Keep That Furry Smile Bright: Natural Ways To Keep Your Pets Teeth Healthy

February is National Pet Dental Health Month which makes this the perfect opportunity to talk about your pets dental health!

The American Vetrerinary Medical Association uses February to remind us that dental health is not just for humans but also for our furry family members. Here are 4CHI Pets we are all about the natural and holistic options to help with dental care! Let's talk about how we can help our pets naturally!

Why Is Dental Health So Important For Our Fur Babies?

Poor oral health in pets can lead to serious health issues. Pain, infection, bad breath are all issues that are caused by poor dental health, but did you know it can even be worse?

Heart disease as well as liver and kidney problems can all stem for poor dental health!

By the age of 3, most dogs and cats begin to show signs of periodontal disease. You can brush your dogs or cats teeth every day but something can be hiding under the gum line. With a great holisitc routine and checks from a veterinary dentist, your baby can avoid this and have a healthy mouth!

Dog Dental Care Tips:

• Raw Meaty Bones- Raw meaty bones such as chicken, duck or turkey necks, chicken feet or marrow bones have so many benefits for your four legged bestie! They provide an outlet for that instinctual need to chew, encourages calm and focus, promotes more muscular stomach walls (which could help prevent bloat), provide essential nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus AND help to maintain clean teeth! Raw meaty bones should be offered at lease twice a week. Make sure you get the proper sized bone for the size of your fuzz butt and never any heat treated bones!

• Chews such as bully sticks, treacheas, chicken and duck feet are fantastic as the scrape away tartar and supply mental stimulation.

• Probiotics, herbals and supplements- bacteria that supports the gut health is essential for optimal health, digestion and oral health! The good bacteria in probiotics will break down food and aid in digestion helping with your babies overall health.

  -CoQ10 has antioxidant, protects cells from damage and provides energy. Studies indicate that it has been shown to reverse gum disease in humans!

  -Kelp, the brown seaweed that grows in coastal waters, has antimicrobial properties that help fight bad bacteria causing tooth decay. It has been shown to soften tartar and prevent new plaque from forming!

• Consult a holistic vet onthe dosing for your pup.

Cat Dental Health Tips

Cats can be a little on the picky side but you can start a routine that keeps those pearly whites beautiful as long as you exercise some patience and go slowly!

• Cats eat natural chews too! Cats enjoy raw meaty bones too! Chicken necks and feet and rabbit ears with fur are great for kitties!

• Silvervine sticks are great for helping to keep plaque off because cats love to chew on them! Silvervine has an effect that is similar to catnip. Cats should be supervised so they do not choke on any small pieces.

• Gently massage your cats gums and encourage self-cleaning through play.

Other Tips-

Coconut Oil has natural antibacterial properties allowing it to enhance dental health and reduce plaque buildup. Use coconut oil by applying it directly to your pup or cat's teeth with your finger, mix it in their food or make some great homemade treats with it! Watch for signs of allergic reactions (extremely rare) and start slow as to not upset the GI. You should use coconut oil consistently (a few times a week) in order to see effects. This should be used in conjunction with other methods of cleaning teeth (ie chews, etc).

Contrary to believe, kibble does not remove plaque or clean teeth.

When brushing teeth, be vigilant on the amount of pressure your are applying to the toothbrush. We often do not realize the amount of pressure and we aggravate or harm the pup/kitten (dog/cat). Finger toothbrushes are usually better as it gives you more control over the pressure. Not all dogs and cats will allow toothbrushing so pay attention to the needs of your fur baby.

Nature's Way

There are lots of ways to help your dog or cat keep those pearls a sparklin'. Always have the teeth checked by a veterinary dentist to see what lies below the surface of the gum. We sometimes think our babies teeth are healthy but find out later that something was lurking beneath the gums.

There are many products on the market such as flossing rope bones, toothpastes, water additives and chews that help but make sure you read ingredients and watch for any additives that may do more harm than good.

This February, commit to keeping those pearly whites healthy.....both yours and your four legged bestie. Small and consitent steps will lead to big rewards for your pets overall health and wellbeing.