Why Dental Care for Pets

Dental Care. It’s crucial for humans, so why not pets, too? It is a common misconception that dogs & cats do not need their teeth cleaned regularly. Animals in the wild do not have their teeth taken care of, so why should house animals?

Here’s why.

First and foremost, not cleaning your pet’s teeth leads to bad breath.. duh!
Some people believe that with some fresh breath spray to mask the smell, all of your problems are fixed. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.
While fresh breath spray does have its benefits (like making your dogs’ breath smell better), all it does is mask the smell. Bad breath is caused by a few things; dehydration, plaque build-up (which then turns into tartar), stuck food, illness, and even an oral abscess.

“Who would think that tartar could be such a problem? The thing with tartar is it doesn’t start out that way. In fact, it starts its journey on your dog’s teeth as plaque, which begins to form hours after a dog eats. As plaque combines with the salts found in dog saliva, it builds up and hardens, which is when it turns into tartar. And tartar is a welcoming sign to dental problems and gum disease—opening the door to pain, illness, and a host of expensive medical bills.”

In more detail, plaque build-up can lead to teeth deterioration, tartar, kidney failure, liver failure, gum disease, and more. Cleaning your dog’s teeth can add up to THREE YEARS to their lifespan; And if you’re like me, you want your dog to live forever.

So, now that we are all on board with dental cleaning, how do you do it?

Don’t let tartar get the upper hand in your dog’s mouth. There are things you can do to get rid of / minimize it, many of which you can do at home:

Brush your dog’s teeth on a daily or weekly basis. (Video coming soon on introducing your dog to teeth cleaning)

1. Give your dog dental treats, such as Greenies and other teeth cleaning treats. Greenies are my go-to because of how much my dog loves them and I want him to enjoy oral care as much as possible.
2. Get the real deal—real, raw bones help scrape off soft plaque deposits on dog teeth. I wholeheartedly recommend bully sticks & elk antlers. Bully sticks can be pricey and don’t last as long as elk antlers, so I only buy them (bully sticks) on special occasions or if there is a sale.
3. Vet offices offer professional cleaning for your dog’s teeth. Costs will depend on the severity of plaque and tartar buildup, so I recommend doing the things listed above regularly to avoid professional teeth cleaning.

While you’re brushing your dog’s teeth, be sure to keep an eye out for the telltale warning signs of gum disease. These include bad breath, a brown/golden crust of tartar around the gum line, red and swollen gums, and pain (flinching) or bleeding when you touch his gums or mouth.

I would like to note that if you brush your dog’s teeth aggressively, they will flinch and most likely bleed. Brush your dog’s teeth in circular motions using light pressure.

Besides practicing dog dental care at home, have your vet perform a dental check during your annual visit. It’s normally done free of charge, and your vet will be able to communicate your pet’s needs with you, as well as notifying you if your pet needs further care.

For tips and tricks on teaching your dog to enjoy teeth cleaning, follow our Instagram @trustyourpup