Dogs, like humans, can suffer from gum, mouth and teeth diseases so it is necessary to ensure that your dog’s teeth and gums are regularly checked and kept clean and healthy. The most natural way for a dog to keep his teeth and gums healthy is by chewing on raw bones or natural chew sticks. The other alternative to keeping your dog’s teeth and gums healthy is by brushing them regularly with a toothbrush and paste. It is a matter of preference which method you use, however as long as the dog’s teeth, gums and mouth is free from tartar and anything else that may cause abscesses, gum disease or any other type of periodontal disease
Raw Bones
“Give the dog a bone” from the old nursery rhyme carries far more weight than just being lines from a song.
Bones make up a large part of the staple diet of a wild dog. One of the benefits of your dog chewing a bone on a regular basis is that the chewing action required helps to dislodge any of the softer food which may have gotten caught between the teeth or lodged between the gums. The dog’s body has been designed to eat and chew and digest certain raw foods to keep it in peak condition.
In our modern society, the family pet is no longer the animal left to its own devices for hunting and survival. We provide our dogs with all its needs and more, including processed foods and treats which would not be a part of a normal diet and is not necessarily the best type of food for keeping the dog’s mouth clean and healthy.
Sporn Marrow Bones for Strong Chewers
Sporn Durable Marrow Chew Bones are the chewable nylon bones with “Jerky Flavour down the middle!” Perfect for strong chewers, nylon shavings act like a toot brush and help remove tartar from the dog’s teeth. Unlike traditional rawhide bones, this bone will last! If your dog is a power chewer, the manufacturer recommends choosing one size up. These products are available from Vet Products Direct in Australia or Amazon.com
Depending on the size of your dog, would depend upon the type of bone you would choose to give. For smaller dogs, chicken carcasses or chicken or turkey necks are great. For larger dogs, a raw marrow bone is ideal – the dog can chew the hard outer part and then enjoy licking and eating the soft marrow on the inside. Not only do these types of bones keep the mouth and gums clean but they also keep your dog happy and pleasantly occupied for hours on end. Don’t be surprised if they bury them and go back to them later! Bully Sticks from Best Bully Sticks are a wholesome, natural dog chew your dog will love that is healthy for them, too!
It is possible that some dogs may not be so keen to chew bones or they may not agree with their stomachs or may make their breath smell. In these instances, you might find that rawhide dog chews are just as good. If you prefer not to give the dog bones to chew then you may need to find a chew treat which is suitable or simply just clean the teeth with brush and toothpaste.
.Best Bully Sticks dog bones are natural dental dog chews with no artificial ingredients!
.Dogs don’t have to be big to be aggressive chewers!
Our Smoked Pork Femur Bones are a great choice for your small or medium dogs who love to chew! These all-natural chew bones are safe and long lasting, and your dog will love the delicious smoky flavor! There are also some meaty bits left on the bone for a special treat. Regular chewing promotes healthy teeth and gums!
5 to 7 inches long. Always supervise your dog while they enjoy chew bones.
Dog bone suitable for small to medium dogs
Includes tasty meat on the bone
Promotes healthy teeth and gums
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Even if your dog does chew bones, you may still wish to manually clean the teeth yourself just to be certain that there is no sign of any abscesses or gum disease. You will need to purchase a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste which is specifically designed for dogs.
Never use human toothpaste in your dog’s mouth! Why? Dogs cannot spit the toothpaste out of their mouths and human toothpaste has some harmful chemicals if swallowed.
Vetoquinol Poultry-Flavored Toothbrush Kit for Dogs and Cats
Keep your pal’s teeth clean and healthy with the Vetoquinol Vet Solutions Enzadent Enzymatic Poultry-Flavored Toothbrush Kit for Dogs & Cats. This kit features a dual-ended toothbrush, a finger brush, and a tube of poultry-flavored enzymatic toothpaste. Enzymes are an effective way to polish and remove plaque from your pal’s teeth easily—it helps combat tooth and mouth illnesses when brushing your pet’s teeth regularly. The ergonomic toothbrush is specifically designed with both a large and small head to accommodate dog and cats of all sizes. Its soft bristles are made to help remove food debris and plaque. With its non-foaming toothpaste formula, it can safely be swallowed and doesn’t need to be rinsed out. Plus, the kit includes a finger brush to easily clean the teeth of those fidgety pups.
Key Benefits:
- A toothbrush kit that contains both a traditional-style, dual-ended toothbrush and a handy finger brush.
- Includes an enzymatic toothpaste that’s effective in polishing and removing plaque easily from teeth in both dogs and cats.
- The ergonomically designed toothbrush for dog and cats of all sizes has both a large and small head, plus the soft bristles help remove food debris and plaque.
- The poultry-flavored, non-foaming toothpaste can safely be swallowed and doesn’t need to be rinsed out.
- Comes with a finger brush, which is great for fidgety pups or as a starter brush to ease your pal into a new routine.
You may wish to use a nubby-surfaced rubber cap instead of a toothbrush. You may need to put some training time in so that your dog gets used to the procedure. By getting the dog used to your lifting the muzzle and touching the teeth or gums each day they will become accustomed to it. If you start training your puppy to have the teeth brushed at a very young age then you should have no problems by the time it gets to adulthood.
Why not try the following as an alternative?
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Finger Brush 2 pack
from: CherryBrook
Soft rubber bristles designed to clean hard to reach places.
