Does anyone only feed canned food? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

LuvTaycieGirl · 02-27-2011, 06:58 PM

Is this ok to feed canned alone and not use kibble? I really don't believe that it is bad for there teeth. My vet compared relying on kibble alone is basically like brushing our teeth with pretzels. I am a firm believer in daily dental care....so what are your thoughts about feeding canned alone?

LuvTaycieGirl · 02-27-2011, 07:04 PM

Oops! I forgot ask..if you do..do you measure canned the same as you would kibble? For instance Taycie eats 1/8 cup morning and night...

ArmaniMan · 02-27-2011, 07:18 PM

I don't anymore but I have before. Honestly, I only stopped out of convenience. It is easier when someone watches them or we travel to use kibble. You can start with the same measurements and if they lose or gain weight, adjust accordingly. Kibble doesn't do anything for tartar- brushing is imperative either way. However, I do believe the constant motion of chewing is good for their jaw strength- so I did try to give more chewies when they were on canned food only- and also to give them toys like fleece tugs and stuff that they would chew on.

LuvTaycieGirl · 02-27-2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

I don't anymore but I have before. Honestly, I only stopped out of convenience. It is easier when someone watches them or we travel to use kibble. You can start with the same measurements and if they lose or gain weight, adjust accordingly. Kibble doesn't do anything for tartar- brushing is imperative either way. However, I do believe the constant motion of chewing is good for their jaw strength- so I did try to give more chewies when they were on canned food only- and also to give them toys like fleece tugs and stuff that they would chew on.

This is awesome advice! Thanks

brendarash · 02-27-2011, 07:36 PM

I used to feed all 6 canned food with dry down all of the time. Now they are on Blue Buffalo dry with boiled ground chicken (a teaspoon) They are getting so they are getting tired of that, so I ordered four cook books for home cooking for your dogs. When they arrive, I will start cooking for them. I said the same thing about dry kibble. How can that clean there teeth... I asked the vet, she said, it can not take the tartar off. It would be the same as us eating a hard pretzel. They do chew on bones, and bully sticks. So far only Sadie needed her teeth cleaned. The youngest is 3 years old. She had her dental last month.Julie had her dental last year, she has a hard time with her teeth. She needs her dental done every 6 months.

BLowry · 02-28-2011, 06:39 AM

I feed Merricks Grammies pot pie and wellness 95%chicken as a topper only. IMO....wet food isn't enough...I free feed...so I like the convenience of leaving the dry food down all day and don't worry about it drying out...and where it is 95% chicken I'm worried it would go bad if they didn't eat all of it. My vet told me that wet food doesn't have all the nutrients in it that they need...it's mostly water. AND...yorkies are prone to dental issues...hard food will help to keep them clean. My Mom had a mini schnauzer that she rescued (former mill puppy).. she developed a lot of health issues where she had to be on prescription wet food...she lost several of her teeth.

viviansnickers · 02-28-2011, 08:01 AM

I find feeding canned at anytime makes their beards and mouths not so fresh smelling. Both of mine came on a canned food and I only used it during their transition to home time as I could not stand the smell. I also noticed loose stools with it when i tried it again after my Snickers had been home for about 5 months. Dogs have a natural desire to chew and kibble helps with that. I feed Primal raw now and use raw meaty bones as well as himilayan chews, raw femur bones, and an occasional bully stick to satisfy chewing needs.

Good luck to you!!

Viv

Ellie May · 02-28-2011, 09:18 AM

It's fine as long as it's AAFCO approved for the lifestage of your pup. Consistency isn't much different than homecooked. Dogs definitely don't need kibble to do well. I would want them to do some crunching though (as said above).

Canned is mostly moisture, so there are less calories per cup. You can compare a cup of canned to a cup of what you are feeding now to have a starting place. You should need more canned than kibble.

Britster · 02-28-2011, 10:58 AM

There's nothing wrong with feeding only canned... the main reason I don't is expense. I'd be buying a LOT of cans to feed my 16lb dog strictly canned food so mixing kibble/canned is a gazillion times cheaper. One regular sized can lasts us a week (mixing with dry food) and each can is about $2 a piece (cans I buy are generally between $1.50-$3.00 a piece) and a 5.5lb of kibble is $17.99 that lasts us over a month.... if he were eating only canned, he'd probably be eating a full can (or maybe more?) a day.

babbsiam44 · 02-28-2011, 11:33 AM

I couldn't get Elsa to ever eat canned food. I tried but she refused it the 10x's I tried(I guess I am thickheaded). I have tried it alone and also mixing it with her dry...no way dudette!

LuvTaycieGirl · 02-28-2011, 11:39 AM

What wonderful advice! Thanks! I was just curious really and wondered if some fed canned only. I am a mixer and love to add a TBSP of wet to her kibble. I do think it keeps her excited and interested in her food and I have no problem spoiling her

I do also think it would get rather expensive the cans I buy range anywhere from $2-$3.

LDMomma · 02-28-2011, 03:33 PM

We don't feed canned but we do feed Honest Kitchen, which is also a wet food. We supplement it with RMB's for teeth cleaning.

There is no reason that a dog requires kibble. Can is a fine alternative as long you pick one that is appropriate for your dog.

