How can we prevent tartar in our dog?
Dental health and proper oral hygiene are a key part of your dog's overall wellbeing, helping to prevent discomfort and serious health problems. If left unchecked, a build-up of tartar can lead to gum disease and even tooth loss. While professional cleaning is essential, there are effective ways to prevent tartar build-up that can help your pet keep a bright, healthy smile.
Regular dental care
You can clean your dog's teeth by giving them dog chew treats regularly after meals. This helps rub away plaque and keeps the teeth clean.
Part of proper oral care is letting your pet drink plenty of water. This helps loosen larger food particles so they can be washed away rather than sticking to the teeth.
Of course, regular brushing is the most effective option. Many pet shops sell special toothbrushes you can use to clean your dog's teeth. As a last resort, you can also use a children's toothbrush. It's important to use a toothpaste made specifically for animals. Because dogs and cats swallow toothpaste, it must not contain any fluoride. They also wouldn't like the taste of ordinary toothpaste, which is why there are special animal toothpastes, for example chicken-flavoured ones.
Bear in mind that if your dog isn't used to having their teeth brushed from a young age, they'll most likely find it extremely difficult to adjust to the habit, and it's entirely possible they won't let you brush their teeth at all.
Pet food
On top of brushing, it also helps to feed dry rather than wet pet food, as it sticks to the teeth less. This is because chewing removes plaque through mechanical friction, and the longer chewing time and increased saliva flow that go with it help keep teeth clean.
High-quality pet foods now even contain substances that significantly slow down tartar formation. It's also important to give saliva time to clean the teeth, which is why feeding no more than 2-3 times a day matters, with as few treats in between as possible. Using any kind of chew product will help just as much, as long as the animal genuinely chews it for a good while.
Check your dog's teeth regularly for discolouration
Take a good look inside your pet's mouth for discolouration. It's often hidden away, so it's not obvious at first glance. You can find out how to check whether your dog is showing signs of tartar in the following video by Dr Stefan Stefanov, made especially for HAPPY PET NET:
If you notice signs that your dog has tartar, we advise you to contact a vet straight away and book a cleaning appointment. This reduces the risk of infection, improves your pet's breath and protects them from tooth loss.
The HAPPY PET NET team, together with veterinary clinics and vets across the country, is running a special campaign — Oral Health Month. Until 30 November you can book a Tartar cleaning appointment with a 30% discount, using the promo code CLEAN30. You can find out more about the campaign and the participants at the following link.
BOOK A TARTAR CLEANING APPOINTMENT AND SAVE 30% NOW!
