Is dry or wet kibble better for my dog's digestion and teeth?

If Rocky is comfortable eating his food in this manner, this is absolutely fine. Another less labor intensive option would be to simply soak whole kibbles in warm water for 10 minutes prior to feeding him, then mixing the mushy kibble together. If Rocky begins to show signs of oral pain (picking up food then dropping it, pawing at the mouth, drooling), he may need to have his food softened further and need additional evaluation. If you haven't already had his dental issues addressed with his vet, that's another good place to start. I hope that all goes well!

Wet food is not bad for dogs. Unfortunately this has become a misconception that many people believe. Some people say that canned food will cause worsening of dental disease or faster accumulation of tartar / plaque. This is not true as I have seen dogs on hard food have terrible dental disease whereas some dogs on canned food have beautiful teeth with no dental disease. If Crystal did well on canned food and does not like dry food, there is absolutely no problem in feeding canned food. I would just make sure to try and brush her teeth whenever possible to remove pieces of soft food from between the teeth. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

It definitely seems like Benji likes his soft food, so it's going to take some time to get him transitioned to the dry food. The good thing is that dogs don't tend to not be finicky for too long before they give up and just eat what's available. It may take a few times of him missing a meal though. I think that is where most owners get concerned, because they feel like they are starving/torturing their dog. My opinion is that it's totally fine for them to miss a meal or two if you're giving them a food that's better for them. It is definitely not harmful for them, because it will take a long time (many days) before he would actually starve. I think the chicken broth idea is great! It may take a couple of weeks, but maybe you could continue wetting it with the broth and reduce the wetness gradually. Food allergies to grains is exceedingly rare, so you may double-check that this was diagnosed by a veterinarian. Usually, the owner gets some bad advice from the pet store employee, or reads some bad info on the internet and that's why they get the grain-free food. If that's the case, then this could open up some more options for feeding dry food. Dry food is better for dogs that tend to have bad teeth, because it does not build-up on the teeth as much. If you brush Benji's teeth regularly, then there is not as much need for the dry food; so you may consider that if all else fails. I hope that helps. Below is a link to a short article that has some more helpful information. https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-every-dog-owner-should-know-about-dental-care/

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would still try to feed the dry food to FIffy. She ate that food when she had 16 bad teeth in her mouth and she will still be able to eat that food after they are removed. You may have to water the food down a little bit to make it soft but really dogs can eat hard food without any teeth. Good luck and kisses to FIffy!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m glad to hear that Luna is eating so well despite having her teeth extracted. Depending on how long ago the procedure was, dogs can sometimes eat kibble still (typically at least three weeks after the procedure). If she does need it to be softened, equal amounts of water to food is perfectly safe for her.

It's not necessary to add water to dry kibble before feeding, your pet can digest it fine without the water. The water does add extra moisture to the diet, so there's no harm in doing. I think half a cup of water to 1/3 cup of kibble is too much water, however, and if you want to soak the kibble, I would add just enough to moisten it. I think slow feeder bowls are better for eaters, as it reduces the risk of bloat occurring.

There are good options in each of those categories. Moist or canned does not necessarily mean high fat, nor does it necessarily mean their teeth will suffer (although you will need to be more conscious of brushing teeth or giving dental chews if they are on a canned diet). Dogs with any predisposition to urinary issues or kidney disease are actually better off on canned or high moisture food, as it increases their water intake (because of the water in the food). You can also feed a mixture of canned and dry. I recommend a high quality commercial pet food such as Science Diet or Nutro.