02-27-2011, 06:58 PM	#1
LuvTaycieGirl Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Salt Lake City UT,USA Posts: 2,726 Blog Entries: 1	Does anyone only feed canned food? Is this ok to feed canned alone and not use kibble? I really don't believe that it is bad for there teeth. My vet compared relying on kibble alone is basically like brushing our teeth with pretzels. I am a firm believer in daily dental care....so what are your thoughts about feeding canned alone? __________________ Emily and Taycie Love you little girl

02-27-2011, 07:04 PM	#2
LuvTaycieGirl Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Salt Lake City UT,USA Posts: 2,726 Blog Entries: 1	Oops! I forgot ask..if you do..do you measure canned the same as you would kibble? For instance Taycie eats 1/8 cup morning and night... __________________ Emily and Taycie Love you little girl

02-27-2011, 07:18 PM	#3
ArmaniMan I ♥ Armani & Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 3,895	I don't anymore but I have before. Honestly, I only stopped out of convenience. It is easier when someone watches them or we travel to use kibble. You can start with the same measurements and if they lose or gain weight, adjust accordingly. Kibble doesn't do anything for tartar- brushing is imperative either way. However, I do believe the constant motion of chewing is good for their jaw strength- so I did try to give more chewies when they were on canned food only- and also to give them toys like fleece tugs and stuff that they would chew on. __________________ Armani & Chloe

02-27-2011, 07:36 PM	#5
brendarash Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Shore of Maryland Posts: 375	I used to feed all 6 canned food with dry down all of the time. Now they are on Blue Buffalo dry with boiled ground chicken (a teaspoon) They are getting so they are getting tired of that, so I ordered four cook books for home cooking for your dogs. When they arrive, I will start cooking for them. I said the same thing about dry kibble. How can that clean there teeth... I asked the vet, she said, it can not take the tartar off. It would be the same as us eating a hard pretzel. They do chew on bones, and bully sticks. So far only Sadie needed her teeth cleaned. The youngest is 3 years old. She had her dental last month.Julie had her dental last year, she has a hard time with her teeth. She needs her dental done every 6 months. __________________ Brenda Jackie,Sadie, Rosie, Julie and Sophie my other non yorkie fur babies Romeo Lillie and Sammie, Jessie, Callie, Cloie.

02-28-2011, 06:39 AM	#6
BLowry My furkids Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 4,625 Blog Entries: 1	I feed Merricks Grammies pot pie and wellness 95%chicken as a topper only. IMO....wet food isn't enough...I free feed...so I like the convenience of leaving the dry food down all day and don't worry about it drying out...and where it is 95% chicken I'm worried it would go bad if they didn't eat all of it. My vet told me that wet food doesn't have all the nutrients in it that they need...it's mostly water. AND...yorkies are prone to dental issues...hard food will help to keep them clean. My Mom had a mini schnauzer that she rescued (former mill puppy).. she developed a lot of health issues where she had to be on prescription wet food...she lost several of her teeth. __________________ Brenda

02-28-2011, 08:01 AM	#7
viviansnickers Snick&Viv= BFF Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,755	I find feeding canned at anytime makes their beards and mouths not so fresh smelling. Both of mine came on a canned food and I only used it during their transition to home time as I could not stand the smell. I also noticed loose stools with it when i tried it again after my Snickers had been home for about 5 months. Dogs have a natural desire to chew and kibble helps with that. I feed Primal raw now and use raw meaty bones as well as himilayan chews, raw femur bones, and an occasional bully stick to satisfy chewing needs. Good luck to you!! Viv __________________ -Vivian Mommy to my cuddlebug baby boys-Snickers & Reesie

02-28-2011, 09:18 AM	#8
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	It's fine as long as it's AAFCO approved for the lifestage of your pup. Consistency isn't much different than homecooked. Dogs definitely don't need kibble to do well. I would want them to do some crunching though (as said above). Canned is mostly moisture, so there are less calories per cup. You can compare a cup of canned to a cup of what you are feeding now to have a starting place. You should need more canned than kibble. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

02-28-2011, 10:58 AM	#9
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	There's nothing wrong with feeding only canned... the main reason I don't is expense. I'd be buying a LOT of cans to feed my 16lb dog strictly canned food so mixing kibble/canned is a gazillion times cheaper. One regular sized can lasts us a week (mixing with dry food) and each can is about $2 a piece (cans I buy are generally between $1.50-$3.00 a piece) and a 5.5lb of kibble is $17.99 that lasts us over a month.... if he were eating only canned, he'd probably be eating a full can (or maybe more?) a day. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 02-28-2011 at 10:59 AM.

02-28-2011, 11:33 AM	#10
babbsiam44 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,132	I couldn't get Elsa to ever eat canned food. I tried but she refused it the 10x's I tried(I guess I am thickheaded). I have tried it alone and also mixing it with her dry...no way dudette!

02-28-2011, 11:39 AM	#11
LuvTaycieGirl Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Salt Lake City UT,USA Posts: 2,726 Blog Entries: 1	What wonderful advice! Thanks! I was just curious really and wondered if some fed canned only. I am a mixer and love to add a TBSP of wet to her kibble. I do think it keeps her excited and interested in her food and I have no problem spoiling her I do also think it would get rather expensive the cans I buy range anywhere from $2-$3. __________________ Emily and Taycie Love you little girl

02-28-2011, 03:33 PM	#12
LDMomma YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FL Posts: 410	We don't feed canned but we do feed Honest Kitchen, which is also a wet food. We supplement it with RMB's for teeth cleaning. There is no reason that a dog requires kibble. Can is a fine alternative as long you pick one that is appropriate for your dog.