Pet Problem #4-Dental Disease

Dental disease in dogs is one of the worst, and most common problems a dog can experience. Studies have shown up to 80% of dogs over three have some form of dental disease. Dental disease can cause pain and make eating difficult for your dog. It can also lead to other health problems and even shorten your dog’s lifespan. 

Signs of dental disease in dog’s include: 

-Tartar/Plaque buildup. 

-Receding gums. 

-Bleeding or swollen gums. 

-Changes in eating or chewing habits. 

Just like humans, dog's teeth are affected by what and how frequently they eat. Choosing healthy, high-quality foods can give your dog the nutrition they need, while also protecting their dental hygiene. Dog foods and treats with sugars, additives, and unhealthy ingredients will increase plaque and tartar buildup, while also potentially causing gum problems. This can be further exacerbated if the dog is being fed human foods and given an excessive amount of treats. 

Pet parents should be mindful of choosing a healthy dog food fed twice a day and giving a limited amount of treats per day. It may also be worthwhile to give no calorie chews like Canophera’s Coffee Wood stick to reduce eating times and allow your dog to work on their own dental hygiene. 

Establishing a healthy dental routine for your dog is important and can include daily tooth brushing. Regular veterinary checkups are also important to monitor your dog’s teeth and note any changes that may be taking place. This also ensures early intervention strategies if dental disease may be starting and the option of professional dental cleaning services. 

Plaque accumulation is the main problem that leads to dental disease in dogs. If pet parents aren’t being vigilant about brushing their dog’s teeth then plaque is going to accumulate. Tooth brushing is recommended but can be challenging and time consuming. 

If you don’t have the time or patience to brush your dog’s teeth on a daily basis then giving your dog all natural chews that help scrape the plaque off the dog’s teeth is a great solution to prevent dental disease. Chewing allows the dog to remove any stuck food, while also scraping away tartar buildup.  

Canophera offers a variety of chews that can help with dental hygiene. The Coffee Wood sticks and Briar Root wood chews strengthen dental muscles and also promote natural teeth cleaning. The Coffee and Coco toy does the same, while also adding in the coconut rope fibers, which serve as nature’s dental floss. In general, all of the coconut rope toys allow dogs to “brush and floss,” while tugging, gnawing, and playing. Our animal chews including Sheep Horns and Red Deer Antlers also promote dental hygiene by strengthening the dog’s jaw muscles, while scraping away any tartar or plaque buildup.  

As pet parents we have a lot to think about and your dog’s dental hygiene probably isn’t at the top of the list. Unless your dog has a major dental problem, pet owners shouldn’t have to spend a lot of time or money on their dog’s dental hygiene. Giving your dog all-natural chews is a great solution to effortlessly help your dog have healthy, shiny teeth and gums. 

Look at Goldie’s shiny teeth. Those healthy teeth and gums are no accident. Her pet parents have been giving her Canophera Coffee Wood chews since she was old enough to chew at 6 months. While the Coffee Wood is her favorite, she also chews on Red Deer Antlers and Sheep Horns, which help to scrape away any plaque and tartar buildup. Her veterinarian has even commented that her teeth look great for a 5 year old pup and thought her pet parents were brushing her teeth daily. In fact, they have never brushed her teeth and rely on Goldie to take care of her own dental hygiene by chewing!