Ask Bill: Myths about Canned Food

Q: My dog is becoming a picky eater. He just doesn't like his dry food any more. I don't want to feed him canned food because I know it's bad for their teeth. What are your suggestions?

A: First you need to set aside the notion that canned food is bad for your dog. The moisture in a good canned food is water and I've never heard of water being a source of tooth decay. Due to the higher meat content and moisture content, canned food is actually much BETTER for your pet than dry food. Dry food is there for manufacturer profit and our convenience. If you don't want to make the full conversion to canned food, you might think about supplementing your pet's dry food with a spoonful or two of canned. Innova makes a canned food. Ingredients: Turkey, chicken, chicken broth, brown rice, potato, carrot, herring, natural flavor, whole egg, guar gum, apple, alfalfa sprouts, cottage cheese, herring oil. Canned food comes in a wide variety of protein sources and styles, from "homestyle" chunks to the traditional loaf-style foods.  Merrick's Wingaling contains an entire chicken wing (properly cooked to ensure safety and flavor) and Braut's N Tots includes actual "brauts". Not only are canned foods healthier, they can also inspire your pet's lagging appetite and make mealtimes more interesting.