How To Keep Your Pup’s Oral Health in Check

We have a lot of dog lovers in our office, so thought it might be helpful to share some doggy dental advice with our community! Dog dental care is an important area of pet care that can easily fall by the wayside. If your dog is a breed that is prone to dental disease (Greyhounds and many small-breed dogs), or they have had dental health issues in the past, it’s important to consider both at-home dental care and regular dental cleanings at the vet’s office.

Dog Dental Care Tips

Here are the best ways to keep your dog’s teeth and mouth as clean as possible and to eliminate bad breath:

Brush your dog’s teeth with canine toothpaste

When you invest in canine toothpaste, you might find that your dog really enjoys having their teeth cleaned because it’s usually flavored to suit your pup’s taste buds; think: chicken, beef, and peanut butter. Do, however, use caution when choosing a flavor of toothpaste to use; especially if your dog has a food allergy. Further, dogs that are food-motivated and can sit still for a couple of minutes will generally put up with getting their teeth brushed.

For large dogs, it’s okay to use a regular human toothbrush but, for small dogs, it is best to either use a baby toothbrush or a fingertip brush. There are dog tooth-brushing kits available that include toothpaste, a regular brush and a fingertip brush.

Believe it or not, brushing your dog’s teeth is similar to brushing your own teeth. First, get the toothbrush wet and apply a layer of toothpaste to the toothbrush, then start brushing. Your pup might resist you brushing the inside of their teeth and that’s okay. There’s also no need to worry about rinsing the toothpaste out of their mouth after you’ve finished brushing.

At minimum, try to brush your dog’s teeth 2-3 days per week. If you have the time and your dog enjoys this experience, brushing daily would be even better! If you are concerned that your dog may bite you if you brush their teeth, do not attempt it. Instead, try some of the following options:

Add dental powder to your dog’s meals: Powders are easy to apply to the top of your dog’s food and should be applied to every meal your pup enjoys. They typically contain a probiotic that helps promote healthy bacteria in your dog’s mouth while simultaneously removing plaque-building bacteria. This helps to freshen your dog’s breath while preventing tartar and plaque from building up on your dog’s teeth.
Try a dental water additive: These oral solutions are tasteless. Based on the directions on the bottle, you will add a certain amount of the water additive to your dog’s water bowl daily. The solution helps freshen your dog’s breath and kills plaque-building bacteria in your dog’s mouth.
Ask your vet about prescription dental food: For dogs that are opposed to the other options or that are very prone to periodontal disease, there are a few prescription dental food options available that have been clinically proven to help reduce dental disease. As your dog chews the food, the kibble cleans the surface of their teeth and, by doing so, reduces tartar buildup. The kibble also contains ingredients that help to kill bacteria that lead to plaque and tartar formation. Since these diets require a prescription from a veterinarian, you will need to ask your vet about trying a specific formula for your dog.
Give your dog dental treats: When you pick out dental treats or chews for your dog, make sure they have the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s Seal of Acceptance on the packaging as this seal indicates that these products help control tartar buildup.
Take your dog for regular dental cleanings: Yes, that’s right – dogs deserve dental love, too! No matter how much at-home dental care you provide for your dog, tartar will still build up over time on your canine’s teeth, just like with our teeth. We may brush our teeth daily, but we still need a dentist to clean our teeth periodically. The same is true for dogs.

When enough tartar and gingivitis are present in your dog’s mouth, your veterinarian will recommend a dental cleaning (called dental prophylaxis). Some dogs need dental cleanings yearly, and others every few years; it depends on the breed of the dog and the dental care that they receive at home.