Practical Advice on Dog Dental Hygiene from a Veterinary Professional
Maintaining your dog's dental health is an essential part of their overall well-being. Here's a guide to help you choose the best long-lasting dental chews and learn the proper techniques for tooth brushing.
Long-Lasting Dental Chews for Dogs
Long-lasting dog chews are an effective way to promote dental health. These chews, designed to reduce plaque and tartar buildup, are often natural, durable treats that provide mental stimulation. Some highly recommended options include:
- Yak dental chews: Made from yak and cow milk, these chews are protein-rich, grain- and gluten-free, and provide excellent durability. They are renowned for their long-lasting nature and gentle texture, making them suitable even for dogs with weaker jaws.
- Bright Dental Chews (BARK): These chews feature scrubbing ridges and a toothpaste groove, targeting plaque by mechanically scrubbing teeth as dogs gnaw them. They come in size-specific formulas and are made without artificial colors or flavors.
- Get Naked® Calming Health Dental Dog Chew Sticks: These all-natural chews combine dental health benefits with calming herbal ingredients, making them suitable for all breeds and life stages.
- Zesty Paws All-in-One FUNctional Dental Bones: These treats promote periodontal health and fresh breath, and are softer than some traditional chews, making them suitable for smaller dogs.
Remember, when choosing dental chews, look for products labeled with the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal, which indicates that the product has been tested and proven to reduce plaque formation.
Brushing Your Dog's Teeth
Ideally, a dog's teeth should be brushed at least once a day, but even brushing a few times a week is better than no brushing at all. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Put a little toothpaste on your finger or a toothbrush and gently lift the dog's lip to begin brushing.
- Brush back and forth across a few teeth, then pause and allow the dog to taste the toothpaste.
- Be careful with the pressure applied to avoid causing damage to the gum tissue.
- Focus most of the brushing along the gum line where bacteria and food material often accumulate.
- Offer praise and treats during brushing sessions to make the experience positive for the dog.
Using pet-specific toothpaste is recommended when brushing a dog's teeth. Petsmile Professional Natural London Broil Flavor Dog Toothpaste is a toothpaste that requires minimal effort and is suitable for both dogs and cats.
Additional Tips
- If brushing is not possible, consider feeding your dog a prescription veterinary dental diet to help reduce the risk of dental disease.
- Sessions should be limited to no more than a few minutes to make the puppy look forward to more.
- Puppies are naturally curious and can learn new things easily, making it a good time to introduce tooth brushing.
- Giving puppies time to explore the toothbrush and toothpaste and offering positive rewards is important during puppy brushing sessions.
- Bully sticks and yak cheese chews are highly durable and effective for aggressive chewers, but should be given under supervision due to potential choking risks.
- Avoid rawhide due to choking hazards and digestion concerns.
- Antlers and hooves are natural but can be too hard and risk tooth fractures in some dogs.
In conclusion, a combination of long-lasting dental chews and regular tooth brushing can significantly improve your dog's dental health. Choose the right dental chews, use gentle techniques when brushing, and make the experience positive for your dog.
- Long-lasting dental chews, such as Yak dental chews and Bright Dental Chews (BARK), can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup in dogs, promoting their dental health.
- When brushing a dog's teeth, it's important to use pet-specific toothpaste like Petsmile Professional Natural London Broil Flavor Dog Toothpaste, and avoid applying too much pressure to avoid gum damage.
- In addition to dental chews and tooth brushing, a veterinary dental diet can help reduce the risk of dental disease, especially when regular brushing isn't possible.
- Puppies, being naturally curious, can learn tooth brushing easily, making it beneficial to introduce it early in their lives.
- Bully sticks, yak cheese chews, and some antlers or hooves can be effective for aggressive chewers, but should be given under supervision due to potential choking risks.
- It's advisable to avoid rawhide, as it poses choking hazards and digestion concerns; instead, consider long-lasting and health-focused treats marketed under the health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and science sectors.
