Ensuring your dog’s dental health

Pedigree’s Dentastix are a convenient way to keep your fur pal’s teeth clean

Sometime ago, I had to rush one of my schnauzers to the vet because he was in obvious pain, which scared the wits out of me.  After several diagnostic tests and a thorough inspection, the vet found a  diseased tooth – something I didn’t imagine considering that my dog was young.  After a litany on dental care from my vet  and a small fortune lost in vet expenses, I’ve learned my lesson. 

Since then, I’ve been diligent about my dogs’ dental health, having personally experienced problems the consequences of benign neglect.

Needless to say, taking care of dogs’ teeth requires discipline. Small dogs, in particular, are more prone to dental problems than larger dogs, but even the latter are not exempt from dental problems. In a previous blog, I’ve talked about the importance of dental prophylaxis. Still, I must admit that it worries me given that it requires sedation. That’s why I take other steps to keep their teeth as clean as possible to delay the need for prophylaxis. 

Other than brushing their teeth regularly, I make it a habit to give them something to chew on. I’ve found that using large weight-bearing bones are especially useful in keeping dogs’ teeth clean. However, it’s not always easy to source these large bones.

Thankfully, there’s Pedigree’s Dentastix which works just as well in helping keep my dogs’ teeth clean. I’ve been using these for some years to complement my dogs’ dental routine, and I must say that they help a lot.  I always like to brag about the complete and pearly white teeth of my geriatric dogs – 14-year old Misty, and 13-year old Panda and Chocnut, who I’ve been giving Dentastix.

Pedigree Dentastix are X-shaped to help scrape away plaque and clean teeth down to the gumline. You don’t have to search far and wide to find them, as you can get them in so many pet shops, supermarkets, and even online stores. You also don’t have to worry about these running out of stock. They even come in seven-day packs so you can buy a week’s supply. They come in different sizes, which is great if like me, you have dogs of all sizes. What’s more, my dogs love them and think of them as treats.  And did I say that they’re very affordable too?

When it comes to your dog’s dental health, remember that diligence is key. As with all health matters, prevention is key to achieving good dental health for your furry buddy. Just as you have your daily oral hygiene routine, so should you have one for your dog. Don’t wait until your dog has a toothache and gum disease. And don’t be complacent if nothing seems off — it is estimated that over 90% of pet owners think their dogs’ teeth are perfectly healthy, says Mars Petcare’s Scientific Communication Manager Dr. Saza Curaming. I certainly was part of this majority at one time.

Don’t wait for your dog to experience tooth pain before acting on his/her dental health — you’ll save yourself and your best friend a lot of trouble (and money too!) by being proactive about dental care.