Let’s talk about teeth!
Let’s talk about teeth!
Is your dog suffering from stinky breath? Do you notice plaque and tartar build-up on his or her teeth?
Dental care is just important for our pets as it is for us. According to Webmd.com, by the time they are three years old, most dogs show some signs of gum disease. This can lead to painful infections, and even heart disease.
A healthy mouth supports a healthy dog!
But where do we start?
Well, just like us, dogs benefit from having their teeth brushed, adding kelp to their diet (more on this below), as well as yearly dental exams and professional cleanings, as needed. We also can help keep teeth clean by giving our dogs safe, healthy things to chew on.
The AKC has great, step-by-step instructions on exactly how to get your dog used to having his or her teeth brushed: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-brush-dog-teeth/
Most dogs don’t mind having their teeth brushed, if you go about it the right way. The short version is that you want to get your dog used to the toothbrush (links on my favorite brushes below), as well as whatever toothpaste or gel you’re going to use, and go slowly enough that they accept the process easily!
But how often should we brush?
According to most professionals, you should aim for brushing your dog’s teeth at least 3 times per week. But even weekly brushing is better than no brushing!
I recommend you pick a specific day and time each week, so that both you and your dog get into the good routine and habit of brushing. I brush my dogs’ teeth and trim or Dremel their toenails on Sundays.
(Now - before you groan about adding one more thing to your list of things to do each day/week, consider that for me and my kennel of pooches, this equals 627 teeth brushed! And because my dogs are in the routine of having it done each week, the whole process only takes me about 10 minutes! That means for the average pet owner, the whole thing should take only a minute or two.)
If you can link the toothbrushing routine to another daily or weekly routine, you’ll find it’s easy to incorporate, and your dog’s mouth and overall health will thank you in the long run!
Last but not least, if you’ve got a dog who absolutely will not tolerate brushing, you DO have other options – including chews, and no-brush tooth cleaning gels.
So, what products should you use?
Here is a list of toothpaste/gel products I’ve used and had success with in my 34 years of working with dogs:
Tropiclean Fresh Breath Gel – this gel can be used with toothbrushes, but doesn’t have to be! You an actually just put two drops on either side of your dog’s mouth, and let it do its magic! Best of all, it’s made with all natural ingredients.
Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste – this is also in gel-form and is easy to use with a toothbrush. My dogs don’t mind the taste, and I’ve found the enzymes seem to really break up tartar and plaque.
Virbac CET Enzymatic Pet Toothpaste – this one can also be used with cats, and is the brand many veterinarians recommend. It comes in a tasty poultry flavor that means most pets like the taste!
Now, on to toothbrushes:
Hands down, the easiest toothbrushes to use with most dogs are the finger brushes sold at most pet stores and online.
Here are two different styles:
Vet’s Best style (I’ve used these for the last 20+ years!)
What about kelp?
According to many vets, and the caninejournal.com, kelp is a great way to boost your dog’s overall health AND dental health. Kelp has a ton of health benefits, including:
Anti-inflammatory/Anti-itch
Promotes Dental Health (breaks plaque/tartar attachment to teeth)
Thyroid Health (be sure to check with your veterinarian if your dog has any thyroid issues, especially hyper- or hypothyroidism)
Cancer Prevention
You CAN overdo-it with kelp, so be sure to follow the recommended dosages carefully.
Here is the brand I use: Nature’s Farmacy Organic Norwegian Kelp
Chews and other dental options:
And finally, how do you think our dogs’ ancestors and current wild canines keep THEIR teeth clean? Well, lots of CHEWING, of course.
Dogs in the wild are most likely eating a lot of raw meaty bones, which can help clean the teeth quite a bit. (If your dog eats commercial dog food, the starches in the kibble can actually promote tooth decay).
But, taking on the feeding of a biologically appropriate, raw diet is an article for another day.
So, here are some tried-and-trusted chews that can be given to dogs eating both raw and commercial diets:
Bully Sticks – we love the Bestbullysticks.com brand! These all natural pizzle sticks are generally long-lasting and very satisfying for most dogs.
Pig & Cow Ears – yes, gross, but these are slightly softer than bully sticks, so they work well for dogs will smaller mouths/sensitive teeth.
Yak Cheese Chews – these are for HEAVY DUTY chewers – they are very hard, and can occasionally break teeth, so be sure to supervise your dog when giving these.
Hooves & Antlers – again, these are very hard, and not for dogs with soft/sensitive teeth or jaws, as they can break teeth.
Note: We do NOT recommend rawhide chews of ANY sort! They are famous for causing intestinal blockages that can lead to emergency surgeries or even death.
Always supervise your dog with any chews, to make sure they don’t tear off pieces that could cause choking or intestinal blockages, or break teeth.
In the end, your dog’s dental health affects overall health, happiness, and lifespan. Taking a few minutes each week to take care of Fifi or Fido’s teeth goes a long way!
Jennifer Hime is the Owner & Training Director of Front Range K9 Academy in Wheat Ridge, CO. She has been training dogs professionally since 1990, and can be reached at k9counselor.com
