With February and Pet Dental Health Month coming to a close today, I think it’s finally time I get around to talking about how to keep your dog’s pearly white shining and mouth healthy. You’d think with the extra day in February this year, I could have gotten to this sooner, right? Well better late than never!
First let’s start with a number that always startles me: 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of periodontal disease by age 3!
80% of dogs by age 3! How on earth? Can this be prevented?
Brush your dog’s teeth every day. This is one of those “do as I say and not as I do” type of things. Every time the topic of pet dental health comes up, I get as flustered and nervous as I do at my own dentist when she asks how often I floss. Not enough okay?! Like I said, do as I say and just brush those teeth!
Even though I know that my last paragraph got you super pumped to brush your dog’s teeth tonight (and every night after), I want to talk about those days when you aren’t so pumped or when your dog has eaten your only doggy toothbrush. So what can you do if you can’t brush your dog’s teeth as often as you should?
Even though I’m all for being realistic, I have to stress that there is no real replacement for brushing your dog’s teeth regularly. But there are things that can help maintain a healthy mouth for your dog.
Throw your dog a dental chew.
Specifically designed dental chews for dogs can help maintain healthy gums and teeth, by controlling plaque and tartar build up. One of our favorites is the VetriScience Perio Plus Stix. The Perio Plus Stix are made of two layers – an outer layer that promotes dental cleansing, plaque control, and fresh breath and an inner layer that supports overall oral health, including gum tissue integrity and fresh breath.
Or a high quality natural chew.
Though natural chews might not be specially designed, chewing in general can help control plaque and tartar. Some of our favorite chew brands include Jones Natural Chews and Barkworthies! Raw meaty bones are also great natural and gentle dental abrasive, but make sure they are NOT cooked as this can cause them to splinter.
Try a dental supplement.
A supplement can be administered as a food topper, so it is super easy to use. Our current go to dental supplement is VetriScience Perio Support. Perio Support also helps prevent plaque formation and maintain your dog’s gum health. Additionally, it helps restore the microbial balance and remove any unhealthy plaque-causing bacteria.
Have regular dental check ups.
Your veterinarian should already be doing it, but make sure they take a look in your dog’s mouth at every annual exam. In between these check ups, you can check yourself. Look for any discoloration or broken teeth and make note of any bad breath (or at least breath that is worse than normal).
Splurge when you get them groomed.
I’m definitely guilty of this. Every time we take Luna to a local groomer’s for a bath and nail clipping, we splurge for the teeth brushing and cleaning. It’s definitely more expensive than doing it yourself, but I know that I don’t brush Luna’s teeth enough and even when I do, it’s mostly her eating all the chicken flavored tooth paste. Our groomers have a lot more experience, so I know they do a bit better job than I do.
Be skeptical.
The pet dental health market is booming right now. There are a lot of products on the market that aren’t effective, many of which are pretty pricey. Do a little grunt work upfront to see if they really work!
And remember – just because Pet Dental Health Month is over, doesn’t mean you get to stop caring or brushing!
Disclaimer: FoodScience Corporation provided product to review. I am being compensated to help spread the word about VetriScience, Perio Plus Stix, and Perio Support. I received no other compensation or additional benefits for mentioning the products in this post. The opinions and ideas in this post are my own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business.
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