Why Is Dental Health Important?
Dog dental care is something most dog owners don’t worry about, even though dental disease affects 80% of adult dogs. That’s 4 in every 5 adult dogs. The daily build-up of plaque and tartar can cause various gum issues like gingivitis and periodontitis. Heart disease has also been linked to dental health because of the plaque bacteria that can enter the bloodstream, affecting different organs.
Dental disease is a real threat to our canines, but luckily, there are things we can do to help prevent it. In addition to regular brushing, and getting cleanings at your vet, the action of chewing helps reduce plaque build-up. So the easiest thing you can do is give your dog some dental chew treats. (For more on how to care for your dog’s dental health, check out our past blog post here.)
Our Dental Chew Picks
Here are 5 top dental chews, all accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), which ensures their efficacy.
1. Greenies Dog Dental Treats
Greenies come in the shape of a toothbrush and have ridges that a dog's teeth can rub against. These are great because a dog can use and chew the treat in different areas of the mouth. This works out well because the ridges and other parts can make contact with many parts of your dog's teeth! This is essential to reduce plaque and tartar. A bonus is that they make grain-free options. Check them out here.
2. Milk-Bone Brushing Chews
Much like the Greenies, these Milk-Bone chews can make contact with different areas of your dog's mouth to prevent plaque and tartar. However, these chews are easily twisted for a more flexible fit in your dog's mouth! These chews also have nubs that are used to mimic a toothbrush. Check them out here.
3. Whimzees Brushzees
Brusheez are another great choice because they also have grooves and ridges for plaque and tartar removal and control. Notice a trend here? Brusheez are designed to help your dog grip and chew them easily! The shape of these is a bit more curved and it resembles a bone. A bonus of these is that they are grain free! Check them out here.
4. Pedigree Dentastix
These dental sticks are chewy and have a unique texture that is meant to scrape away plaque and tartar. The shape of the Dentastix is simple but it does have ridges to better help with making contact with your dog's teeth. Check them out here.
5. Purina DentaLife Daily Oral Care Dog Treats
Our last pick is from DentaLife. While they look similar to the Dentastix, this chew is a bit thicker and more unique in shape. Of course, these also have ridges to help with hard to reach teeth. And much like the other choices, this helps with plaque and tartar removal. One way that these stand out is that their unique design gives their "proprietary blend of active ingredients (honey & all-natural spirulina) time to work inside your dog’s mouth." Check them out here.
Every dog likes different treats so we hope one of these dental chews is a winner for you and your dog! We suggest asking your veterinarian what the best dental routine for your dog is. If you need help brushing your dog’s teeth, we're here for you! Our pet resort offers teeth brushing services for as low as $5. Email us at thpr@thousandhillspetresort.com for more information!
Happy National Pet Dental Health Month!
All proceeds from Thousand Hills Pet Resort support New Life K9s. New Life K9s provides service dogs to veterans and first responders with PTSD at no cost to them.
References
It is not necessary to use if your dog is well-bred. I just dont need it, my dog deals with dog handler. I found him by looking at the cv. He has got the perfect one. He made it here topcvservices.co.uk . These are the best cv writers reviews in the UK!