Should I give my Shih Tzu a whole chew or cut it into pieces?

Dogs don't have a preference, but you should! By that I mean you should give Chloe treats she needs to chew in several bites. If she swallows one whole that's smaller, it could cause some problems. Better for her to chew them up.

Definitely get PYY the smaller size. It's never recommended to try to cut a larger dose of the medication in half because you could either under dose your dog, or accidentally overdose them. I hope this helps!

Hello, and thank you for using PetCoach. It's great that you're thinking about Teddy's oral health! It is best to brush Teddy's teeth daily using a toothpaste formulated for dogs. There are lots of good options, so try a few out and see what flavors Teddy likes, but I recommend an enzymatic toothpaste. Here's an example: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/sentry-petrodex-enzymatic-toothpaste-for-dogs-5000644--1 It's also beneficial for Teddy to chew on things that are meant to massage his gums and help work tarter off his teeth. I prefer rawhides that are coated in enzymes to help combat tarter, such as these: VIP-_-92700027187667220&kwid=p27187667220&device=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2PLt-eSv1wIViLrACh0JkwyJEAQYASABEgLS3PD_BwE My own opinion is that providing good products for dogs to chew on does the most to help their teeth - but the combination of chewing and regular tooth brushing will benefit Teddy's oral health the most. Also, some dogs are less enthusiastic about chewing, which makes brushing the teeth even more important. Of course, all of these are measures to help slow tarter production - but nothing completely replaces regular dental care from your veterinarian. Just as we humans brush daily and still need regular dental care, our pets need the same. Hope this helps!

If Bruno is swallowing his treats rather than chewing them, you may want to consider offering something a little smaller and more easily digestible. I advise this in an attempt to make Bruno avoid swallowing something that is too large to pass through the GI tract. When this happens and something is unable to pass through the stomach, objects sometimes require surgical removal. Even worse is when an object can pass through the stomach but gets caught within the intestines. There is nothing wrong with offering treats to Bruno. But as I said, reduce the size and toughness for the time being until he gets a little bit older.

With medications in tablet form, you can certainly cut them in half and still be sure that you are giving half of the medication. Unfortunately with chewable medications (like Nexgard, Heartgard, etc.), splitting a dose in half does not ensure that half of the medication will be given. The active ingredients are mixed throughout the chews, but not necessarily in a uniform way. To answer your question, no, you shouldn't give Frosty half of a Nexgard. Instead, see if you can exchange the product for the correct size. It's likely that your vet will be able to prescribe a single dose while you sort out the exchange process. I hope that everything goes well!

Many dogs don’t chew treats or kibble. As long as she’s not having a problem then it’s nothing to be overly concerned about. I would try a variety of tiny treats, soft and hard to see if one works better so she doesn’t do this. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Stella.

She may be having trouble chewing due to dental disease. I suggest you have Daisy examined by your vet. They can look into her mouth and see if there is any problems with her teeth or oral cavity. https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/8-breeds-prone-dental-disease