Dog Dental Treats
From chewies to dental bones to dental diets, what makes the biggest
difference for your dog's teeth, gums, and breath? Should you even be concerned
about your dog's oral health? Dog dental treats and special diets may provide
benefits to a dog's oral health, but using them comes with precautions.
The Benefits of Dog Dental Treats
Just as with humans, dogs can suffer from oral problems like:
- Bad breath
- Build-up of saliva, bacteria, and food on teeth (plaque)
- A hard yellow or brown residue on teeth (tartar)
- Swollen, bleeding, or irritated gums
- Pain
Dogs can suffer from gum (periodontal) disease just like people, and it's
not something to ignore. Dental problems in dogs can lead to loss of appetite
and broken or lost teeth, and it may even damage other organs if bacteria get
into the bloodstream through diseased gums. Professional cleanings and brushing
your dog's teeth are great ways to maintain oral health, but special dog treats
or diets may also help.
Improving teeth and gum health. Dogs that chew actively have less
plaque build-up. And some types of dog dental treats and diets can reduce
plaque by nearly 70%. How do they do this? Simply the mechanical action of
chewing can make a difference. In one study, increasing the diameter of kibble
by 50% led to a 42% reduction in tartar. In the same study, coating the
products with a substance called polyphosphate further reduced tartar by 55%.
It prevents plaque from turning into tartar by isolating calcium on teeth.
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is an organization that evaluates
pet products to see if they meet standards for reducing plaque or tartar.
Approved foods, treats, and chews must reduce plaque or tartar by at least 10%
to achieve the VOHC seal of approval. If a chemical anti-plaque agent is used,
it needs to reduce plaque or tartar by at least 20%. Go to http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products.htm
to see which products have received the VOHC seal of approval.
Reducing bad breath in dogs. It is not uncommon for a dog's breath to
be slightly unpleasant. This is often the result of bacteria build-up in the
mouth and can be a sign that your dog needs better dental or gum care. However,
it's not a bad idea to check with your vet to make sure bad breath is not a
sign of an underlying medical problem.
In addition to professional cleaning and regular tooth brushing, certain dog
treats are also formulated to help improve breath. Hard chew toys may also
help. See what your vet recommends.
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