'Showing the teeth'; dental care for dogs
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11-02-2022
It's February, Dental Month. Created to raise awareness for the dental care of our beloved pets. A good time for a blog post about how to maintain your dog's teeth.
I have to confess something first... We have never brushed our dogs' and cats' teeth...😲
When researching this topic, I felt a sense of guilt. Especially when you read how healthy teeth can contribute to the well-being of your dog and cat. Are we bad parents or is it a matter of ignorance?
Plaque and tartar can also form on the teeth of dogs and cats, which can lead to gum inflammation and even tooth loss. Dental problems are the most common complaints in dogs and cats. And apart from the veterinary costs, the discomfort of the cleaning treatment (with or without anesthesia), it mainly saves the pain, which our friends hardly show, because all this can easily be prevented by good dental care.
So what does good dental care consist of?
First: brush your teeth
Of course, it is easier to teach teeth brushing at a young age, but you can train any dog or cat to get used to it. There you go, Stitch, old buddy!
- Build up training slowly so that your dog gets used to having his teeth touched and his mouth scratched;
- Choose the right moment, you know your dog best. It can be after a walk, when the dog is nicely exhausted or just before so that you can go outside together as a reward afterwards;
- You can touch your dog's mouth several times a day for a few days beforehand and gently pull up the lip every now and then;
- Use your finger or a soft, damp cloth to wipe over the gums;
- If you see your dog becoming uncomfortable or stressed, stop and try again the next day;
- It is best to start with a soft finger toothbrush. This gently massages the gums and teeth;
- If he allows it, try massaging the inside of the teeth;
- You can now switch to a toothbrush. The bristles of the brush can reach between the teeth better than the finger toothbrush. Choose a special animal toothbrush with a good grip and soft bristles;
- Reassure your friend with words of encouragement and be sure to provide a tasty snack when you're done.
And of course, what goes with it and is also recommended by almost everyone is a dog toothpaste. NEVER use human toothpaste (not even children's toothpaste)! Our toothpaste contains fluoride and Xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs and cats.
The most important thing about dog toothpaste is that it must be completely safe to swallow. Because even Joe can't get Stitch to rinse his mouth out.
And this is what I came across during my research. To my disappointment, I only came across toothpastes with one or more ingredients that in my opinion should not be swallowed. I will explain this further below.
NB There are many contradictions on the internet. One website can recommend an ingredient, while another sees it as poisonous. I get my information from the internet and I am certainly not an expert, not a vet or animal nutrition consultant. So these are purely my own findings and conclusions. I also absolutely do not want to create polarization about what is true and what is not 😜.
Anyway, I've looked at the best-selling dog toothpastes. These are some of the ingredients I have my doubts about, especially when you consider that brushing teeth is recommended to be done every day and your dog therefore swallows it every day:
Titanium Dioxide (colourant E171):
This additive is used as a white dye, to add shine and prevent discoloration. In May 2021, the EU decided to introduce a Europe-wide ban on this substance, because it can no longer be considered safe.
Pentasodium triphosphate/Sodium triphosphate/sodium tripolyphosphate/tripolyphosphate (E451):
Preservative that keeps the product moist and also acts as a binding agent. Used in detergents to soften the water. Is permitted in animal feed and is labeled as safe. At the same time, it is known for skin and respiratory tract irritation and as a possible neurotoxin (toxins that affect the functioning of the nervous system).
Baking soda/baking soda/sodium bicarbonate:
Mainly added to toothpaste as an abrasive against plaque.
If the intake is too high, the dog's sodium level can increase. If it gets too high, the dog can have balance problems, muscle tremors or seizures.
Baking soda also has an alkaline composition, which can disrupt the acid balance in the stomach and digestive system.
Propylene glycol (E1520/E490):
Is a similar preservative to E451, for moisture in food, texture and prevents mold formation. Also used as antifreeze. Allowed in small amounts in dog food, but prohibited in cat food.
Sodium Benzoate/sodium benzoate:
Used as a preservative to prevent the growth of yeast, bacteria and mold. It is considered safe for dogs, however cats have a low tolerance for this substance, even lower than rats and mice(!)
Some toothpastes are marketed as suitable for both dogs and cats, but not all ingredients are safe for cats.
In addition, I also came across various salts (sodium chloride/calcium chloride) and sugars (glucose/dextrose), as well as sweeteners (sodium saccharin/hydrogenated starch hydrolysate/sorbitol).
Now, in my opinion, sorbitol in toothpaste is perfectly fine, because it reduces the growth of acid-producing bacteria, which cause plaque and tooth decay. However, it is still a sweetener and in some toothpastes it is listed first on the ingredients list, which indicates that it contains the most of it. Sorbitol also has a laxative effect and causes flatulence. I warned you!😝
And finally, about flavourings. I came across a lot of mint, probably because mint flavour is standard in our toothpastes and is associated with fresh breath. However, we know few dogs that are crazy about mint. There will be quite a few, but flavours such as liver, chicken or peanut butter will probably be more popular. Brushing your dog's teeth should be a pleasant experience and a nice flavour will contribute to this (and vice versa). Now I could not quite make out from the list of ingredients what the flavourings consist of; aromas or from which animal the addition comes. That makes it a bit difficult in connection with allergies.
The conclusion is that we (at this time) cannot recommend or will include any dog toothpastes in our range. We are still busy looking for the right (finger) toothbrushes. We will keep you informed.
Second: Chews and Chew Toys
What else can you do besides brushing teeth or what to do if your dog won't allow you to brush? Let him chew and nibble!
Chewing helps maintain teeth. It cleans teeth, gives fresh breath and reduces plaque.
However, do not choose snacks that are too soft. These are bite, swallow, gone and therefore do little for the teeth. Better to choose something that the dog will nibble on for a while. It is also advisable to give a chew snack regularly for dogs that do not get kibble, but fresh (steamed) meat.
Yak cheese is a good snack that lasts a long time and is very beneficial for dental care due to its hardness. In addition, yak milk, from which the cheese is made, contains many omega 3 fatty acids, protein, iron, magnesium and calcium. If you want to view our other range of chewing snacks, click here .
In addition to chew snacks, you can also opt for an olive wood chew. Olive wood is one of the hardest types of wood, which means it does not splinter. The sawdust that your dog gently gnaws off can be safely swallowed. We offer this chew in three sizes. Click on this link for more information.
You can also opt for chew toys . These toys are designed to clean the teeth and massage the gums. You can also put some treats in them or spread a lick of peanut butter (without additives!) on them to make them even more appealing.
NB:
Tennis balls cause wear on the teeth. The substance in combination with sand/pebbles acts as a kind of file, especially with prolonged chewing.
Stitch is only given rubber balls to play with. Looking for dental safe balls? Click here to view them.
Third: dental check-up
The vet is of course trained in cleaning the teeth of pets. And no matter how hard we try, no one can do it better than they can. An annual check-up is therefore recommended for optimal dental care. In February, many vets offer free check-ups and/or discounts on treatments.
If your dog has the following symptoms, contact your vet and ask for advice:
- excessive drooling;
- rubbing the mouth frequently with the paw;
- discolored, cracked or broken teeth;
- red, swollen, painful and/or bleeding gums;
- have difficulty chewing or dropping food from the mouth;
- continuous bad breath.
Source:
https://www.aspca.org
https://www.evmi.nl/nieuws/titaniumdioxide-e171-wordt-verboden-in-voedings
https://wearethecure.org/the-top-ten-dog-food-ingredients-to-avoid/
https://vetmeds.org/pet-poison-control-list
https://www.mspca.org/pet_resources/how-to-brush-your-dogs-teeth/
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