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Down to the Bone
Pet Age Staff //October 23, 2019//
Listen to this articleIt has well been established that dental care is imperative to a pet’s overall health, and that a majority of pets suffer from some form of dental disease. The AVMA recommends that a dog’s teeth and gums be checked at least once a year by a veterinarian to check for signs of a problem and to help keep its mouth healthy.
Not all consumers have the time to regularly brush their dogs’ teeth and to take them for professional cleanings.
While daily brushing is ideal, an owner’s schedule may not allow for this level of home dental cleaning, so three or four times a week is a good starting point. But a comfort level won’t be achieved overnight, so whether the consumer is busy or finds the task of brushing to be daunting and challenging, retailers can alleviate some of the pressure by encouraging customers to be patient and take it a step at a time. For instance, if their puppy or adult dog can only handle a cleaning of half their teeth, the owner should not push their dog’s comfort level and can address the other half of their mouth at another time. Meanwhile, they can offer their dog treats and chews geared toward improving their oral health in between getting accustomed to brushing.
It will take time for both dog and owner to get accustomed to brushing, but any amount of dental care is one step closer to a healthy mouth. Walk them through dental care options like these, which not only tackle bad breath and plaque and tartar buildup but also come in flavors that dogs will love and make the dental care process easier and fun. Then you can guide them to what works best for their dog and their schedule.
GREENIES Limited Edition Dental Treats
GREENIES Pumpkin Spice Flavor Dental Treats help clean dogs’ teeth by fighting both plaque and tartar buildup, and they freshen breath and help maintain healthy teeth and gums. The seasonally flavored treats also allow dog owners to share in the popular craze with their pet. Best of all, the natural dog treats are made with highly soluble ingredients that are safe and easy to digest.
DogEatz Treatz
DogEatz Treatz are healthy treats that pets will love and owners will love giving! These dog treats, which feature character designs from Disney’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” help maintain clean teeth and healthy gums due to their unique nubbed design and chewy texture. DogEatz Treatz are soy-free, gluten-free, all-natural and made in the USA.
Swedencare Mini Dental Bones
The only dental chew on the market today with the proven PlaqueOff System, Swedencare Mini Dental Dog Bones offer extended dental benefits to the breeds that need them most. They scrub away plaque and tartar, then help keep teeth clean and freshen doggie breath. These mini bones are available in two flavors: Vegetable Fusion and Vegetable Fusion & Blueberry. Both flavors are made from natural sea kelp with vegan probiotics. They are also grain-free and gluten-free as well as naturally rich in Omega fatty acids.
Oxyfresh Dental Cleaning Kit
The Dental Teeth Cleaning Kit from Oxyfresh features a professional-grade Pet Dental Gel toothpaste with Oxygene and aloe plus a convenient finger brush. All products at Oxyfresh are made in the USA, cruelty-free, non-toxic, safe, gentle and effective. They contain no artificial flavors ever.
Petsmile
Veterinarian-recommended Petsmile is the first and only toothpaste accepted by the VOHC for plaque inhibition, with Calprox. It’s formulated with human-grade ingredients and is free of animal by-products, BPA, silica, sulfates, parabens and gluten. The VOHC with the American Veterinary Dental College recognizes that Petsmile meets the highest standards for your dog’s oral health.
WHIMZEES Daily Use Packs
Daily Use Packs allow pet parents to purchase WHIMZEES dental treats in portions that encourage daily use with more convenience. Filled with the brand’s reimagined toothbrush shape, Brushzees, and offered in one-week, two-week and one-month supplies, the pack sizes encourage pet parents to take one simple step each day of the week to care for their dog’s teeth.
Brushless Toothpaste
The Brushless Toothpaste by Ark Naturals takes care of dog’s teeth and gums in a natural way. These specialty dental chews have formulas carefully created for dogs with Sensitive Gums as well as Deep Cleaning Chews to reach molars in the back of a dog’s mouth. Like the original, these Brushless Toothpaste dental chews are twice-a-day regimens.
Merrick Fresh Kisses
Merrick Fresh Kisses dental treats crafted with all-natural ingredients such as mint breath strips, coconut oil and a combination of botanical oils to freshen breath. Available in two flavors, the innovative dental treat features a unique double-brush design to clean a dog’s teeth by removing plaque and tartar.
BarkBone Line
The BarkBone non-edible bones massage a dog’s gums and provides scraping action on its teeth, much like a dental hygienist descaling the plaque from human teeth. All of the chews are richly flavored during the molding process so that a yummy flavor and fragrance is released with every gnaw. All of these chews are available in large, medium and small sizes.
TEEF!
Unlike brushing a dog’s teeth, TEEF! is ridiculously easy to use. Just scoop, add and drink. Each drink helps to evenly disperse TEEF!’s formula on all surfaces of the mouth, working on the bacteria that exists everywhere, even below the gum line. The quadruple-action formula promotes strong teeth, healthy gums and fresher breath. Made with 100 percent safe, plant-derived ingredients that are tummy-friendly and flavorless.
