Dog-Dental

Dogs chew. It is not a phase and it is not a behavior problem. They do it to explore, relieve stress, clean their teeth, and burn off mental energy. The difference between a happy household and a destroyed couch is whether you give them something appropriate to work their jaws on. The hard part is matching the toy to the dog. A heavy chewer with a pit bull jaw can shred a plush toy in 90 seconds flat. A gentle senior with worn-down teeth needs something softer that still keeps them entertained. And a lot of toys labeled “indestructible” are neither — they either crack or break into pieces that can cause blockages. ...

Dental disease is the most common health problem in dogs and cats. By age three, most pets have some form of periodontal disease — plaque hardens into tartar, gums get inflamed, bacteria enters the bloodstream, and eventually teeth loosen and fall out. It’s painful, it smells bad, and it shortens their lives. But most owners don’t brush their pet’s teeth because it feels like a fight they won’t win. Pet dental care doesn’t have to be a daily wrestling match. Enzymatic toothpaste dissolves plaque without much scrubbing. Dental chews scrape tartar off while your dog happily chews them. Water additives reduce bacteria with zero effort. We tested six product types to find the ones that actually work. ...