food, so that is the least I can do.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

Google:


from: Kibble Cleaning Dog's Teeth - and other Myths | Darwins Natural Pet


from: Dry Dog Food and the Myth of Cleaner Teeth

My vets- both the regular vet and the specialty hospital I use agree- they are the vets I use and trust, so I wouldn't ask any others.

Aside from all the research I have done, much of it boils down to common sense- I brush my teeth multiple times per day and go to the dentist 1-2x per year- I would not eat crackers and call it a day- so I would not do the same for my pets.

A dog eating kibble cleans their teeth as well as a human eating a hard pretzel.

I know dogs who have been eating kibble all of their life and have horrendous teeth/breath.