How Diet Affects My Dog's Dental Health
My dentist has a cute little sign hanging on his reception room wall. It says, "You don't have to floss all your teeth - just the ones you want to keep!" It makes me smile every time I see it, but it's also a good reminder that for our dogs, dental care isn't quite as simple. Keeping your dog's teeth healthy and strong is important to his overall well-being. And just like other aspects of his health, diet plays an essential role.
Dry Food vs. Canned Food
The simplest consideration for a healthy dental diet is the consistency of your dog's food. Dry food is preferred over canned food for a few reasons. Due to the consistency of canned food, it can easily adhere to the teeth in places where a dog is not able to remove it. Just like with our own teeth, if it's not brushed or otherwise cleared away quickly, it will begin to breakdown, providing an optimal environment for bacteria. It is this bacteria that causes dental decay and gum disease.
Dry food is designed so that as a dog chews, the food splits into smaller pieces and is moved up against the teeth and against the gums. This hard material actually helps scrape away plaque or other harmful materials that may be on your dog's teeth. You should feed your dog the largest bite of dry food that he can safely eat to help ensure he doesn't gulp down his food without chewing.
Brand of Food
When choosing a brand of food for your dog, be sure to select one that is complete and balanced. This will ensure your dog is getting all the essential nutrients he needs for his dental health. Read the labels and packaging. Many brands will call out or highlight ingredients specific to your dog's dental health needs.
Table Scraps and Bones
When considering your dog's dental health, table scraps should be avoided. In addition to having a consistency that can easily adhere to or get stuck in your dog's teeth, it often contains sugars or other ingredients that can accelerate tooth decay.
You should never give your dog real bones, regardless of the size or type. After a fair amount of chewing, even the strongest bones can split and splinter and those sharp pieces can get lodged in your dog's throat.
Treats and Biscuits
Although you should exercise discretion when it comes to giving your dog treats, if managed properly, you can use them to supplement his nutrition and dental care. Dog treats should be hard for the same reasons their food should be hard. The chewing and crunching process helps remove existing plaque on the teeth and at the gum line.
You should never give your dog real bones, regardless of the size or type. After a fair amount of chewing, even the strongest bones can split and splinter and those sharp pieces can get lodged in your dog's throat.
Treats and Biscuits
Although you should exercise discretion when it comes to giving your dog treats, if managed properly, you can use them to supplement his nutrition and dental care. Dog treats should be hard for the same reasons their food should be hard. The chewing and crunching process helps remove existing plaque on the teeth and at the gum line.
Content by Cherri Megasko.
