Charleen, I'd sure advocate giving him more variety in his diet than only kibbles (not least because it's fun!
). An all kibble diet, especially the same kibble for months and months or especially years, can of itself encourage pickiness in eaters and an overly sensitive stomch to any dietry change, and risks not giving a rounded, complete diet. The current issue of the Whole Dog Journal notes that even when a food says 'complete diet' on the package this does not mean it is nutritionally complete over the medium to long term.
I also feel that only kibbles are a dull diet for a dog over a lifetime -- these are omnivores, just like humans, who enjoy a broad range of foods; and kibbles are just a highly processed convenience food. We would be horrified to rewuire a child to eat the sme processed food every day rather than fresh and wholesome real foods.
I definitely don;t feel people need to choose a cooked or raw diet alone and kibbles are good for working the teeth and gums and making sure an overall diet is blanced. but with so many great premade raw foods, tinned foods of excellent quality, and just plain good real food we can make and add to supplement the diet, why not add something different at least a few times a week or feed entirely the canned or whatever meal now and then? Add some diced chicken or lightly cooked ground beef. Add some raw fresh or cooked veg, a spoonful of canned pumpkin, cottage cheese, yogurt, a cooked or raw egg, healthy leftovers... the possibilities are endless and you'll have a much happier dog. I make stews, varying the meat and veg and grain ingredients, and either feed that alone or on top of some kibble. And feed a bit of raw, a bit of other fresh foods, sardines or mackeral once a week, etc.
Animal nutritionists also say fruit and veg are as healthy for dogs as they are for humans and should be part of the diet.
A diet of only kibble is like a diet of only Wheaties for us. Sure it is complete -- but would you want to eat that every meal for your whole life? :lol:
