Your dog’s oral health is important to their health, just like your oral health is important for your health. Poor oral health is linked to a variety of health issues including diabetes, heart issue & if gums disease the immune system is not able to fight as it should. There are things you can do to help your dog at home to have a healthier mouth. I always recommend your dog has his or her mouth checked at the Vet yearly at least. Small dogs & senior dogs tend to have more oral issues so they may need extra care & professional cleanings at your Vets more often than larger younger dogs. Larger breeds, younger breeds tend to chew more harder foods & chews helping to keep teeth healthier.
You should check your dogs teeth & gums on a regular basis, weekly or at least biweekly to insure there are no broken teeth, gums look pink & healthy, no lumps or unusual bumps, & no plaque or tartar is building up.
If your dog is comfortable with you brushing their teeth this should be done with a toothbrush made for dogs that is the proper size for the age & breed of your dog. Some dogs are more comfortable with a brush that fits on your finger such as this one. https://amzn.to/3Dd4gZz You will find some are fine with a toothbrush like these https://amzn.to/4i61EeN which is what I like for my dogs. You need to use toothpaste made for dogs like this: https://amzn.to/4309FOi . There are a variety of flavors for dogs, mine are not fans of ones they say are any type of “meat” flavor.
If your dog is not a dog who is comfortable with you brushing their teeth or you see some slight buildup I have used an oral spray that has worked very well with my dogs & some previous fosters. You have to be diligent to use per the instructions, which says every night before bed for 2 weeks then weekly. You spray it in the pets mouth right before bed, per the instructions then nothing to eat or drink. Petzlife has worked & I have seen really good results, but keep in mind not all dogs are comfortable with something being sprayed in their mouth. I have had a few not be thrilled, but none that were frightened or really showed concern. PetzLife link: https://amzn.to/3XdKfcd . It also comes in a gel that can be brushed on if the dog doesn’t like things sprayed in their mouth. link: https://amzn.to/4i3HKkG
There are products out there that you put drops in your pets water bowl, but honestly I have never used one that worked. They are usually too diluted in the water, you can’t control how much & when your dog will drink the water with product in it so I can’t recommend any.
Dogs chewing on natural raw bones is a great way to help keep their teeth clean. I usually find natural bones at smaller grocery stores that sell many products that cater to Spanish, Asian or Italian cultures, they often have butchers & you can get bones that are labeled as soup bones. If you don’t see packaged bones ask the butcher & I’m sure they will help you find what you need. I make sure that when I first give my dogs raw bones that they have a little meat on them, that they can’t get to the furniture or carpeted areas. There is a chance that blood from the meat could stain. I also set a timer & allow them 30 mins to chew at a time. I then refrigerate in sealed baggies & give again the next 2 days for 30 mins. Once the meat is all gone, I will leave them out & they can chew on them when they want. If they chew on them too long per sitting some dogs can get loose stools or whitish stools. If you have more than one dog be sure & keep them apart if there is any chance of guarding their bone or stealing from the other dog.
Some other good chew items to help teeth are bully sticks for larger dogs (here’s a link) https://amzn.to/3XcOYuC . If you have a medium or smaller dog there are thinner bully sticks for them as well. https://amzn.to/435KHwL . https://amzn.to/41oaYFv
Single ingredient chews are the best, no preservatives (unless natural) or additives.
Please don’t give rawhide (it is cleaned with bleach) & pig ears (are cleaned with formaldehyde). I know this is shocking, but most people don’t know & few regulations on pet products. Pets are considered property under the law in the US.
If you are comfortable & feel safe to do so you can purchase some pet dental hygiene instruments, now they are going to be the same that your hygienist would use or as sharp. Please know you could hurt our pet or yourself if you’re not careful. I will say I have been in the dental field for over 30 years & my Vet knows this, so she knows I on occasion have removed some tarter on my dogs teeth if needed. Here is a link for 3 hygiene instruments for pets : https://amzn.to/41oONPn If you are thinking of doing this it needs to be with a dog who is fully comfortable with you doing this, no fear or you need to stop & let the professionals at your Vet do this. Forcing a dog can hurt the trust bond you & your dog have.
There are pet dental clinics if you are interested in taking your pet to one. You can do a search online to find where the closest one is to you. Most Vets do cleanings for pets under anesthesia, & your pet should be healthy & current on blood work .
Thank you for reading, if you are liking the content on my blog please subscribe and you will get an email when I post new content. Debbie
Echoing Great Pet Care 