Anything wrong with feeding JUST canned food?

I think the dental problems happen with the kibble, lots of carbs. Canned has lots more water. I like that. Good for the kidneys. I homecook. Lots of water and vits. in the veggies, meat and fruit. All you have to do it clean the teeth each night. Each dog is diff. with tooth decay.

Mealtime should be fun and nutritious and DELICIOUS! Go ahead and feed what he likes! I think kibble would not be fun day in and day out. Just like me eating dry cereal.

wasnt' there a recent study that showed kibble didn't have any effect on dental issues vs canned? Thought I'd read that someplace..

Hmm found this...

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=doesdryfoodcleantheteeth

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/periodontal_disease_and_dental.html

I'd say a bone/neck every once in a while would go farther cleaning teeth than kibble or wet LOL...aside fomr the specific dental diets out there.

I think you should go for it!   From what I've read and heard its better to feed canned than kibble.  I have considered it, but most canned foods give mine the runs, if I feed more than a few tablespoons at a time   

If I had a small dog under 30 lbs, I would definitely do it.  There's a man where I work who feeds his 2 dogs canned only with some dog biscuits during the day and his dogs look wonderful:  slim, shiny and great muscletone.  I think it is much better digested than kibble food.

Nothing wrong with feeding a complete canned diet at all, in fact it's a lot healthier than kibble  With our dogs I feed a mixture of NRG dehydrated mixed with an entire can of either Nature's Variety Prairie, California Natural, EVO, Innova, Canidae, Trippett, Solid Gold, I used to love ZiwiPeak canned but it's no longer available in my area.

It is a myth that canned causes dental problems, what does cause dental problems is a high carb diet and sugar which many poor quality kibble are full of.  When I worked at the vet clinic I saw more dogs fed a complete dry kibble diet with gross tarter build up and some with actual kibble around the gum line.  Pretty gross.  With some dogs dental problems are genetic, we had one dog a Standard Poodle from wonderful lines that had dental problems from day one.  Other than her we have always had dogs with perfect teeth, white and pearly until the end.

Also, with canned food, where it does contain a lot more water it really helps those kidneys out.  We used to feed our old girl kibble mixed with canned a blood test showed a weak kidney.  For an 11 year old Newf that's not abnormal and was mentioned by her breeder that it was due to her age.  We switched her at that time to complete canned diet with some home prepared with lots of steamed salmon, and canned sardines as well and eventually due to feeding a Newf  complete canned can become expensive we started adding NRG dehydrated which is healthier than canned.  Basically the healthiest to the least healthiest IMO is RAW, home prepared, freeze dried, dehydrated, canned and last kibble which is sooo unnatural.  Anyway last blood test for our old girl came back excellent and her kidney is in perfect range once again.  We now feed all  6 of our dogs NRG mixed with canned and some home prepared meals and plenty of RMB's   

Mordanna from the dog food project really gave me wonderful advise about canned years ago. 

I'm going to agree that there is absolutely nothing wrong with feeding all canned.  Unless you are buying the store brand stuff, which I know you won't.  Go for it.

momoftwo- That's really good to hear about the results of someone who actually feeds a canned only diet. I would be doing the same thing with giving Gingerbread a few biscuits during the day.

Cally- That's what I was thinking with the kidneys. Since Gingerbread doesn't drink that much water and it seems like Shih Tzu are prone to kidney problems, canned food is apparently a really good idea for us. I completely agree that kibble is not what a dog is designed to eat. I am STILL too much of a scaredy cat to feed raw... lol If I did it would be Nature's Variety medallions because there's no way in the world I would even try to balance something like that. I have some really big fears about the bacteria. I've heard such conflicting things about raw and some of them REALLY scared me! If you want to try and talk some sense into me, I'm open to listening. ;)

Glenda- Thank you for the green light! :)

I'm sure you were just waiting for my green light, huh?

glenmar

I'm sure you were just waiting for my green light, huh?

Let me say this....if money were no object, I'd absolutely feed nothing but raw, with perhaps homecooked a few times a week for the veggies.

I don't see that it makes a difference if you want to go with TWO great choices.  But, quit making your head spin!  You're gonna get dizzy!

I really do have a huge (probably irrational) fear of feeding raw. I know so many people feed it with no problems; I'm just worried that I'll be the one who ends up having a major health problem from my dog being immune compromised or something like that. And there's just no way to take baby steps with raw.... It's a big leap the first time you feed it and you either take that leap or you don't!

Bottom line is doing what is within YOUR comfort level.  If even the medallions make you uneasy, well, thats your answer.

The day may come when you DO feel more comfortable with it and if so, fine, if not, that's fine too.  The decision you make TODAY doesn't have to be a forever and always decision.  Cut yourself some slack.  I don't happen to believe that there IS a best thing to find every single dog.