Just like us humans, dental health is really important to your dog’s overall health and wellbeing. Caring for your dog’s teeth is easier than you probably imagine it to be and even simple activities such as feeding them natural dog treats can go a long way in maintaining your dogs oral health. Two specific treats which are very effective in maintaining your dog’s oral hygiene are the Yak treat and the Antler treat.
The Yak milk bone is a hard treat and your dog will enjoy chewing to soften the hardened Yak milk. As well as being tasty, these treats are much safer for your dog than traditional animal product chews.
The Antler treat is great for puppies but also suitable for older dogs and has the same kind of longevity as the Yak.
An adult dog has 42 teeth, that’s ten more than an adult human! As dogs age they do tend to lose teeth normally when they are playing with rough items such as sticks or stones. When you take your dog for grooming the Ultrasound Teeth Clean will show up any issues. A lost or broken tooth is not normally problematic but if they lose too many then you can mention it to your vet next time you visit.
The types of teeth a dog has are again very similar to humans and their dental set is made up of Incisors, Canines, Premolars and Molars. Dogs are primarily carnivorous animals and their teeth have been perfectly designed to help them chew and break down large joints of meat or bones.
Although it is fairly easy to care for your dog's teeth when you know how to do it and what to feed them, dental health problems are fairly common in dogs and up to 80% of dogs have some sort of dental or gum disease by the time they are 2 years old.
As well as giving your dog healthy treats to help clean their teeth, you can actually buy a
doggy toothbrush and brush their teeth for them, some dogs even enjoy this! There are even special dog toothpastes which you can buy from many veterinary clinics. You can even book a special dog cleaning treatment with Ultrasound to take the best possible care of your dog’s teeth. This is the most effective type of dental treatment for your dog and is completely safe with no anaesthetic risk.
If you decide to brush your dog’s teeth, then start as early as possible. Just like human children, it’s also important to care for the milk teeth in dogs as this sets the precedent for long term good dental health with the root of the milk teeth being absorbed into the gums.
Although gum disease is common, it’s much more rare to get cavities in a dog’s teeth than it is a human because they are not exposed to the same levels of sugar as humans. Although some pet owners still give chocolate to their dog’s, it is really not advisable. This is the same for other sweet treats like fruit and if you want to treat your dog to something delicious it’s much better to offer a specifically created dog treat.
If you are worried about your dog’s oral health at all, you should always seek advice from your local vet. If you see any of these symptoms occurring in your pet then it’s advisable to get them checked sooner rather than later.
- Red gums
- Bleeding gums
- Plaque
- Bad breath
- Traces of blood in food or water bowls
- Thick saliva
- Favoring one side of the mouth
- Dropping food while eating
- Facial swelling
- Rubbing the face with the paws or on the floor
Knowing about your dog’s teeth and dental health will help them to live a long and enjoyable life filled with fun and tasty, healthy treats.