Most vets and dog experts will tell you to stay with one dog food and wean your dog off the old one if you start a new one. Contrary to the belief that dogs don't care about variety, variety may just be what your dog needs. I know my dog gets tired of the same old food after a while. Also, I believe there is nothing wrong with mixing in some table scraps with dry kibble. I would even recommend it if the food (for example is meat or chicken) is cooked by itself and no oil or flavoring added. Chopped up raw or cooked vegetables is an excellent addition, as is a tablespoon of rice each meal for your dog's health. You will be surprised at how much your dog will enjoy vegetables. If he doesn't eat it, it may not be chopped up finely enough.

Dry dog food is a must for healthy teeth and digestive tract. Canned dog food and scraps should never be an option. Mix canned and dry food if necessary. If the dog only picks out the canned food or scraps, leave the left over food out. If the dog is hungry enough, he will eventually eat it. If he consistently leaves the food, check the ingredients to see if corn is listed first. If it is, you may need to upgrade to another variety like lamb and rice for a healthy dog.

Dogs and chickens bones in most cases are a dangerous mix and should be avoided. But if and only if, you are very careful, chicken bones can be a safe and wonderful treat for your dog. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!

If you do try this, you should start with drumstick bones. You should not start off by just throwing a bone to your dog. At first, hold the bone to them and let them chew off the ends only. Hold it so your fingers are blocking the middle portion and let them have one bite. Feel the middle of the bone. If it is hard or if the bone splinters when the dog bites it, don't give the rest of it. If it feels soft, let him have another bite and watch to see if he chews it very well. If he doesn't and just swallows it, don't give it again. This cannot be taught. The dog should instinctively chew it well. Never leave a dog a bone unsupervised and be ready at any time to stick your finger in their mouth and swipe it out if they start to choke on it. If that doesn't work, try to get them to drink water or give them some food you know they will eat and this should unblock it.

If you have a small dog or have a certain breed, chicken bones may not be for them. In time, you will feel comfortable giving different types of chicken bones to your dog and it will be one happy camper and healthy dog.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dog Health