Since Pongo arrived with us (at 10 weeks of age) we've been feeding him kibble, soaked in water. The breeder was very emphatic that we should keep him on this for some time (even though the instructions on the packet say that it can be fed 'dry' as soon as adult teeth come in). He loves it, and it certainly keeps him well hydrated as well as fed (he rarely needs to gulp down much additional water unless he has been running around in the heat). Pongo is eight months old now, and we're still feeding the same. We also give him raw bones to chew because we know that is good for his teeth (and he loves them). I've heard on other posts that dry food is better than wet for a dog's teeth (and to freshen breath). So I'm wondering whether it is time to start drying out his diet - moving towards just feeding the dry kibble. What do you all feed your dogs? Is there any science behind the 'wet food / dry food' debate? Rosie
Re: Dry food or wet food? Charlie gets dry kibble - and one rawhide cigar a day, plus a teeth cleaning routine (which isn't perfect, but I do my best). He recently spent some time eating wet food (after chewing a battery), and had really smelly breath. I was shocked at the deterioration. That said, it might not all have been down to the wet food as later he had a sore throat which the vet said caused smelly breath (she said it was different to what I had noticed earlier though). Anyway, dry food here. I don't know why people soak kibble, unless it's to go in kongs or there is a specific reason why a dog needs to eat wet food (I'm sure there are some - fussy dogs, or other problems).
Re: Dry food or wet food? Both of mine have dry kibble , I`ve never soaked it , so maybe try and get him to eat it dry now ?
Re: Dry food or wet food? I've never soaked Molly's kibble, so I'm sure Pongo could have it dry if you want him to. However I've no idea whether dry kibble is actually more beneficial - I can't quite see how it can clean teeth as it usually gets snaffled too rapidly! I'm convinced not having sugar in any form is the most important thing as regards preventing tooth decay. My OH fed our cocker sweet biscuits and her teeth deteriorated. Managed to prevent last Lab having many sweet things and so far I'm keeping an eagle eye on OH with Molly!
Re: Dry food or wet food? Only dry kibble here too, I've never soaked it until this week because of Maisie's Spay op. The only good thing about soaking it seems to be that it takes her longer to eat it!!! :
Re: Dry food or wet food? Hmm.....I have always, and still do, add water to Lilly's kibble, though don't actually let it soak, so the kibble isn't mushy. She isn't a big drinker so I suppose I feel that I am helping her fluid intake by doing this. I don't think it sits long enough to become particularly softened.
Re: Dry food or wet food? I put warm water on my dogs' kibble but feed them immediately, don't soak. I feel it is too dry for them when it is dry!
Re: Dry food or wet food? When Obi has been to to vet dentist, in conversation she's mention that the worst teeth she's seen have been on dogs fed a solely on a wet commercial diet (ie canned dog food). Also that dogs that have holes in their teeth (usually pretty rare for dogs) are the ones regularly fed sweet things - tea with sugar, biscuits etc. Regardless of what the 'main diet' is I think it's best to at least feed meaty bones (not big leg bones but things they can crush up and swallow) and ideal to brush teeth. What do Pongo's teeth look like? Any brown reside? Redness around the gumline where gums meet the teeth?
Re: Dry food or wet food? For the past month Harley has refused her kibble - we think it must of been because of her tummy problems We got bob and lush wet food and mix in a handful of dry with the wet. So basically she's on 80% wet and 20% dry. We do give her bones though. Our dentist commented in how good her teeth and gums were yesterday. We also clean her teeth, but will admit it's only once a week or fortnight :-\
Re: Dry food or wet food? I bought some chicken wings just to clean my dogs' teeth (Waitrose best!), gave them one each and they swallowed them whole, no crunch at all!
Re: Dry food or wet food? Pongo's teeth all look shining white to me (I'll have a good look next time we play the towel game). He gets a lamb-bone to chew on about once a week, and other days he spends a lot of time chewing on his beef bone (it's a long lasting one but he'll spend a good half hour every day trying to wear it down another half inch or so....). His breath does smelly fishy though.....
Re: Dry food or wet food? Yeah, fishy breath means his teeth are not as clean as they could be. With the very hard bones he's getting also watch for any sign of the points of his teeth wearing away and exposing the inner pulp, which will appear brown. Though he's probably too young to have had that level of wear yet, it will happen if he's gnawing on a beef bone daily for that length of time. I don't want to alarm you but it really is not good for his teeth, even though I'm sure it's great for keeping him busy. There is a risk of broken teeth too. Beef leg bones are just too hard. Instead, go for raw chicken, rabbit, fish, duck, quail, turkey, lamb necks, lamb ribs... A useful rule that I use is to avoid mammal leg bones - anything else is usually ok Stacia, if your dogs swallowed chicken wings whole try bigger pieces - chicken leg attached to thigh, or half a rabbit
Re: Dry food or wet food? I'll try bigger chicken, but unfortunately cannot buy rabbit around here. Though he did find an adult, dead rabbit, I didn't fancy him eating that as rigor mortis had set in!
