Maintaining Your Dog's Dental Hygiene
Have you been paying attention to your doggie’s dental care? Well, if the answer is a ‘no’, you’re not alone as unfortunately, dental health is an important area of pet care that pawrents often neglect. Because of this regrettable trend of neglecting oral care, canine oral illness is a prevalent problem.
Prevention is better than cure
Did you know that more than 80% of dogs over the age of 3 have active dental disease? Specifically, it has been observed that by the age of 2 years, signs of gingivitis (the inflammation of gums due to bacterial plaque) can often be seen; between the ages of 4 to 6, many dogs suffer from periodontitis (a more severe form of gum disease that results in the infection of gums, ligament, and bone). As a result, this problematic trend inspired the birth of Pet Dental Health Month in the US.
But don’t worry, dental disease is preventable in the vast majority of cases. Apart from the annual vet visits, helping your furbaby to practise good dental hygiene at home will do wonders to keep your dog’s teeth and mouth as clean as possible and eliminate bad breath. And it’s best to start these oral hygiene habits while dogs are young.
Let's start learning more about the simple steps that we can all take to safeguard our precious pet's oral well-being, shall we?
Brushing
The most important part of oral care is brushing your dog’s teeth daily (or at least 3 times per week). You can begin by buying a canine toothbrush and a canine toothpaste. Warning: never use human toothpaste on your dog since that is toxic for him. Stick to dental products that are specially tailored for dogs.
For dogs who are new to having their teeth brushed:
To make teeth brushing more enjoyable, get poultry and seafood-flavoured canine kinds of toothpaste which food-motivated dogs will prefer. Beginner toothbrushes (i.e fingertip brushes) are a good choice at this stage because they are known to be more comfortable than traditional bristle tooth brushes.
Recommended products:
- Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Peanut Flavor Toothpaste for Dog
- Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste (beef, malt, poultry, vanilla mint flavours)
- Everydent Beginner ToothBrush
For dogs who are comfortable with having their teeth brushed:
If your dog has progressed to this category, you can get standard dog toothpastes that may taste less appealing than food-flavoured but do a better job in cleaning the teeth.
One such example is the Bio PetActive Biodent Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs 100ml. Rest assured, the vet-formulated, non-foaming toothpaste is safe to swallow, which is especially since dogs can't spit and rinse. It leverages the power of Glucose Oxidase enzyme to help kill bacteria responsible for tartar formation, providing anti-plaque protection, alleviating bad breath and strengthening the gums. It helps dogs to look and feel pawsome.
You can also try Francodex Toothpaste Powder For Dogs if you prefer toothpaste in an easier-to-use form. It contains a mixture of brown algae, sodium bicarbonate, and fructo-oligosaccharides to limit the formation of plaque and effectively combat your dog’s bad breath. Simply sprinkle the food ration with the product to let it work its oral care magic.
In addition, you can get traditional bristle brushes that are known to be more effective than fingertip brushes in removing dental plaque.
Recommended products:
- Bio PetActive Biodent Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs 100ml
- Francodex Toothpaste Powder 70g for Dogs
- Kojima Pet 360° Roll Soft Toothbrush
Edible dental food / treats
For daily maintenance:
Did you know that some dog complete foods actually have ingredients that are beneficial for oral care? These are pawsome options especially for dogs who are currently facing dental problems
Recommended products:
- Purina Pro Plan All Size Puppy Dry Food 2.5kg
- Iams Dog Adult Small Breed Chicken Dry Food
For supplementary maintenance:
Edible dental chew treats are thoughtfully created in fun shapes and sizes to make removing plaque and tartar more exciting for your dog. By actively chewing on these dental treats, your dog will have cleaner teeth and fresher breath.
To encourage regular maintenance of dental hygiene between dentist visits, many brands have amended the formula for these chews and transformed them from an occasional tasty treat to a healthier, low-fat option that can be offered to your dogs daily.
What do we recommend? Enriched with kelp, cloves, and sodium hexametaphosphate, the Brit Care Functional Snack Dental Venison Dog Treats are a wholesome choice for owners looking for soft, semi-moist dental snacks. Doggies with tooth problems can also happily and easily chew these treats because of their soft texture.
Another great option to consider is the Doggyman Dog Treats Dental Biscuit with Chlorophyll. Not only does the cellulose reduce dental plaque, calculus and gum inflammation, but the chlorophyll makes your dog’s breath fresher.
Recommended products:
- Brit Care Functional Snack Dental Venison Dog Treats 150g
- Doggyman Dog Treats Dental Biscuit with Chlorophyll
- Armonto A star Aged Dental Treat Brush for Senior Dogs
Non-edible dental chews
If you have a more playful dog, dental toys are a great choice. But make sure that the toy is made out of a durable material, an appropriate hardness (dependent on the size of your dog), and size.
A chew toy that cannot be indented with your fingernail will be too hard for your dog and will likely fracture his teeth. If the toy is too small for your dog, it risks becoming a choking hazard; if the toy is too big for your dog, it will strain and injure his jaw. Choose a durable chew toy that will not rip off or fall apart into smaller pieces that can be accidentally ingested.
To err on the side of caution, all your dogs' chew time should be supervised. This is to ensure that the edible chews are not gobbled up too quickly and that the chew toys remain safe for your dogs.
Looking for a dental toy for your beloved pooch? Rawhide dental toys are a popular choice amongst pet owners. Available in various animal forms, such as ducks, lions and rabbits, the Doggyman Cowhide Dental Toy series is cute and reduces plaque buildup on a dog's teeth.
If you’re looking for an interactive dental toy, we recommend the Zolux Spiky Toy Ball With Rope. Ultra-durable and ultra-fun, both you and your doggie can play a thrilling game of tug of war using the toy. Importantly, the toy’s spikes prevent tartar build-up when bitten.
Recommended products:
- Doggyman Cowhide Dental Toy For Dogs
- Zolux Spiky Toy Ball With Rope
- AFP Dental Chew Toy
Water solutions
Unfortunately, some dogs are more stubborn than others. When edible chews are scoffed at and chew toys are ignored, alternative ways must surface to help maintain a dog’s dental health between vet visits.
Water additives can be added to fresh drinking water to help your dog attain cleaner teeth the easy way. Bio PetActive Biodent Hexidine Oral & Dental Care For Dogs is a superb water additive to consider because it's tasteless, odourless and non-toxic, so you don't need to worry about your dog rejecting it. Its antiseptic properties contribute to the reduction in tartar buildup on the teeth and prevention of bad breath, helping you to optimise your furbaby's oral well-being conveniently.
Recommended products:
- Bio PetActive Biodent Oral Water Additive For Dogs
- Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Water Additive For Dogs
- Beaphar Plaque Away Mouth Wash for Dogs 250ml
Dental Sprays
Owners who have busy lifestyles will adore dental sprays. Simply apply the spray to the teeth to prevent or break down dental plaque buildup. This solution is quick and simple but like all other supplementary dental care products, dental sprays cannot replace regular toothbrushing sessions. Some dental sprays aid fresh breath too.
Recommended products:
- Vetocanis Dogs Dental Anti-Tartar with Fluoride Spray 150ml
- Beaphar Fresh Breath Spray for Dogs
Invest in your furbaby’s oral wellbeing now
Let’s all take action right now to reverse the sad trend where dog oral illness is commonplace. Don’t let dental disease compromise your pooch’s quality of life, start brushing those teeth daily and using supplementary dental care products today.
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Written by Jolene
