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Did you know that 80% of dogs will have some form of periodontal (gum) disease by the age of 2? That number certainly won’t improve as your dog ages. Dogs are five times more likely than humans to develop gum disease, and that can lead to a whole host of problems. Your senior dog isn’t just at risk of developing problems like mouth abscesses, tooth loss, and even a fractured jaw, but they are also at risk of developing heart, … Read more
Dental health is one of the most neglected issues in dogs. Yet, neglected teeth can quickly lead to canine dental disease and other serious–and often fatal–diseases. Dr. Kathryn Primm, owner of Apple Brook Animal Hospital, and Dr. Denise Petryk, Director of Veterinary Services at Trupanion Pet Insurance, shared with us some of the illnesses that can result from poor dental hygiene. #1 – Heart Valve Infections Dr. Primm: “Mouth bacteria can travel and settle on the heart valves. Bacterial endocarditis … Read more
Daily toothbrushing is one of the most important things you can do for your pup’s health, yet very few dog owners make it part of their routine. Nobody wants another daily chore, but brushing is vital to ensuring your furry best friend’s mouth – and body – stay healthy and pain-free as long as possible. “It’s very important, maybe more so than what I do,” says veterinary dentist, Thoulton W. Surgeon. “What I do, in terms of removing calculus and … Read more
You exercise your dog regularly, feed him healthy food, and give him his heartworm medicine on the first of every month. If you want to keep your dog as fit as can be, you must remember one other crucial element of his health: the mouth. Doggy dental care is just as important as any other aspect of your pooch’s wellbeing. This is how to do it right. Why do dog’s need dental care? You might be surprised to learn 80% of … Read more
Dental health plays a major role in a dog’s overall wellness. Unfortunately, certain breeds are predisposed to painful, disease-causing conditions of the teeth and gums. Without treatment and prevention, dental issues can cause pain, foul breath, inflammation and infections resulting in tooth loss. Worst of all, life-threatening heart, liver and kidney disease can develop. Knowing the dental concerns that your particular dog is likely to face gives you the power to help prevent and minimize the damage. The following 10 … Read more
iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Just like humans, dogs need teeth cleaning products to maintain their dental hygiene. Dogs who don’t have good dental health could be in pain or have extra stinky breath. However, dogs can’t brush their teeth on their own like we can, so it’s up to us to help them. We want to ensure that all dog parents … Read more
iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Since doggy dentures aren’t a thing, keeping your pup’s teeth clean and gums healthy is crucial for their overall health and well-being. Obviously, the best way to clean your dog’s teeth is to have the vet scrape them while your dog is under anesthesia. However, this can be very expensive, and there are risks associated with anesthesia. … Read more
As a dog owner, chances are you’ve noticed a foul scent coming from your pup’s mouth from time to time. If this foul smell is not resolved by brushing and has become a chronic issue, you may want to consider the reason why. Here’s what you should know about bad breath in dogs and what causes it. However, you may still need to visit your veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis for your dog’s bad breath. Why Is My Dog’s … Read more
Halitosis, otherwise known as doggy breath, is a common complaint among pup parents. While bad breath is certainly a nuisance, it can also indicate your dog is at risk for more serious problems. At-home dental care is a great way to slow the effects of dental disease, but nothing is as effective as having your dog’s teeth cleaned professionally. What effect can dental disease have on your dog? According to the veterinary publication, DVM 360, periodontal disease is the most … Read more
Bully sticks have become the most popular dog chew in the world, and for good reason. They’re 100% digestible, unlike rawhide and many other chews on the market. They’re high in protein and low in fat, making them a healthy option even for dogs who need to lose weight. They promote dental health by scrubbing off plaque and tartar before it has a chance to stick to your dog’s teeth. They come in varying shapes and sizes, making them a … Read more
Bully sticks are becoming more and more popular among dog owners, especially as a safer alternative to rawhide. Although some owners are put off by bully sticks because of what they are – beef…
