Dog dental health: Have you ever taken a moment to think about how much your four-legged friend uses their mouth?  Nearly every moment of every day my dog, Pickle’s mouth will be in use, whether that’s eating, tearing up my favourite shoes or catching his favourite ball. Chewing and licking are not only essential for eating but are really important as an enrichment activity, keeping your pup mentally stimulated, happier and less destructive.

Every day I advise clients the importance of oral care for their dogs, and dog dental health, yet it is unfortunately commonly neglected at home. Poor dental dental hygiene can lead to a whole host of problems, even impacting kidney function. So what are signs of poor dog dental hygiene;

• Halitosis (Bad breath): Don’t dismiss your pups “doggy breath” as normal. A healthy mouth is a scent free mouth and certainly should never be smelly.
• Tartar: As we all know teeth are white, they may become stained and yellow over time but what we should never see are brown tartar deposits. Tartar is a build up of solidified bacteria.
• Gingivitis: This is inflammation of the gum lining, gums will be red and can be sore to touch and even bleed!
• Tooth loss: Losing a tooth is not normal and can be extremely painful. As dental disease progresses, gums recede exposing the ligaments and alveolar bone which keep their teeth in place, to bacteria. Bacteria can cause these to erode away causing tooth loss and potentially painful tooth root infections.

Now we know how important our dog dental health is – how can we keep their mouths healthy?

Brush your dogs teeth with a dog toothbrush

Can you imagine not brushing your teeth for years? Neither can I. Now unfortunately our dogs haven’t quite mastered how to hold a dog toothbrush but luckily for them we have!

With plenty of treats and a gradual introduction, brushing with a dog toothbrush can become a fun activity for both you and your dog. All it takes is 2 minutes. Yes they may be wiggly, I know Pickle  is, but take your time and keep going.

Dog Dental chews

The veterinary oral health council have recommended a number of different dental chews which provide an abrasive action to help reduce tartar build up.

Greenies are designed to have a chewy texture without risking damage to the teeth. Not only are they delicious they are made with natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals and are easily digestible.

Whimseezs are made with all-natural ingredients,  with no artificial ingredients, colours, flavours, preservatives, GMOs, gluten, or meat. They’re also high in fibre and low in calories and sugars.

Carrots and broccoli stalks provide a low calorie alternative for those pups watching their waistlines.

Dental scale and polish

As tartar forms a cement like substance on the teeth sometimes chews and brushing are not enough to remove it. This is when professional veterinary dental cleanings may be required.

This involves a a full oral exam including below the gum line, dental x-rays and a dental scale and polish with an ultrasonic cleaner which vibrates at a very high frequency to remove tartar from the surface of the teeth.

Unfortunately as we can’t ask our dogs to sit still or equally explain to them why we are using a piece of equipment, which can make their teeth feel uncomfortable we would only ever recommend having this performed under an anaesthetic.

Dog Dental X-rays are performed to assess tooth roots for underlying infections and disease. Again this could only be done under an anaesthetic. Unfortunately teeth are very much like icebergs and even if the surface of the tooth looks clean once the tartar has been removed there can be disease below the surface which needs to be treated.

For anyone who has ever had a sore tooth, you can surely vouch for how painful that can be. I will often hear ‘but he’s still been eating’. Our pups are the masters of hiding pain. I am routinely shocked with a poor little pup hiding a nasty tooth root infection but will still greedily chomp down a treat on offer. Dogs will cope and make do but we  have to be the advocate for our pets and their health. Be their voice! It gives me the greater pleasure hearing an owner say after a dental cleaning…