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Did you know dental care could help your dog live longer?
As a veterinary technician of several years, I would like to share some of my personal and professional recommendations with oral hygiene. It is important to understand taking good care of your dog's teeth can actually increase your Miniature American Shepherd or Mini Aussies chances of living longer. A recent study published by the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association found evidence that after the age of 2 years, preforming an anesthetic dental scaling and polishing will decrease risk of death - or in other words - increase lifespan! While routine anesthetic dentals are necessary for the well-being of your pet, you can also help keep their teeth clean and increase the duration between dental cleanings and decrease bacterial overgrowth which leads to canine periodontal disease.
- Study by JAAHA - jaaha.org/doi/abs/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6763
- Information about periodontal disease - vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-disease-in-dogs
I have tried several at-home, owner friendly products to help keep our dog's teeth, gums, (and inadvertently their breath) healthy. Here are some of my favorite oral hygiene products and ALL of which are recommended by veterinarians and sold in select clinics and hospitals as well as online.
- Study by JAAHA - jaaha.org/doi/abs/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6763
- Information about periodontal disease - vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-disease-in-dogs
I have tried several at-home, owner friendly products to help keep our dog's teeth, gums, (and inadvertently their breath) healthy. Here are some of my favorite oral hygiene products and ALL of which are recommended by veterinarians and sold in select clinics and hospitals as well as online.
RECOMMENDED DENTAL PRODUCTS:
Dentahex Oral Rinse - by Vetoquinol
This is an antiseptic oral rinse that has been recommended by veterinarians I have worked with and technicians who specialize in dentistry. This oral rinse can be applied directly on the gums and is intended to help with gum health. I prefer to dilute my rinse with water and put in a little spray bottle. It lasts longer and is easier for me to apply. It is suggested to rinse/spray gums after meals. I prefer to spray before a reward or treat to associate it with a positive experience.
Dentahex Oral Chews by Vetoquinol OR...
Virbac Enzymatic C.E.T. Chews
These chews are based on the size of your dog. Some are rawhide pieces with chlorhexidine, an antiseptic also found in the oral rinse. These can help the teeth and gums if given routinely - meaning daily or every other day. Most dental chews are most beneficial when given routinely, including GREENIES and ORAVET CHEWS. They can definitely be given occasionally - you just won't see as many benefits. I would recommend only giving under supervision in case of a choking hazard. Be very careful about hard chews such as bones and antlers. I have had dogs fracture healthy molars on antlers and bones.
Hill's T/D Prescription Food
Hill's Science Diet has a formula of dog food specifically for oral health. The pieces of food have a fiber mesh technology as well as a shape and size which is clinically proven to help reduce plaque, stain, and tartar build-up. Per the manufacturer, to achieve best results, it would be fed as the primary food. Other sources state 20% OR MORE of the diet is needed to be beneficial. Ask your vet about t/d and most are more than happy that you are seeking this care for your pet. (A prescription may be needed in order to purchase at pet stores)
Oral Finger Wipes, Toothbrush, or Finger Brush
One of the best ways to ensure that you are keeping oral build-up at bay is by brushing your pet's teeth on a regular basis. It is important to teach your puppy while young that it is okay for you to touch inside their mouth. Make this a positive experience and offer treats and verbal praise when they allow you to play with their mouth. As they get more comfortable, you can add duration as if you were cleaning.
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Once comfortable, some owners try to brush once a week while others brush daily. About 3 times a week really helps to slow down build-up. There are different methods used but the important point of brushing is using a slightly abrasive surface. It is more about the mechanical rubbing than the toothpaste. On a tight budget, one could even wet down paper towels and use your fingers to brush as was suggested by a vet I worked for. However, these are the most effective tools to brush your dog's teeth. They are best used after meals, just like the oral rinse. Dog specific toothpaste or water can be used to clean the teeth but not needed with the finger wipes.
1. Toothbrush (different sizes) 2. Finger brush (silicone are a good choice) 3. Finger wipes (MaxiGuard, pictured on the right. Available on Amazon) |
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It's Important to Understand That...
Even with taking measures to improve your pet's oral health, please understand this does not completely replace routine anesthetic dental cleanings preformed at your veterinary hospital. As mentioned at the top of this page, studies have shown that pets undergoing professional dental cleanings live longer than those who don't.
I want to reiterate that cleaning often enough at home helps to increase the time in-between professional dental cleanings and also prevent bacteria and disease from becoming prevalent in your dog's mouth. This will reduce the amount of extractions needed due to periodontal disease, infected teeth, and helps to save you money and keep your pet happy and healthy! Diseased teeth can be very painful.
I want to reiterate that cleaning often enough at home helps to increase the time in-between professional dental cleanings and also prevent bacteria and disease from becoming prevalent in your dog's mouth. This will reduce the amount of extractions needed due to periodontal disease, infected teeth, and helps to save you money and keep your pet happy and healthy! Diseased teeth can be very painful.
How often should my dog have anesthetic dental cleanings?
This is a great question! I would highly encourage anyone wondering this question to call your veterinarian and ask their specific recommendations. They may even be able to look up the medical record from the last exam and see what your vet recommended at that time. Veterinary hospitals can have different recommendations but in a perfect world, our pets would have dental cleanings every 6 months like we do. Keep in mind, their teeth are not going to stay nearly as clean as ours over those 6 months. However, it is often times more realistic for pet owners to have their dog's teeth cleaned any least once a year. If you wait longer than a year, the chances of your pet having periodontal disease will increase, particularly if you are not taking measures at home to help keep them clean. There are often other factors such as what breed(s) they are if NOT a Mini American Shepherd, their age, and even their diet. Dry food helps break debris off better than wet or home-cooked food for example.
If you want to check your pet's teeth yourself, push back their lips gently so you can see the back molars. Often times these teeth are the first to accumulate plaque and tartar build-up. In the picture on the right, Opal has some lighter brown areas forming along her gumline and in ridges in the teeth. The build-up is not severe and for most pets she looks okay for now. However, she should have a dental cleaning within the next few months of this image because I have to show her teeth to judges when competing in conformation and she has not had a professional cleaning for about a year. I used to have her teeth cleaned every 6 months until I became more proactive about it at home.
If you want to check your pet's teeth yourself, push back their lips gently so you can see the back molars. Often times these teeth are the first to accumulate plaque and tartar build-up. In the picture on the right, Opal has some lighter brown areas forming along her gumline and in ridges in the teeth. The build-up is not severe and for most pets she looks okay for now. However, she should have a dental cleaning within the next few months of this image because I have to show her teeth to judges when competing in conformation and she has not had a professional cleaning for about a year. I used to have her teeth cleaned every 6 months until I became more proactive about it at home.