A common question we get here at iHeartDogs.com is: “How do I brush my dog’s teeth?” We have spent years working with owners in understanding dental hygiene and how to help your pup the most. Here is how to brush your dog’s teeth: Dogs suffer from all the same dental problems that we do, such as tartar, plaque, and calculus buildup; broken or fractured teeth or roots; developmental or orthodontic problems; abscesses or infected teeth; cysts or tumors in the mouth; and gum disease … Read more
It may never have occurred to you to brush your dog’s teeth before, or maybe you’ve tried but your dog hates the toothbrush. Is it really that important to brush your dog’s teeth? What happens if you don’t do anything about your pup’s dental health? You may have lots of questions about doggy dental health, and we aim to provide you with answers. Here are the answers to the top 7 questions about how and why you need to care … Read more
It’s a sad fact that more than 80% of dogs have periodontal disease (problems with the teeth and gums) by the time they’re 3 years old. Most of those dogs will show no signs of pain or problems, either, unless you really know what to look for. What’s the big deal, anyway? Actually, failing to care for your dog’s teeth and gums can cause a wide variety of health problems that can affect more than just his mouth. Let’s look … Read more
If you found your way here to this page, odds are pretty high that you, well, love dogs. You even love them when they fight you [literally] tooth and nail to avoid having their teeth brushed. No one likes forcing a toothbrush across an unwilling dog’s teeth every day. Hey, even little humans take a few years to adjust to that idea. Still, dental hygiene is extremely important to your dog’s overall well-being – not just the way their breath … Read more
How the BreathBone Makes Dental Maintenance Easy, Fun, and Tasty! We all know the importance of oral hygiene for our dogs. Sadly, over 80% of dogs over the age of 3 years old have some form of periodontal disease. By the time a dog is a senior, their dental health is often in dire straights, causing untold pain to the dog and horrific smelling breath. Brushing and periodic veterinary cleaning are an absolute must, but many dogs don’t take well … Read more
Oh, infamous dog breath. We’ve all smelt it, and our dogs have all dealt it. When we humans are struck with a terrible taste in the mouth, we get busy with the toothbrush before we let anyone near us. Our fur babies will happily smother us with stinky kisses, but we instinctively turn a cheek. The struggle against dog breath is real but modern dog living means we have the knowledge and the products to make those kisses smell sweeter. … Read more
When Petros lost his first dog to canine oral disease, he was inspired to not let his rescued pit bull suffer the same fate. Watch his inspiring story and learn about the invention that might just revolutionize canine dental care. When we met Petros, we were inspired by his story and his passion for canine dental care. Sadly, Petros’ story isn’t unique, as nearly 80% of dogs over the age of 5 suffer from some kind periodontal disease. Advanced cases … Read more
When Petros lost his first dog to canine oral disease, he was inspired to not let his rescued pit bull suffer the same fate. Watch his inspiring story and learn about the invention that might just revolutionize canine dental care. When we met Petros, we were inspired by his story and his passion for canine dental care. Sadly, Petros’ story isn’t unique, as nearly 80% of dogs over the age of 5 suffer from some kind periodontal disease. Advanced cases … Read more
Maintaining dental heath is one of the most important things we can do for our furry friends. Unfortunately, at-home oral care can be invasive and uncomfortable for some dogs, leaving well-intentioned pawrents clambering for an effective solution. Dental issues are frighteningly common, with the majority of dogs over three years of age already showing signs of periodontal disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental Association (AVDA), many owners do not pick up on these symptoms until their dogs are already … Read more
Some of our most loved breeds have a natural predisposition towards dental disease. To manage the extent of the damage and prevent your pup from suffering, it’s important to learn about your dog’s individual dental needs. This starts with gaining knowledge on your dog’s breed and establishing a game plan with your veterinarian. Brachycephalic Breeds Prone to Dental Disease: Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, Brussells Griffons The signature squish faces of brachycephalic breeds, like Pugs and English Bulldogs, are hard not to … Read more
