Pearly whites

ORAL HYGIENE FOR OUR DOGS

TEXT: SARAH WANLESS

Oral hygiene is just as important for your canine companion as it is for you. Ignoring your dog’s oral hygiene can have serious consequences, ranging from tooth extraction to life-threatening conditions such as kidney, liver, and heart muscle damage. Further, dogs with dental issues can be extremely uncomfortable, and it is recommended to check your dog’s teeth regularly as part of their regular grooming routine. If you have any concerns, you should contact your vet promptly. In fact, dental disease is very common in dogs and usually features in the top five reasons for people seeking veterinary care.

As is the case with most diseases, prevention is better than cure. Here we list our top six recommendations for helping to keep your dog’s breath fresh and their kisses sweet.

BRUSHING YOUR DOG’S TEETH

This one should go without saying. Brushing your dog’s teeth daily is a great way to keep his gums and teeth healthy and prevent gum disease. If you can’t manage to brush their teeth daily, aim for at least once or twice a week, but the more often you can do it, the better. You’ll need a toothbrush, and there are several dog-specific toothbrushes on the market that are designed to help you get to all those hard-to-reach places. You’ll also need dog specific toothpaste, as human toothpaste contains xylitol, which is a toxic substance to dogs. Introducing the toothbrushing process gradually will mean that your dog may learn to enjoy the experience, which will make it a lot easier for everyone involved.

GNAWING ON CHEW TOYS

Letting your dog have a good gnaw on a chew toy helps keep those teeth pearly white, relieves boredom and fulfils their natural instinct to chew (what a win!?). Chewing is a natural, non-invasive way for dogs to clean their own teeth, as the act of gnawing helps to scrape off plaque. Recently there has been a dramatic increase in the number of dental toys on the market. They are made from materials ranging from plastic to rubber and nylon and come in all shapes and sizes. We recommend rotating through different types of chew toys as this helps to keep your dog interested in the activity. Be sure to supervise your dogs while they chew to ensure that if a piece of the toy breaks off, they don’t choke on it or ingest it.

DENTAL CHEWS/TREATS

Dental treats come in all shapes and sizes and are specifically designed with knobs, bumps and ridges, which help get into all the gaps and crevices between your dog’s teeth. These treats aim to minimise plaque and tartar build-up while giving the teeth a good polish – as an added bonus, they taste great! We recommend finding all-natural dental chews (such as Whimzees) or doing some research on the ingredients in the chews before feeding them to your pet. As with the chew toys, be sure to supervise your pet while they happily enjoy their treat.

FOOD AND WATER ADDITIVES

There are more and more options for substances that you can add to your dog’s food or water to help fight off plaque and bad breath. These sprays, powders and drops are a quicker alternative to brushing and maybe just as effective. These products are said to kill plaque-causing bacteria to make your dog’s breath smell fresh. In addition to the odour-eliminating effect, they can also remove and prevent tartar and plaque build-up.

RAW BONES

While feeding bones can be controversial, the research has increasingly shown that feeding raw, meaty bones for 30 minutes, two to three times a week, is very beneficial for canine oral health. It is also a much more enjoyable activity for your pooch than having their teeth brushed (even if you condition this slowly). While the action of scraping their teeth against the bone is beneficial, it is actually the action of pulling the bits of meat, gristle and cartilage off the bone that is more important, as this activity is similar to ‘brushing and flossing’ in humans. If you are unsure about feeding raw meaty bones, we recommend doing your own research.

A BRIEF ‘HOW TO’ ON RAW BONES

1. Only feed raw bones. Cooked bones can splinter and cause injuries, and smoked bones may be too hard and crack teeth.

2. Don’t feed bones that are too dense. Weight-bearing bones of large animals, like cow femur bones, are very dense. Feeding dense bones can increase the risk of teeth cracking. For small dogs, the rule of thumb in terms of density is that you should be able to cut the bone with a good pair of kitchen scissors.

3. Feeding the right-sized bone. The rough guide is that the bone should be bigger than your dog’s mouth, to reduce choking risk. Knuckles of medium-sized animals, like goats, sheep and pigs, are the ideal choice for teeth cleaning (and recreation).

4. Feed meaty bones. Yes - they are messier, but as mentioned below, they have benefits.

5. ALWAYS supervise your dog when they have a bone.

ATTEND REGULAR CLEANINGS AT YOUR VET

It goes without saying that regular, professional cleanings are one of the best ways to maintain your dog’s oral health and prevent any dental problems like periodontal disease. Most dogs need oral exams once a year so that veterinarians can check for early signs of any serious problems. Certain breeds, such as English Bulldogs, Yorkshire Terriers, and Dachshunds, are more susceptible to periodontal disease.

Having a professional cleaning is quite invasive and requires that your dog be put under general anaesthetic. This is why being proactive and ensuring you do all you can to keep those teeth pearly white at home will save you and your dog a lot of stress (and money).