a labrador with a dental chew on its mouth

Dog chews are one of the options an owner can give their pets to secure their dental health. In general, proper dental hygiene is essential to prevent tartar buildup either for humans or pets. Furthermore, who would take care of your dog’s teeth aside from you? A dog’s dental health is also necessary to be taken care of to keep them smiling brightly. Let us continue discovering more information about dog chews in this article.

 

Dog’s oral health

A dog’s dental health is also prone to risks if you do not apply proper hygiene. Dogs can also suffer from the gum or periodontal disease, just like how people do. We should not ignore this oral condition by all means. Dental problems in dogs can have several effects. You might notice the following if your dog has dental issues:

  • a dog's teeth need brushing tootartar buildup
  • loss of appetite
  • broken or lost teeth
  • bad breath
  • bleeding gums
  • organ damage – this happens if bacteria get into the dog’s bloodstream

For these reasons, you have to maintain proper oral hygiene on your dogs. Regular cleaning from a vet and brushing can help you achieve your dog’s good oral health. One of the suitable options is to give them dog chews or dog dental treats. Dog chews can offer several benefits for your dog.

 

Benefits of dog dental treats

It will help your dogs lessen plaque and tartar buildup if you keep them actively chewing. Dog chews are excellent and can give your dog the following benefits:

  1. Dog chews can excellently improve the teeth and gum health of your dogs. According to studies, some dog treats can reduce plaque buildup by 70%.  If you keep this up, your dog will have low chances of suffering gum or periodontal disease.
  2. Additionally, dog chews help reduce bad breath in your dogs. In reality, dogs can have an unpleasant smell in their breath. However, you have to check with your vet about it because there could be an underlying medical condition. Hard chew toys are also preferable to reduce bad breath.
  3. Dog treats help stimulate saliva production in your dog’s mouth. Saliva is an excellent neutralizer to fight plaque acids.
  4. Furthermore, dog chews also rubs on their teeth, which can be a way of brushing. In effect, food debris becomes loosen in their teeth.
  5. Active chewing eases your dog’s boredom and lessens triggers of bad behavior.
  6. Most of all, it would be best to let your dogs chew on dental treats rather than on something they should not. Dogs love to chew. It would be best to fill in those chewing desires in the right way.

Your veterinarian can help you choose the best dog chew for your dogs. Selecting the best dental treats to address tartar buildup is necessary. Aside from that, some dental treats can serve as health supplements.

 

Choosing the right dental treats

Manufacturers create dental treats differently. They make it according to various sizes of dogs. Some treats can be more effective and safe to another pet owner’s dog, while others are not. Here are some of the precautions a pet owner should know when choosing dental treats.

  1. Make the right match of dental treats or toys based on your dog’s size, preference, or personality. On the condition that your dog is aggressive, a firmer product is better.
  2. Additionally, it would be best to limit providing your dogs with edible treats. Dental treats that your dog can easily chew on may not offer maximum effects on your dog’s teeth. Aside from that, your dog will also gain more calories. In general, the smaller the dog’s size, the minimal amount of treats you should give them.
  3. Furthermore, if you know that your dog has diseased teeth, do not give them fresh bones or pig’s ears. In effect, it might lead to a risk of bacterial contamination or ingestion.
  4. It would be best to watch your dog while they enjoy their dog chews or treats. They might consume some edible treats hastily, which can lead to choking. Besides that, it is possible to have intestinal upset.
  5. Most of all, it would be better if the treats compose organic ingredients. It would be healthier for your dogs.

Analyzing your dog’s preference and characteristics is necessary when selecting dental treats for them. By all means, these treats should satisfy your dog’s chewing desires and make them happy.

 

Dog chews

Nowadays, several types of dog chews are already available in the market. On the other hand, here are some examples of natural dog chews that they can enjoy for an extended period.

  1. Bully sticks: These dog chews are perfect for any dog size, age, or breed. It has high-protein content, low-fat, and does not contain carbohydrates.
  2. Beef tendons: The string-like texture of these tendons acts as floss for your dogs. It is ideal and offers a more extended chewing experience.
  3. Rawhide: It is the most affordable dog chews available. It would be best to choose a puffed rawhide to avoid digestive issues.
  4. Raw bones: It is the safest way to option when you want to feed your dogs with bones rather than cooked. You only have to make sure that the bones you will give match your dog.
  5. Beef ribs: This dog chew is excellent for dogs who have a robust chewing desire or only need a distraction.
  6. Rubber chews: These kinds of chews last a lot longer than most consumable chews. However, some dogs may not like them because of their strong smell and different texture.
  7. Rope chews: Generally speaking, it is the most loved chew and toy. Additionally, they are inexpensive.

They are plenty more dog chews you can consider for your dog. A talk with your vet will help a lot to decide.

 

Bottom line

A dog’s oral health is essential, just like yours. For this reason, you have to maintain the dog’s dental hygiene as well, actively. You are the only person who can practically do this for your dogs. Overall, your dog’s health solely depends on you. On the positive side, your vet can assist you with the health needs of your dogs. But, the majority of the responsibility is in your hands.