When it comes to dog dental health, many pet owners are still behind the curve. Although more and more are checking in for yearly anesthetic dentals by their veterinarians, others are still hesitant to spend the money. Many of us find it difficult to keep up a tooth brushing routine. Whatever the reason, we need to remember that dog dental health is important. In fact, it’s probably more important to your dog’s overall health than you realize. Dog Dental Health … Read more
Every dog parent wishes for their dog to live a long and healthy life. We feed them quality food. Schedule regular check-ups. Make it a point to consult the vet over any lumps, bumps, or changes in behavior. But did you know that one of the things you should monitor the closest is the condition of your dog’s mouth? Dog dental health is vital to your dog’s overall well-being. We’re here to tell you why–and how to keep it in … Read more
Brushing our dog’s teeth. We all know we should be doing it, but if only our pups didn’t hate it so much! Sadly, over 80% of dogs over the age of 3 have some form of periodontal disease. Not only does dental disease cause mouth pain and bad breath, but bacteria that originally starts in the gums can spread to other vital organs and cause life threatening illnesses. One of the biggest barriers to brushing is, well, the brush! Who … Read more
A few weeks back, we asked the iHeartDogs Facebook fans the following question: Be honest now. What is your status on brushing your dog’s teeth? The results didn’t surprise us. Over 1,500 people responded, and a full 83% reported that they are not brushing their dog’s teeth as much as they should. After all brushing a dog’s teeth ranks up their with getting a cavity filled! The problem, of course, is that we all know that proper canine … Read more
In recent years, the importance of dental health for our beloved dogs has become more and more well-known. Not only does dental hygiene help keep your pup’s teeth clean and breath fresh, it’s a key to their overall health. Now, for the hard part: how do you keep you’re dog’s mouth clean? Judy Morgan, DVM explained in a story by Dogs Naturally Magazine: “80% of dogs have dental disease by age 3. That’s a pretty staggering statistic. It’s actually the most … Read more
Brushing your dog’s teeth is the best way to keep them clean, but for some of us, this is easier said than done. Some dogs aren’t very cooperative when their pawrents try to brush those pearly whites, and if your pup is impatient — or an unapologetic toothbrush chomper — a teeth-cleaning chew could be a huge help. Adding a fun and delicious dental treat to your dog’s routine could be a big benefit for their oral and overall health, … Read more
Not every dog is willing to sit patiently while a human rubs strange things against their teeth. Brushing a dog’s teeth can feel like an impossible task, but keeping cavities away doesn’t have to be a losing battle. There’s no substitute for a good brushing, but a specialized dental treat can fight plaque on a daily basis—and the best part is, there’s no brush or toothpaste involved. There are plenty of products out there to choose from, but you need … Read more
We love puppy kisses – what we don’t love is the dog breath that sometimes accompanies them! You don’t want to tell your dog to lay off the love, but you shouldn’t be gagging every time you catch a whiff of his breath. Bad breath is a sign that your dog’s dental routine could use a boost. Even if you’re getting regular cleanings at the vet, really great dental hygiene starts at home. 1. Tooth Brushing Tooth brushing is the … Read more
The right doggy dental chews can help reduce plaque and tartar, preventing tooth pain and staving off illness. They also freshen breath, making cuddle time far more pleasant! Sadly, not all dental chews are as safe and effective as Happy, Healthy Brushy Sticks. Many commercial dog chews are not readily digestible, meaning they could become lodged in the stomach or intestines. These situations can quickly escalate to a life or death emergency involving painful, expensive surgery. Caring for your dog’s teeth … Read more
The thought of our dogs silently suffering from a easily preventable illness is absolutely heartbreaking. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, as many as 4 out of 5 dogs over the age of 3 are suffering from a disease that is not only painful, but outright deadly. What are we talking about? Canine periodontal disease. Unfortunately periodontal disease is more than just a cosmetic issue. In addition to causing inflammation, tooth loss, and pain for your dog, bacteria that starts … Read more
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