Your dog’s tendency to chew on anything he can sink his teeth into is a pretty normal canine behavior that we can take advantage of! Dog foods and treats often boast their dental benefits and tossing your pup a dental treat can be a lot easier than trying to get him to allow you to brush his teeth. While Dental treats and foods should not be used in place of regular brushing and dental cleanings they certainly can help!
When buying Dental treats for your dog there are a few things you should keep in mind. Consider the size of the treat you’re buying. If Fido can chomp it up and have it gone in seconds it didn’t really get the chance to do its job properly. Larger treats can encourage your dog to chew them for longer, which will maximize the tooth scraping benefit. Your dog should spend about 30 minutes of gnawing on something daily. When shopping for dental treats look for something with the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s seal of approval on it. This means that it has been studied and proved to have some dental benefits. You can also find a list of diets and treat here: VOHC Approved products.
Now that you have stocked up on dental treats and diets you may be tempted to dismiss you dental worries. These worries should not be dismissed just quite yet! Keep in mind that like humans many dogs have different bites and sometimes even teeth crowding. This can make it very difficult for the treats to do their work as these mouths can offer “hiding spots” for bacteria and plaque.
While chewing on dental toys and treats can be extremely helpful in the battle against plaque and calculus, they need to be used in conjunction with a tooth brush and regular dental cleanings with your veterinarians. The act of chewing works only on the visible surface of the teeth, not under the gums. The gum line provides an excellent place for bacteria to hang out and create problems. Regular brushing and Dental Cleanings are the only way to ensure this important area is getting cleaned properly.
This blog post was written by McQueen Animal Hospital, a veterinary clinic in Brampton providing quality affordable veterinary care
