The Mess We Are In

Unfortunately, statistics show that most dogs will experience dental disease early in life. This will often develop into a serious problem as they grow older. This is not only very uncomfortable, and possibly painful for your dog, but will also be painful for you – in your wallet or purse. Vets bills for dental issues can be horrendous.

So – why are our dogs suffering from so many dental problems? This never used to be the case. The answer is in their diet. For centuries, most dogs lived on a diet of raw meaty bones – and their teeth were fine. In recent years, society has chosen to believe the commercial pet food industry’s claims that their products are best for our four legged friends. Unfortunately, that is normally not the case. Whereas a raw meaty bone (RMB) diet enhances the dental hygiene of a dog, commercial dried food / kibble (which is fed by the sack-load) can be very harmful. Their high levels of carbohydrates and sugars (to highlight but two ingredients) help to create a layer of plaque on the surface of the teeth. This then calcifies and becomes tartar, which is a breeding ground and harbours bacteria, which causes infection and decay. This causes gingivitis, which can be very painful, to develop on the gums and that gradually rots away the gums and can eventually cause tooth loss. It can go even further, because, left unchecked, this bacteria can enter the bloodstream and can eventually affect organs such as the liver, kidneys and heart.

If that is not bad enough, that our dogs are being fed a diet that play havoc with their dental hygiene, it gets worse. Many people regularly give their dogs some of the heavily marketed well known “dental sticks” which proclaim to “clean the dogs teeth” These are even worse than the food. They are so full of cereals and therefore sugars that they do yet more damage.

So What is the Answer?

As we said in the previous section – it is all in the diet

If you feed your dog with a balanced naturally raw meat diet you will be giving them a hugely increased chance of having healthy teeth. Simply by not feeding the unhealthy dried food / kibble, you will, at a stroke, reduce the intake of plaque producing food. The inclusion of raw meaty bones (RMBs) in their diet is the key to getting the maximum benefit. If you watch a dog eating RMBs you will see the workout that gives their jaw and teeth (in fact their whole body). The action of ripping the meat off the bones, helps to physically remove any build up of plaque etc. In addition the production of saliva also helps to naturally clean the teeth and gums. Bones are nature’s toothbrushes. As the dog (or cat – it works just the same for them) eats the RMBs this massages their teeth and cleans their teeth as they are eating. So no need at all for those expensive “dental sticks”, which the pet food industry makes millions from ever year in getting us to buy, in the belief that they actually make a difference. As well as preventing the formation of plaque and tartar, and the onset of gingivitis, it also prevents bad breath (a well known side effect of gingivitis).

So, if you follow this advice and ensure your dog is on a naturally raw diet, including RMBs, you will be giving them the best chance to have good teeth and gums and a pain free time, whilst enjoying, not only the benefits, but also the eating satisfaction of a diet which they will love. The bonus to this – is you might save fortunes on expensive vets bills, high insurance costs – and the expensive of purchasing “dental sticks”.

Check Your Dog’s Teeth

You should check your dog’s teeth regularly. They should “look healthy” – i.e.

Keep an eye open for obvious signs of any build up on the teeth, broken or chipped teeth, deterioration in the colour of the gums, lumps or sores on the gums, and redness on the gums (a sign of inflammation). Prevention is better than cure, but early detection also often makes the cure easier and gives it more chance of success.

You can always come into our shop with your dog and we can advise you on what to look out for and how to do it.