Soft Or Hard Dog Food - Which Is Best?
By Kirsten Hawkins
Sometimes dog owners are faced with a dilemma regarding what
type pf 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 http://www.doghealth411.com/
for more information on dog health, the care of dogs, and dog
travel.
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