Does kibble size matter for my 18-pound small dog's eating habits?

Yes, it is fine to feed Kiba a food that is larger kibble! In fact, feeding larger kibble makes dogs chew a little more, which is great for preventing tartar build up on their teeth. Just watch Kiba the first few times that you feed it to make sure that he is chewing well and doesn't seem to have any choking from swallowing large pieces.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Size of kibble doesn't really matter in a health sense, however some cats and dogs do tend to prefer certain sizes vs. others, just like some people prefer or dislike certain textures of foods. Chewing cardboard is a common cat thing, and is likely just playing. Best of luck with Avicenna!

This is a great question about Chloe. I do not believe it is necessary for her to be on a "small bites" food. As long as she is on a good, well balance food then a little large kibble is perfectly okay. Natural Balance LID is a great diet and as long as she is willing to eat the regular sized kibbles, then go for it! (p.s. I love cavaliers!)

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Barry. Older dogs do not necessarily need to eat a senior diet. There is no standard as to what constitutes a senior food. Each dog food company will have a different version. Now if you have found a senior food and he is doing well on it, I would stay with that food. As far as kibble size, labs are not picky and do not seem to show a preference. I hope this information helps!

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. I do agree with your vet that he should be started on dry food. I suggest you use one that is small bites made for EXTRA small breed puppies like this from Royal Canin. ( ) It really should not be getting stuck in his mouth. Is he eating too fast? If so, then you may need to get a special bowl to slow down his eating. ( ) You really could make a DIY slow feeder bowl at home by using an ice cube tray or egg holder tray. Just put one or two kibble in each "hole" which will make him slow down to eat. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

As long as she eats and is not losing weight, don't stress out over it. It is true that smaller breeds can be a bit more finicky. Switching foods would not be recommended as it can lead to gastrointestinal upset and reinforce her finicky nature. Instead, try mixing in a bit of warm water or a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate the appetite.

Small breed food should not do any harm to a medium breed dog unless he has any specific medical conditions which require him to be on a specialised prescription food. Food for larger breeds can be supplemented for joint health and made with larger kibble for dental health so you may be loosing these benefits depending on the brand you are feeding