Sometimes dog owners are faced with a dilemma regarding
what type of dog food to provide their dogs.
Dogs themselves tend to prefer the moist, canned types
of food. They are more aromatic and naturally tempting to the dog's palate
than the dry kibble that comes in a bag. A dog's dental health, however,
relies on the dog being able to chew hard and crunchy items and dry kibble
foods serve this purpose well.
What's an owner to do? Some owners make a two pronged
approach when selecting dog food for their furry friends. They will mix
a portion of dry food with canned, effectively giving their dog the "best
of both worlds."
If you are feeding canned food to your dog, you'll definitely
want to supplement it in some way with something that the dog can chew
and crunch. Chew toys and dog biscuits or treats can help to serve this
purpose.
Remember that a dog's health depends greatly on the
nutritional value of its food. A dog is only as healthy as the food that
it eats, in many respects. The food you buy for your dog should meet its
nutritional needs as best as possible, whether it is dry or moist.
Unfortunately when it comes to dog food you get what
you pay for. Store brands and generics tend to be made with cheaper ingredients
and lots of fillers. They'll feed your dog, but they may not be the best
choices for it. The more expensive brands like Science Diet and Eukanuba
which advertise that they are "specially formulated" really, to a certain
extent, are. They will have higher quality ingredients and are better
suited to meet your dog's needs.
Truly, as long as you are providing a good method for
your dog to work out its choppers on a regular basis, it doesn't matter
whether you're using dry food or moist. During regular veterinary checkups
your vet will examine the dog's teeth and will warn you if there's any
issue that needs to be corrected by providing a different type of food
or some dietary supplement.
The reason that dogs need to be able to chew on hard
materials is twofold. It strengthens their teeth and works out the muscles
of their jaw, keeping the teeth strong and the jaws powerful. It also
provides a form of dental care. Owners should brush
their dogs' teeth at least twice a week. If this is not possible,
however, crunchy foods like kibble and biscuits act as a sort of natural
toothbrush for the dog, loosening plaque and tartar and cleaning the teeth.
Choosing the right food for your dog is important, both
for the pooch's nutritional needs and its good dental health. If you prefer
to provide your dog the tastier soft, moist foods that come in a can that's
fine, just make sure you're also providing something for Rover to really
sink his teeth into.
About the author: Kirsten Hawkins is a dog lover and animal expert from Nashville,
TN. Visit DogHealth411
for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and
dog travel.
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