Does Your Dog Chew His Kibble Or Swallow It Whole?

From The Dog Crazy Newsletter

By Petplace.com

Some dogs chew their kibble and other just seem to swallow it whole. Some seem just gulp their food between chasing the cats.

So does the shape of a dog’s food matter to a dog?  Pet food companies do lots of studies on the size and shape of kibble that dogs like most.  In today’s market most dog kibble is square, rectangular or irregular shaped.

So… what is the best kibble shape? How about the size of a nice Dog BONE that they can hold in their mouth.

A meal in the shape of a bone? Yes, this is the concept behind a new dog food that just came out called WholeMeals. (if you can’t picture it – check here to see a photo of it). Their studies suggest that dogs like it better and that there is a substantial reduction in tartar and plaque as they are required to “chew” their food rather than swallow it whole.  It takes a dog about four times longer to eat and is more “natural”.

This is a really interesting concept.  Nutritionally it looks good. This product is available in a number of specialty pet stores. To see this brand new product and see if it is something your dog may like go to: wholemeals.com.

Whatever you feed, make sure it is nutritious and formulated to meet the life stage of your dog.  Also, periodically take a look at your dog’s teeth to determine if tartar and plaque are building up. If you notice your dog has bad breath or the teeth are abnormal – make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

P.S.  The most important thing is that the kibble is nutritious, smells good,is palatable and that your dog likes it. If you he seems to have lost his zest for eating his kibble you may want to try a bone shaped kibble . To see this new bone-shaped food and see if it is right for your dog go to: wholemeals.com.