Grim's teeth

[jltracy]

Hello all,

Since becoming a member here, I've gotten such great advice from everyone! Being a new dog owner and one who's wasn't planning on being one until I found a dog wandering in the cold rain, I really don't know too much about owning a dog. But this forum has helped so much! Thank you all!

My new question is this. The vet told me to feed Grim wet food. However, not only is that taking up more space (because I have to buy a bunch of cans instead of a couple bags of food) but I was also told that wet food builds up easier on dogs' teeth whereas dry food doesn't. Should I make the change to dry food? I heard I could soften it a bit with water if he has problems chewing it. If this doesn't work, what then?

Thanks again all!

 

[bubbatd]

I personally like dry for the teeth, add a little canned for flavor and water . Don't forget a nice raw shank bone is great for plaque !

 

[wishbone]

My dog never been choosy, as long as the yummy bone to chew and gnaw was there. Consider raw diet...

 

[ihartgonzo]

It's a common misconception that dry food cleans teeth (does a cracker clean your teeth?) and wet food somehow rots them. In fact, wet food is likely to result in LESS plaque build-up, because it doesn't stick to the molars like pieces of dry food do.

However, any low quality dog food is bad for a dog's teeth... and health, in general. What kind of food did your Vet recommend? Depending on how much money you are able to spend on dog food, and what's available in your area, there are LOTS of options of high quality foods. Often, Vets recommend medicore, widely-available foods that they sell, rather than the high quality brands. A premium kibble OR canned diet, along with regular healthy chews (like bully sticks), daily tooth-brushing, and/or supplementary raw meaty bones (for a dog his size; chicken/turkey/pork necks, wings, etc), is your best bet for a healthy dog with healthy teefers. The choice between kibble or canned is up to you, and it's pretty secondary as far as oral health to appropriate chews/brushing teeth.

There are lots and lots of threads dedicated to recommending high quality dog foods, on the Food board. ; )

 

[smkie]

why did your vet say to use wet food? I would want to know that before i made any kind of suggestion. I brush my dog's teeth. IT isn't very hard to do.

 

[Suzzie]

I'd want to know why he said to feed wet food as well... And specifically, WHAT wet food.

i brush my dogs' teeth, but I recently (and EXTREMELY hesitantly) tried knuckle bones, as suggested by another member - those things are AWESOME for doggie teeth!