February is, among other things, Canine Dental Month! Yes, I know it’s kind of silly but, we would be remiss if we didn’t take this opportunity to talk a little bit about canine dental health.
Dogs eat just about anything and this often leads to the dangerously stinky condition commonly known as Dog Breath. The reason I mention diet first is because your dog’s diet is one of the easiest places you can make an adjustment that will pay off big in terms of reducing the offensive odor.
An adjustment to the dog’s diet can effect the breath odor in two ways. First, by shifting from soft food to a harder kibble you can give the dog something that will exercise his gums and help scrape loose plaque from dental surfaces. Second, by switching to a food that contains no by-product meal, you can improve your dog’s breath and his overall health.
By-product meal, whether it’s chicken, beef, lamb or pork by-product meal, is a nice, little, catch-all title for a slurry that includes head, feet, entrails, lungs, brain, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, bones, blood, intestines, and any other part of the carcass not fit for human consumption. Just imagine what your breath would smell like if you were eating this stuff every day.
If your dog’s food contains any by-product meal you can improve his breath and general health simply by switching to a food that contains no by-products. These foods often have a higher price tag but the benefits far outweigh the slight cost increase by helping the animal achieve optimum health and avoiding unnecessary vet bills.
Another thing you can do for your dog’s dental health is to brush his or her teeth on a regular basis. You should brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week to remove plaque build up. Be sure to use a tooth paste made for dogs because toothpaste made for humans tends to foam up and dogs can’t spit out the foam so they end up swallowing the toothpaste, resulting in a sour stomach.
You can also buy a number of different products that encourage your dog to chew and remove plaque. You can buy this stuff right here at Woofers where we also stock several types of toothpaste, brushes, finger brushes and dental chew toys.
If you start your dog on a regular schedule of dental care while he or she is in the puppy stage, you’ll find he’s much more receptive to tooth-brushing and future care will be much easier for both of you.
Be sure to print out or mention the coupon at the end of this newsletter and receive free tooth brushing next time your dog is at Woofers for a groom or a bath.
Dogs eat just about anything and this often leads to the dangerously stinky condition commonly known as Dog Breath. The reason I mention diet first is because your dog’s diet is one of the easiest places you can make an adjustment that will pay off big in terms of reducing the offensive odor.
An adjustment to the dog’s diet can effect the breath odor in two ways. First, by shifting from soft food to a harder kibble you can give the dog something that will exercise his gums and help scrape loose plaque from dental surfaces. Second, by switching to a food that contains no by-product meal, you can improve your dog’s breath and his overall health.
By-product meal, whether it’s chicken, beef, lamb or pork by-product meal, is a nice, little, catch-all title for a slurry that includes head, feet, entrails, lungs, brain, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, bones, blood, intestines, and any other part of the carcass not fit for human consumption. Just imagine what your breath would smell like if you were eating this stuff every day.
If your dog’s food contains any by-product meal you can improve his breath and general health simply by switching to a food that contains no by-products. These foods often have a higher price tag but the benefits far outweigh the slight cost increase by helping the animal achieve optimum health and avoiding unnecessary vet bills.
Another thing you can do for your dog’s dental health is to brush his or her teeth on a regular basis. You should brush your dog’s teeth at least once a week to remove plaque build up. Be sure to use a tooth paste made for dogs because toothpaste made for humans tends to foam up and dogs can’t spit out the foam so they end up swallowing the toothpaste, resulting in a sour stomach.
You can also buy a number of different products that encourage your dog to chew and remove plaque. You can buy this stuff right here at Woofers where we also stock several types of toothpaste, brushes, finger brushes and dental chew toys.
If you start your dog on a regular schedule of dental care while he or she is in the puppy stage, you’ll find he’s much more receptive to tooth-brushing and future care will be much easier for both of you.
Be sure to print out or mention the coupon at the end of this newsletter and receive free tooth brushing next time your dog is at Woofers for a groom or a bath.
