Today, many dog teeth cleaning treats and toys exist to cut back on your dog’s plaque and tartar. Some can even lower biofilm buildup, according to Dr. Jan Bellows of Hometown Animal Hospital. Removing plaque helps cut back on foul breath and taking away biofilm buildup reduces inflammation at the gum line, says Dr. Bellows.
Dog teeth cleaning treats
Providing treats to your dog is fun, but teeth-cleaning dog bones and chews promote dental health because chewing actually lowers the amount of plaque on your dog’s teeth. Among newer dog teeth-cleaning treats, several categories exist, including:
- dental chews
- dental bones
- rawhide chews
- alternative rawhide chews
Here are some of the latest dental chews are:
- Yummy Combs; petsbestlife.com
- PlaqueOff System Dental Care Bones; us.swedencare.com
- VetriScience Perio Plus Dental Stick; vetriscience.com
- Loving Pets Toothsticks; lovingpetsproducts.com
- Virbac C.E.T. Veggiedent FR3SH Tartar Control Chews for Dogs; us.vurback.com
- Whimzees Alligator All-Natural Daily Dental Chew; whimzees.com
Dr. Bellows recommends exploring treats with the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) acceptance seal, which he says have been proven to lower plaque and/or tartar buildup by 20% or more.
Dog teeth-cleaning toys
If you’d rather give your dog a toy that promotes clean teeth, you’ll have plenty to choose from. Some teeth-cleaning toys include chew toys with bristles, rope toys and rubber toys. Dr. Bellows advises to stay away from animal bones as well as deer antlers, as they may cause your dog’s teeth to break.
You can, however, find dog teeth-cleaning toys shaped like bones. The Classic Goodie Bone by Kong is one option that looks like a bone but is softer on the teeth. It’s made from rubber, so you won’t have to worry about your dog’s teeth breaking while he plays with it. Here are examples of some of the latest teeth-cleaning toys:
- Outward Hound Mini Orka Chew Pair Dog Toys; outwardhound.com
- Playology Silver Dental Chew Ball (made for senior dogs); playologypets.com
- Petco’s Leaps & Bounds Blue Snail Dental Dog Chew; Petco.com
Dos and don’ts for dog teeth-cleaning treats and toys
Dr. Bellows advises that you should never leave your dog unsupervised when he’s chewing on treats, as they may get stuck in the dog’s throat and he or she may be unable to digest them.
As far as dog teeth-cleaning toys go, Dr. Bellows recommends that you don’t purchase toys that are really small. Due to their size, dogs may swallow them, and the toys may then get stuck in the intestines. This situation could require surgery, which is of course something both you and your dog want to avoid.
Quick tips on dog dental health
Dr. Bellows says he rubs the outside surfaces of his dog’s teeth with a dental wipe. As a reward when he’s done, he gives his dog a YummyCombs treat, which is a bit like human dental floss since it cleans teeth with its honeycomb design.
Dental treats and toys don’t take the place of daily brushing. Following a few simple tips can guide you to choose the perfect dog teeth cleaning toys or treats for your pet. Today’s innovative lineup of novelty teeth cleaning toys and treats make it easier than ever to find something your dog will love.