Dog Lovers Newsletter

Dog breath and oral hygiene

80% of dogs over the age of 3 years old have a level of periodontal disease requiring treatment*.

Many of you have probably seen a new wave of products coming on to the dog food market proclaiming that they are specially shaped and scientifically formulated to clean your dogs teeth. Sounds great. These ingenious shapes scrape the tartar and plaque from the animals teeth as they chew.

Ok, now I want you to try the same thing. Get a hard baked biscuit, a gingernut will do. Bite into it – did you feel it scrap your teeth. Keep chewing. Finished? Now look at your teeth in the mirror. Perfect – all nice and shiny. Smile sweetly at your partner and give them a kiss.

I bet your partner refused your advances due to that stodgy build up of muck between your teeth.

Could you imagine your dentist telling you that biscuits shaped like friut and vegetables are scientifically formulated and the best money can buy for the health of your teeth? I don't think so.

Now imagine eating biscuits day in day out and not cleaning your teeth. Soon enough you’ll begin to get that furry feeling, tartar will start to build, over time your gums will begin to swell and soon enough your teeth will begin to rot and fall out.

By now you’ll be starting to appreciate what many treasured pets are subjected to every day of their lives. It’s no wonder periodontal disease is reported in over 80% of dogs over the age of 3 years old.

There are a few things to look out for to see if your dog is showing signs of periodontal disease. Firstly, have a sniff. Does your dog’s breath smell fresh or rancid? Rotting gums tend to give off that characteristic ‘dog breath'. There are also a number of visual clues that you can look out for. Are the gums red and swollen? Are the gums receding and revealing the root of the tooth? Does you pet have difficulty eating, or paws at the mouth due to irritation or pain? Can you see a build up of tartar on the teeth?

If you are concerned at all about the oral health of your dog consult your vet for expert care and advice.

If your dog’s teeth are used as nature intended, their teeth and gums will get a wash, scrub and polish every time they eat to keep the bacteria at bay.  When you look at a dogs jaw and the way it is shaped, nature didn't design it to eat biscuits. If you think about the texture of raw meat, it's like a big firm squeegee, ideally suited to aid in the cleaning of your dog's teeth. Incisors are used for tugging and nibbling meat off bone, holding food and self grooming. Canine teeth are used for raking and tearing meat off bone. Triangular knife shaped premolars slice through hide, tendons and meat and shear through bone. Flat molars at the back of a dogs mouth crush meat and bone in a nutcracker style motion prior to swallowing.

At NZ Petfoods, we have a number of products and raw meaty bones that closely match what your dog would naturally eat in the wild to aid in the self cleaning of their teeth. Check out our factory direct prices for meaty beef neck bones and meaty mutton pieces.

Nature knows best.



*Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition advertisement (2002) Veterinary Times, 15 July 32:27