The Petosan Dental Finger Cloth from Vet Products Direct
Petosan Oral Cleaner is an antimicrobial, chemical-free, self-cleaning microfiber finger cloth which helps remove plaque and bacteria in the mouth. The Oral Cleaner ensures easy cleaning of teeth and mouth. This is the ideal approach to regular tooth brushing.
Use Oral Cleaner daily for 10 days. Then continue with the Petosan double-headed toothbrush.
Petrodex Natural Toothpaste for Dogs Petrodex Natural Toothpaste 2.5 oz.
You buy organic vegetables. You shop the farmer’s market every weekend. You read labels. And you’ll love Petrodex Natural Toothpaste. Free of artificial preservatives and additives, Petrodex Natural Toothpaste helps remove plaque and food from your dog’s teeth while gently cleaning his mputh. It contains only natural ingredients and abrasives to safely remove plaque that can lead to tartar and gum irritation. The yummy peanut flavor will have your dog happy for cleaning time!
So, all you do is lift the muzzle up and rub the brush or your finger, with a little toothpaste on, over all the teeth until you can see the gums and teeth are clean and free from anything that may be caught.
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A Dog’s Unhealthy Teeth and Gums………………………………..Cleaning the Teeth………………………………Healthy Teeth and Gums
If you really have difficulty getting your hand near the dog’s mouth (perhaps it is a rescue dog who may get aggressive) then don’t put yourself in any danger. The last thing you want to do is to get bitten. In this instance, the best thing to do is to give your dog a bone or dental toy to chew every now and then and get your vet to check the gums and teeth and/or give them a brush at the dog’s next visit.
- PET SAFE MATERIAL: The dog toothbrush stick is made of all natural rubber, is non-toxic and eco-friendly. Soft texture designed to be safe for your dog’s teeth and gums.
- NOVEL DESIGN: This toothbrush stick is covered with bristles on the top and has a holding base on the bottom. Rigid bristles help to grind away plaque and loosen tartar in hard to reach places.
- EASY TO CLEAN: Rubber material is very easy to clean by hand or can be cleaned in dishwasher(Top Rack). To keep the brush stick clean, we suggest to clean it after each use.
- PLUS! : We include a Pet Grooming glove! Durable silicone grooming tips, mimics the touch of your hand for a soft and relaxing massage. Quickly and easily remove shedded hair from your dog, they will love the attention! Newly added to kit for Summer 2019 Two hand held, long grip tooth brushes!
- 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: With BubbaWoof Brand Your satisfaction is our top priority!
How do I tell if I my dog has dental problems? Keep checking his/her teeth and gums regularly. If you see some decay or discoloration on the teeth and gums then it would be best for you to start brushing the dog’s teeth regularly. Bad breath can be a sign that there is a dental problem. If you notice a change in the gums (they should be a mild pinkish color) or the discoloration or markings on the teeth then the best thing is to take your dog to the vet. If not seen to straight away, you will be running the risk of further infection and problems which can lead to high veterinary expenses. Be aware also, that as your dog gets older so the teeth will start to wear down and also get slightly yellowed. This is a natural process and doesn’t necessarily mean that the dog has dental problems. You can generally tell the difference between natural aging discoloration and dental disease. However, if you brush your dog’s teeth once a week or so, and/or give some dental bones to chew you will be maintaining the dog’s health and happiness as well as keeping those vet bills down.
Teeth Cleaning Products
There are many products on the market including dental sprays, dental rinses, toothpastes, wipes, however the best products for keeping your dog’s gums and teeth in top condition are not necessarily the cheapest. Beware of the ingredients in toothpastes as they may contain some chemicals which could possibly be not good for your dog’s health. You might like to look at the following products that we have discovered.
PetzLife Oral Care Gel Salmon 4oz
from: CherryBrook
Petzlife Oral Care Gel is 100 percent natural with specially formulated grape seed extract and other all natural herbs and ingredients to produce a very safe alternative to tooth scaling.
Features: Breaks down plaque and tartar; Works under the gum line to help heal gum irritation; Kills bacteria that cause bad breath; Available in Salmon and Peppermint flavors; 4 ounce bottles
Supplements
As well as the above you can also promote good oral hygiene in your dog by giving specific supplements to prevent disease in the mouth and help keep it free from bacteria which can cause bad breath. If not kept clean plaque and tartar caused by these bacteria will eventuate into abscesses and tooth loss; but not only that, if not treated, will eventually result in damage to internal organs. Finding natural and chemical free supplements which will aid in the oral hygiene of your dog is a great way of preventing any sort of problems occuring, particularly as your dog gets older. Gum and tooth disease can be expensive to rectify and will affect the dog’s ability to eat and chew. Prevention of disease is definitely a better option than cure. Here are a few products you may wish to consider for your dog:
ProDen PlaqueOff Powder Dog & Cat Supplement is a 100% natural powder made from selected North Atlantic seaweed. Simply sprinkle or mix in your pet’s dry or wet food as part of his daily diet and routine for oral health and hygiene. Start with small doses and gradually work up to recommended amounts.
Key Benefits: Made from selected North Atlantic seaweed and free from additives and artificial preservatives and contains no gluten or added sugar; Supports normal and healthy teeth, gums and breath odor; Helps treat bad breath, tartar and plaque when added to your pet’s daily diet and routine for oral health and hygiene; Results can be seen as soon as 3-8 weeks; Easy to use: simply sprinkle over dry or wet food.
