Dental Care For Dogs – Support Dental Health With Chewing Articles And Food

Regular Dental care for dogs prevents dental diseases. If you want to take care of your dog’s teeth, you can combine different methods. Besides daily brushing, the right food and chewing utensils help to reduce the bacterial load in the mouth and prevent tartar.

Dental Care To Prevent Diseases In Dogs

With the right dental care, you not only support the dental health and oral hygiene of your dog, but you also reduce the risk of diseases such as heart or kidney disease. If food remains in the mouth, it provides a breeding ground for bacteria. As in humans, plaque can form. This is a soft film of food particles, saliva, and a bacterial lawn.

By brushing your dog’s teeth every day, plaque can usually be easily controlled. However, if you do not remove it, it will become thicker over time and also harder due to the inclusion of mineral salts. Tartar develops, which adheres firmly to the tooth and can no longer be removed with a toothbrush. Tartar is often associated with gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). This progresses under the tartar and eventually attacks the periodontium as well. The consequences are loose teeth and tooth loss.

Persistent inflammation in the oral cavity weakens the immune system. This saps your dog’s energy and he may appear tired and listless. If the bacteria from the plaque also get into the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, it can cause damage to other organs. Heart and kidney disease, for example, are also associated with dental disease in dogs.

How To Recognize Dental Problems In Your Dog

As with many other diseases, the same applies to dental diseases: Prevention is the best therapy. While you can perform preventive oral hygiene measures on your dog yourself, dental treatment (e.g. for scaling or tooth extraction) is only possible in a veterinary practice. For such treatment, your dog must be put under anesthesia, which is a burden for circulation, kidneys, and liver.

In order to recognize dental diseases in your dog as early as possible and to be able to counteract them, you should regularly take a look at the dog’s teeth and – if possible – in the oral cavity. To do this, gently push the lips upwards with your finger. So you can look at the gums, the incisors, the canines, and the front molars. If your dog is very well-behaved and used to the examination from the routine veterinary check-up, you can also try opening the muzzle and looking at the back molars.

With proper feeding and supportive dental care for dogs, the risk for the dental disease can be reduced. Many smaller breeds of dogs with short muzzles, in particular, suffer from misaligned jaws and teeth. The natural cleaning effect at the end of the muzzle and the chewing process is impeded and tartar is deposited more quickly. If you are aware of such a malocclusion in your dog, regular check-ups and preventive dental care are especially important.

Symptoms of dental problems in dogs:

  • Problems chewing dry food
  • unclean eating behavior – food remains fall out of the mouth or are distributed in the bowl environment
  • Mouth odor
  • increased salivation
  • reddened or bleeding gums
  • Yellow or brown discoloration of the teeth
  • Loosening of teeth or loss of teeth

When you take your dog to the vet, make sure that the mouth is always looked at. Just like taking a temperature, looking into the oral cavity is part of the general clinical examination. Only regular and thorough checks can detect diseases at an early stage.

Supporting Oral Hygiene In Dogs – These Options Are Available

There are many possibilities for dental hygiene in dogs. The most important measure is regular tooth brushing. Special toothbrushes for dogs and flavored or unflavored toothpaste are available at reasonable prices, for example in pet stores. Your vet will also be happy to advise you on suitable dental care products for your dog. If your four-legged friend comes to you as a puppy, you can already brush the milk teeth and establish a routine for dental hygiene.

Older dogs who have not yet learned to brush their teeth can be introduced slowly. Start with short episodes (e.g. brushing the incisors and canines). If the dog puts up with it, you can extend the brushing time and work your way up to the molars. If the dog’s teeth are already covered with solid layers of tartar, you will not be able to do anything about it with a normal toothbrush. In this case, you must first have your teeth cleaned at the veterinarian’s office to remove the buildup.

Teeth brushing is most effective if it is done daily. However, not every dog tolerates manipulation of the mouth. For dogs that react defensively or don’t want to go through with brushing every day, you can optimize dental care with other methods. These include:

  • special chewing articles for dental care
  • Feeding dry food
  • Giving other chewing articles
  • professional teeth cleaning at the vet

Dental Care For Dogs – Special Chewing Articles For Dental Care

Chewables specially designed for dental care of dogs provide abrasion of plaque during chewing. Many of these products also contain ingredients that are harmless to dogs, provide fresh breath and support oral hygiene. Chew sticks or chew bones for dental care are available in many flavors. Most dogs tolerate them well and like to eat them. For an effective effect, your dog should receive a dental care chew every day. The chews also need to be large and firm enough for the dog to chew on for a while, so that abrasion of the plaque can occur.

Dental Care In Dogs – Feeding Dry Food

Feeding dry food has a similar effect. When biting the pellets, it comes to the abrasion of dental plaque. Look for high-quality dry food without added sugar. Sugar promotes bacterial growth and will adversely affect dental health.

Dental Care For Dogs – Giving Other Chewing Articles

In addition to special dental care chewable, all other natural chewable for dogs also help clean teeth. Beef skin bones, carrots, chewing wedges as well as chewing toys specially designed for dental care train the chewing apparatus, promote salivation, and ensure the reduction of dental plaque and bacteria accumulation in the oral cavity.

Dental Care For Dogs – Professional Dental Cleaning At The Veterinarian

Even if you want to support your dog’s dental care by feeding dry food and giving chewing articles, these methods are only effective if fixed tartar has been removed beforehand. If your vet detects tartar in your dog, he will suggest a dental cleaning. If there is nothing wrong with anesthesia, dental cleaning is the best starting point for regular dental care at home.

FAQ: Dental Care For Dogs

How Many Dental Care Chews Should My Dog Get?

The recommended amount for dental care chews can vary from product to product. Many products are given once per day. For others, the amount is based on the dog’s weight. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions as well as your veterinarian’s recommendation.

Can Dental Care Chews Replace Brushing?

Dental care chews for dogs support oral hygiene. They reduce plaque and reduce the risk of plaque recurrence. However, brushing your dog’s teeth ensures that all teeth are reached. Even dental care products for chewing do nothing against tartar. In this case, a dental cleaning must first take place in the veterinary practice.

Can I Use Human Toothpaste For My Dog’s Dental Care?

No. Toothpaste for humans can contain substances that are toxic for dogs. Always use special dog toothpaste for your dog. These come in different flavors such as liverwurst, chicken, or peanut butter.

Related articles

Cane Corso – A Beautiful Italian Dog

The Essentials What is a Cane Corso exactly? The ... read more
reading time: 8 minutes call 1

Feeding The Dog With Wet Food – This Is What You Need To Consider

Dog owners are faced with the question of how ... read more
reading time: 3 minutes call 1

Vegan Dog Food – Fad Or Sensible Form Of Nutrition?

Not only more and more people are adopting a ... read more
reading time: 4 minutes call 1

Vegetables for dogs – healthy and dangerous vegetables

Vegetables can be a real treat for dogs. For ... read more
reading time: 6 minutes call 1

Vegetables For Dogs – Healthy And Dangerous Vegetables

Vegetables can be a real treat for dogs. For ... read more
reading time: 6 minutes call 1

Dog Has Blood In The Stool: These Are The Reasons For It

If your dog is defecating with traces of blood, ... read more
reading time: 6 minutes call 1

Deine E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht veröffentlicht. Erforderliche Felder sind mit * markiert.

Don't miss anything anymore!

Would you like to be regularly informed about news? Then sign up for our newsletter easily and free of charge!