February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Why does dental health have its own month – because 70-80% of dogs and cats have gum disease by the time they are 3 years old! Taking care of your pets mouth and teeth is important for many reasons, even for their own daily comfort. Just like humans, our dogs have tartar that builds up on the teeth and under the gum line which can lead to bad breath and infections. Dental disease and poor dental health can also lead to other health issues; heart problems, kidney issues and gum disease.

Periodontal disease is something we have a lot of experience with in our house, Riley has suffered from this most of her life. I will be honest, there are so many things I know now that I didn’t know when most of my crew was younger. Instead of beating myself up about what I didn’t know, I support my dogs oral and dental health to the best of my ability now.

Did you know that brushing your dogs teeth is not the only way to help support a healthy mouth and teeth?

Kibble Doesn’t Keep Your Dogs Mouth Clean

Contrary to popular belief, kibble diets are not “scrubbing” your dogs teeth as they chew. Kibble is loaded down with high levels of sugars, carbs, and lots of other bad stuff that can actually help fuel dental disease in pets. By feeding a fresh and raw diet, you are giving your pets a diet that is not only digestible, but full of enzymes that can help overall health and dental health. I feed Dr. Harvey’s foods, this gives me total control of the protein that I add into their diets, while giving my dogs a species appropriate meal. I also use Dr. Harvey’s Coenzyme Q-10 which has been shown to have beneficial properties for gum disease and heart health.

By incorporating raw meaty bones and chews into your dogs diet, they are naturally cleaning their teeth and gums – all while having fun doing it!

Need some ideas on what your dog can chew on?

  • Turkey necks
  • chicken necks
  • chicken feet
  • meaty bones – make sure to give your dogs the appropriate size and do not use mechanically cut bones)
  • durable air dried protein chews – our favorites come from Real Dog Box every month)
  • Sweet Potate’r Chews from Dr. Harvey’s – easy chew to give to your pup

Other Ways To Keep Your Dogs Mouth Healthy

You can brush your dogs teeth with a doggie toothbrush and toothpaste. My dogs don’t love bristle toothbrushes, but I also didn’t introduce toothbrushes or burshing their teeth until later in their lives. Make sure to use a doggie toothpaste – human toothpastes have ingredients that aren’t safe for dogs. I personally like to use rubber finger brushes for my dogs. My dogs tolerate this better, and I feel like I have more control when I brush with these. It can take time for your dog to get used to brushing – trust me!

I personally like to use CocoTherapy therapeutic-grade coconut oil for a natural and tasty toothpaste for my dogs. Cocotherapy has natural antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Plus, due to the yummy taste my dogs don’t even realize they are getting their teeth brushed. I dip the end of my rubber finger brushes in the oil and gently scrub my dogs teeth and gums. I try to do this daily, but sometimes this only happens 2-3x a week.

I also love using Animaleo Dog Breath and Dog Breath LITE essential oil blends to help keep my dogs oral health in check. These oils not only smell great, but have anti-bacterial and healing benefits. These oils are veterinary blended and safe for animals when used as directed. I normally used the Dog Breath LITE blend, this one doesn’t have as strong of a smell which Axel does better with. I will mix this with the Cocotherapy oil, or even just drop some on my fingers for the dogs to lick – they think it is a treat!

Prevention and Surveillance is Key!

Taking care of your dogs teeth doesn’t have to be hard. Make sure to maintain routine checkups with your vet, where they will also monitor your dogs dental health and possibly recommended cleanings. Use what works for your and your crew! By brushing your dogs teeth, and keeping an eye on their dental health, you can quickly notice changes in your dogs mouth and health. By starting healthy dental habits early, you can prevent dental and gum disease in your pets.

On a side note, without routine oral exams we wouldn’t have noticed Riley’s oral mass that was hiding in the very back of her mouth. We also wouldn’t have noticed when Vegas ripped a couple of teeth out (he wasn’t phased!). Monitoring your dogs mouth is just as important as the rest of their body.

Disclaimer: This blog post/social media content in no way is meant to diagnose or treat your animals health. Please consult your veterinarian for all medical conditions and health ailments of your pet.