Dog Dental Care in the Kennel
Dental disease prevention is a significant concern for dog kennels. If the correct steps are not taken to prevent dental disease, the result is unhealthy animals with infected mouths. Most prevention methods involve treating the mouth directly once or twice a day, but this is not always feasible on a consistent basis.
Dog Plaque vs. Tartar
Plaque is a slime layer that forms on the tooth at the gum line. It is a living bacterial layer that thrives on the food being eaten. It was once thought that dry food would remove it, but the mechanical scraping of plaque by feeding dry food is not effective on its own. Plaque moves up and down during chewing with little benefit.
What Does Tartar Look Like on Dogs’ Teeth
The problem arises when plaque mineralizes to form tartar. Tartar is a rock-like substance that requires scraping and ultrasonic cleaning, essentially using miniature jackhammers to remove. The key is to eliminate the plaque before it can mineralize and bond to the enamel.
Plaque takes four to five days to form tartar, so killing the plaque at least twice a week will prevent tartar buildup. Once the plaque is killed, it can then be removed with the mechanical chewing of dry food.
How to Take Care of Dogs’ Teeth
What is the best way to prevent plaque on dogs’ teeth? Oral rinses, sprays, and water additives help keep plaque off dogs.
By themselves, dental chews have not been the complete solution, but once the plaque and gingivitis are cleaned up, dental chews can be beneficial. Enzymatic oral hygiene chews for dogs are abrasive enough to help remove tartar buildup. Enzymatic chews can be safely used with other dental care products and are especially helpful for breeds known for extreme tartar buildup. The goal is to eliminate the need for anesthetic dental procedures whenever possible.
Other products, such as those containing zinc and citric acid, have shown effectiveness but often have stability issues, making them difficult to administer to the animal.
For more detailed guidance on maintaining your dog's dental health, visit K9reproduction.com.
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