How to Choose Dog Food for Healthy Teeth

Most dog owners are usually quite unsure about how to choose dog food for healthy teeth. I know you may also be wondering about the same thing. What kind of foods would keep your canine’s teeth healthy?

One of the most important things is to keep your dog pet on a diet that is not only complete but also balanced. As much as this is put into consideration, a huge number of dog owners forget about the dog’s teeth and how all that food will be munched down.

So, how do you choose the appropriate food for your dog’s healthy teeth? It is no secret that every other dog has its own nutritional requirements.

However, some key factors should be put into consideration when choosing the ideal healthy food for the dog. Personally, I really love dogs for their company, unconditional friendship and playfulness. A body that is well nourished not to mention an immune system that is robust are a true reflection of healthy and strong teeth.

In order to help you get out of this dilemma, I came up with this article. I am going to explain to you why your dog would experience dental problems, the effects of the dental complications on the dog’s health as well as what to consider when getting the right food for the canine.

Table of Contents

Is Your Dog’s Dental Health Important?

As I mentioned before, the best way to ascertain if your dog’s dental health is at its best it to observe the nourishment of its body and how strong its immune system is. In case you notice the opposite of this then it is a clear sign that your dog may be sick from dental ailment. It has been proven that dogs are likely to be affected by periodontal disease as well as tartar buildup. This two conditions lead to infection and inflammation within the dog’s gums.

In mild cases of these conditions, the dog may be in pain or discomfort. Conversely, in worse scenarios, the dog could lose some of its teeth or even end up with kidney, heart or liver damage. Sometimes, the gum infection could spread into the bloodstream.

Therefore, as a dog owner, you should take your dog to a vet for regular check up of its teeth. Keep in mind that a dog has to chew down its food to be ingestible and thus its dental health is very important.

Signs of Dental Illness in Dogs

Since you are familiarized with the importance of dental health in dogs, I would like to highlight some of the symptoms that would prove that your dog is a victim of dental illness. Below are some of the signs:

Missing, loose or broken teeth
Bad mouth breath
Bleeding or Inflamed teeth
Brown stained or yellow teeth
Growth of bumps or swellings in the mouth
Too much drooling
Swollen jaw line and mouth
Sore or painful gum and teeth
Refusal to eat and appetite loss
Pawing around the mouth
Chewing problems and inability to hold food in the mouth

Factors To Consider When Choosing Dog Food

There are so many types of dog food out there not to mention countless numbers of recipes to make others. As much as the dog needs food for its immunity ad nourishment, you have to ensure that the food is well suited for the dog’s teeth. Make sure that the dog’s dental health is not overwhelmed by the kind of food you feed it.

Most dog owners feed their dogs on crunchy kibble to help remove plaque from teeth. This surely works though most vets argue that such dry foods actually contribute to dental diseases since they are ineffective around the gumline where plaque and tartar is most harmful. Therefore, the following are some of the factors to considers for your dog’s food:

1. Dog’s Size

Ensure that the bite size of the food you intend to feed your dog is proportional to the dog’s size. This way you will reduce the chances of your canine getting his or her teeth and gum injured while munching the food away.

2. Age

Dogs usually have varied nutritional requirements depending on their stage in life. A puppy’s diet for instance does not require boiled bones or anything hard because its teeth are not fully developed for such tasks. Puppies mostly depend on their mother’s milk and hence your focus should be on the mother. Older dogs have teeth strong enough bones and hard kibble.

3. Dog’s Specific Nutritional Needs

You should consider if your dogs has any special conditions such as sensitive gums. This way you will have to acquire food that is specifically suited for its nutritional requirements.

4. Activity Level

The activity level of your canine matters a lot in relation to the type of food it consumes.

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Choosing Dog Food for Healthy Teeth

The basis of the overall well-being of a canine is a constant flow of nutrients from a balanced diet. Perfect dental health is achieved by providing dogs with the necessary vitamins and minerals through the right type of dog food.

Meat is especially good for a dog’s teeth since it keeps the mouth healthy and clean. Additionally, crunchy food will clean out the plaque. This is how to choose the appropriate food for a dog’s dental health.

1. Avoid Food Not Meant For Dogs

From time to time dog owners find themselves under the temptation of wanting to share their own food with their pets. The fact that you enjoy your treats and your dog may seem to want some, does not mean that your treat is good for your dog too. Our foods are softer and require more time to chew them down effectively. This is problematic to dogs a may likely pile up and stick to the dog’s teeth escalating to plaque or dental cavity. Therefore, learn to keep your food to yourself and feed dogs on dog treats.

2. Consult With Your Vet

When you visit your vet for a checkup, ensure that he or she also checks up to the dog’s teeth and gums for infection. Be keen regarding your dog’s eating habits, if he or she has a broken tooth, recurring breath or is reluctant to eat the book an appointment with your vet in time. Regular vet check-up and a proper diet will take your dog a long way health-wise.

3. Encourage Safe Chews

This can be done by minimizing bones in your dog’s diet. Unlike how most dog owners believe, bones are dangerous to a dog’s dental health. Despite the fact that dogs really love chewing on bones, it should be noted that the bones could easily injure gums or break a tooth. Moreover, chewing on bones also puts the dog at risk of rupturing the digestive tract or constipation. Vets claim that dogs reduce plaque by chewing on things which is quite rights. This does not limit to bones, there are other safer things that a dog can chew on such as rawhide, nylon chew toys or hard rubber. This way you will keep the dog’s teeth healthy and increase its lifespan.

4. Use Chew Sticks

Chew sticks are ideal for cleaning a dog’s mouth while chewing. Having your dog eat on chew stick is a great way to maintaining your dog’s dental health without having to switch the main diet. The chew stick will not only keep the dog’s gums in good shape but will also reduce buildup in tartar and plaque. This is an easier way to keep your dog’s dental health in check.

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5. Look Out For The VOHC Seal

Before buying any dog food ensure that it has the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal label. The seal is a guarantee that the food will be enriching for your dog’s dental health. Food with the seal has been endorsed by VOHC and are therefore ideal for your dog’s teeth.

6. Check The Ingredient Panel

The ingredients of the food your dog eats on really matter. Ensure that, the ingredients are low on sugar, which is known to cause a cavity in excess. Moreover, there are some ingredients that are beneficial to your dog’s dental health including bee propolis, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits. Food with oats is rich in calcium, phosphorus, and potassium which are important for strong bones and teeth.

Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth Helps
Just after letting you know how you can choose the right food for your dog’s teeth, I would like to inform you about the essence of brushing your dog’s teeth. Vets highly recommend that dog owner should brush their dog’s teeth on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, most of them give it a cold shoulder. Even brushing your dog’s teeth, a couple of times in a week would have a positive impact on its dental health. The main idea behind this is to minimize tartar accumulation, which would later develop into inflammation of gums.

Conclusion

Dental health is very important for your dog. Now that you know what you need to look for in a dog’s food for healthy teeth, be keen on your dogs eating trend. Always consult your vet in case you are unsure about anything. Also, make sure that your dog is on a balanced diet. This will not only get your dog nourished but it will also have a robust immune system, strong bones, and teeth.

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Reference:

https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/food-for-healthy-gums-teeth-in-dogs/