Dental Care For Dogs
Dogs are susceptible to oral health problems just like humans, and it’s important to take care of their teeth to avoid these issues. Poor oral hygiene can lead to bad breath, gum disease, and tooth loss. It can also lead to systemic health problems like heart disease and kidney disease.
The good news is that there are many things you can do to take care of your dog’s teeth and gums. This includes brushing their teeth, using dental chews, raw meaty bones, and mouthwashes, and having regular professional cleanings.
You can also use essential oils to help keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy.
Myrrh Essential Oil is excellent for gum health and offers a bit of numbing if there is an associated painful area.
Brusha Brusha — Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
It is ideal for your to start brushing your dog’s teeth when they are puppies so that they get acclimated to this grooming experience. Adult dogs are less likely to appreciate it if they didn’t grow up with the experience.
Making a Dental Tooth Paste:
Create a natural toothpaste by mixing equal parts coconut oil and baking soda. This DIY toothpaste helps fight bacteria, reduce plaque, and freshen your dog's breath.
Essential Oil Dog ToothPaste:
2 tablespoons of coconut oil
1 tablespoon of baking soda
2-3 drops of dog-safe essential oil (such as peppermint or spearmint)
Mix the ingredients thoroughly and use a small toothbrush or your finger to apply the toothpaste to your dog's teeth.
Making a Dental Breath Spray:
I confess. I cheat. I use diluted Thieves Mouthwash from Young Living. But you can make your own with an essential oil like peppermint, a drop or two of coconut oil, and a bit of distilled water.
Order Essential Oils For Dental Care
Probiotic Dental Toothpaste
Probiotics support a healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth, promoting optimal oral health. Here's how you can incorporate powdered probiotics into your dog's dental care:
Choose a high-quality powdered probiotic supplement suitable for dogs.
Mix a small amount of the powdered probiotic with water to create a paste-like consistency.
Apply the probiotic paste to your dog's teeth using a toothbrush or your finger.
Probiotics can help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, contributing to a healthier oral environment for your furry friend.
Use Digestive Enzymes
Especially if you are feeding a kibble-based diet — your dog will be lacking digestive enzymes. Generally, enzymes start breaking down carbohydrates in the mouth, but dogs lack this enzyme. Helping them with digestive health may have a positive effect on dental care. Use supplementary — but you can also add digestive enzyme powders to your homemade pastes.
Water additive: Teef
This water additive incorporates science and nature to target the root cause of dental issues in dogs. By utilizing a combination of natural ingredients, including sea kelp and algae, Teef works to break down plaque and tartar at the microscopic level.
Take a look at the AnimalBiome Oral Health Testing Kit and Teef Water Additive in Dr. Ruth’s Store: https://drruthroberts.com/uy5v9m
Homeopathic Remedies for Dental Care
Leba III: Leba III is a homeopathic remedy designed to improve dental health in dogs. It comes in a spray form and contains natural ingredients to reduce plaque and tartar.
Fragaria: Fragaria is a homeopathic remedy that may help address bad breath in dogs. It is known for its ability to neutralize odors and support oral health.
Removing Tartar From your Dog’s Teeth
Raw Meaty Bones
Providing raw meaty bones to chew on can help naturally clean your dog's teeth and strengthen their jaw. Make sure the bones are appropriate for your dog's size and are supervised during chewing.
Dental Chews: Consider Herbsmith Natural Dental Chews and Powders:
Seaweed Products
Most recently I have been trying a product called CaniDent. Canindent is a natural seaweed-based product designed to support dental health in dogs. It contains bioactive compounds that help reduce plaque and tartar formation, promoting healthier teeth and gums.
There is also an electronic device called Canident — I tried and my dogs hated it! It does make noise and vibrate against the mouth. Order Online.
Saftey Warning For Toothpastes
Be careful if you have children in your home, as many kids’ toothpaste contains xylitol. Xylitol is extremely dangerous to dogs. Read the label and keep it out of reach if not out of the house. When you have guests come visit be sure you make sure they do not leave any suitcases accessible to your dog just in case they have unsafe ingredients in their products!
Seek Veterinary Care!
Explore options for anesthesia-free cleanings as a proactive way to stay ahead of your dog’s dental care. These are amazing! They may not be an option if your dog has significant tartar build-up already. And unfortunately, most of the time dental plaque is under the gum line. In fact, 80% of dogs will have some level of periodontal disease by age 3!
It’s getting tricky out there. Many veterinarians are starting to refuse service without up to date vaccines — especially Rabies. I cannot advise you to break the laws in your state. But you must be aware. If your dog is approaching senior years you may need to consider a good dental cleaning and then get into a really good maintenance regimine. If your dog is in overall good health, fresh foods, low-tox, strong immune system, and you do the proper blood work, anesthesia should be ok for a pet approaching their senior years or with severe dental health issues requiring extractions. If you do go the route of anesthesia - please reach out to me in advance for protocols on boosting immune health and for anesthesia clearing and pain relief following the procedure. Get your products in hand before the scheduled appointment!
No one cried more than when I had to have a whole bunch of teeth pulled from my weenie dog as he aged! Of course I could have done a much better job back then. Today we have some better products available to us — but even still — little dog teeth are the worst!
Visit Amazon Store for Brushes, Teef, Leba III, and other products.