Category Archives: Teeth

Dogs, Teeth

How to Clean My Dog’s Teeth

 

Brushing your dog’s teeth every day with a dog-safe toothpaste is the best way to keep their teeth clean, but some dogs hate it and will run from the sight of a toothbrush. Luckily, there are other options that your dog might actually enjoy. Here are 5 ways to clean your dog’s teeth that they won’t hate.

1. Natural Dental Sprays

If your dog will hold still long enough for you to pick up their lips on either side of their mouth, a natural canine dental spray may be a good option.

Many dental sprays will help reduce and prevent dental plaque and tartar build-up as well as control the bacteria that causes bad breath, as long as you can manage to spray the product directly onto your dog’s most-affected teeth. As a bonus, sprays often give your dog minty-fresh breath.

2. Healthy/Natural Diet

Dog food companies would like to convince you that dry kibble is better for your dog’s teeth than wet food. Relying on kibble to keep your dog’s teeth clean would be as effective as expecting crackers to keep your teeth clean.

Fresher diets with healthier ingredients tend to help improve your dog’s overall health and well-being, and that includes their dental health.

3. Dental Chew Toys

There are lots of toys on the market designed to encourage your dog to chew. Dental chew toys with lots of variety in texture can help scrape the plaque off your dog’s teeth as they relax and enjoy their primal instinct to chew.

Your dog should always be supervised when playing with chew toys to make sure they don’t swallow any large pieces.

4. Raw Bones

While cooked bones can splinter and cause all sorts of problems for your dog, raw bones are a fantastic way to help keep your dog’s teeth clean while satisfying their urge to chew.

Keep in mind that you’ll want to choose size-appropriate bones. A chicken wing could choke a Great Dane and a cow femur would be a tall order for a Yorkie.

5. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been referred to as “nature’s toothpaste”. The antimicrobial properties of this popular oil not only promote dental health, but dogs go absolutely bonkers for the flavor.

Grab a healthy dog friendly vegetable like a carrot, poke holes in it with a knife, and drip liquid coconut oil into the holes. Then throw the carrot stick in the freezer for a few minutes and then serve to your pup. Make no mistake, this is going to make a colossal mess, but your dog is going to have a great time gnawing on the carrot, all while cleaning their teeth in a safe and effective way.

Diana Ruth Davidson,  Westside Dog Nanny,             Certified Professional Pet Sitter,                            Certified by American Red Cross in Pet First Aid

Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in Your Home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372

Dogs, Teeth

4 Treats That Can Harm Your Dog’s Teeth

 

Even though canine teeth are incredibly powerful, they’re still susceptible to fractures, breaks, and in some cases, even cavities. Pet parents might be surprised to discover that some of their dog’s favorite treats can put their dog’s oral health at risk. Here are some treats that can actually harm your dog’s teeth.

1. Sweets

Some pet parents can’t resist sharing their desserts with their dogs. Sweet treats like ice cream, cookies and other sugary human delicacies are a bad idea for dogs from a nutrition and weight standpoint, but sweet foods can also have a negative impact on tooth health as well.

Even though dogs aren’t as prone to cavities as humans because of the shape of their teeth (they have fewer flat teeth where bacteria can build up) and the pH in their mouths, it is still possible for dogs who eat an excessive amount of sugar to develop them, particularly on teeth in the rear of the mouth.

2. Ice

It might seem like ice cubes are a great dog treat because they do double duty as a quick chew as well as a way to hydrate. Unfortunately, those hard chunks of ice can do major damage. Even though dogs have powerful mouths, the pressure required to break through a piece of ice is considerable, and a determined ice-chomping dog might end up with a fractured tooth.

The sharpest points of a dog’s mandibular first molar and the maxillary fourth molar are particularly at risk for snapping off because of the pressure needed to crush ice. Come hot weather, skip the ice and give your dog a good old fashioned bowl of water instead.

3. Animal Bones, Antlers and Rolled Rawhide

Dogs have an innate need to exercise their jaws, however many beloved chews like bones, elk antlers and cow hooves can cause serious dental trauma like fractures and breaks. Bones, particularly antlers, have zero “give,” which makes them long lasting but also more likely to be hard enough to cause problems.

If you wouldn’t hit your knee with the bone or chew, it’s probably not a safe bet for your dog’s teeth. But that doesn’t mean that your furry best friend has to remain chew-less – your dog can still exercise his jaws on durable rubber treat-stuffable toys.

4. Hard-Plastic Dental Bones

Some processed plastic or nylon dental chew bones are marketed to suggest that they improve dental health, but they may in fact cause the same types of problems as antlers and hooves. Many of these chews don’t pass the “knee test,” which means that they’re hard enough to do damage to your dog’s teeth.

On top of that, some dental chews might not deliver the tooth cleaning benefits that they promise. Unfortunately most of these treats do not provide proof beyond anecdotal claims.

Diana Ruth Davidson,  Westside Dog Nanny,             Certified Professional Pet Sitter,                            Certified by American Red Cross in Pet First Aid

We offer:  Pet Sitting,  In-Home Dog Boarding, Dog Walking, Overnights in Your Home, Doggie Day Care.

Diana@WestsideDogNanny.com
310 919 9372