The first signs that something is wrong in the mouth are unfortunately very subtle. The argument "My dog is still eating great!" is therefore unfortunately very dangerous. Because eating is the very last thing to stop! But problems start much earlier.

Early signs include bad breath. It's not normal for dogs to stink from the mouth! Reddened gums, increased salivation or tartar should also be taken seriously.

When it really hurts in the mouth, the desire to eat decreases. Many dogs no longer want to eat or only eat individual, soft components of their food. In the long term, this can lead to malnutrition and underweight. Shaking the head, scratching the mouth with the paw or rubbing the muzzle can also be signs of toothache.

Tartar: One of the most common diseases in the mouth is tartar. This builds up on the teeth, leads to bad breath and traps bacteria in protective shells on the tooth. This is because the rough surface of the tartar makes it the perfect place for bacteria to grow. These bacteria can trigger an inflammation and spread via the blood to distant organs, causing problems there. One consequence can be z.B. inflammation of the heart! Factors such as pH value, amount of saliva or mineral concentration in the saliva influence the formation of tartar.

Paradontitis: An inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria. The consequences are receding and swelling of the gums as well as tooth loss.

DANGERS DURING DENTAL CARE

Too hard products: Chewing products such as animal bones or antlers are often advertised for dental care, but pose great dangers. As these products are very hard, they often lead to tooth fractures, especially in the molars. The ingestion of bones can also lead to injuries to the oesophagus and gastrointestinal tract or to intestinal obstructions.

Inorganic phosphates: So-called "inorganic phosphates" such as sodium hexametaphosphate are added to many dental care products. These additives are supposed to protect against tartar and keep teeth clean. Unfortunately, there are now numerous studies with humans, cats and dogs that show that inorganic phosphates in particular can have a negative impact on kidney health. We therefore strongly advise against the use of snacks with added inorganic phosphates. Of course, we do not use these additives in our snacks, but rely on harmless ingredients such as cellulose, which acts as a natural "peeling" for the teeth.

Dental problems must be diagnosed by (specialist) veterinarians and require a thorough examination and treatment. Dental cleaning is usually performed under general anesthesia as standard. In order to actually get to the root of the problem, x-rays of the teeth are necessary and useful in most cases. This is because a tooth can look completely healthy on the surface while it is already seething deep down.
It is not uncommon for several teeth to have to be extracted, especially in older dogs or dogs with misaligned jaws.

Dental care through brushing or a veterinary dental cleaning should be carried out regularly. The best way to prevent tartar, as with us humans, is to brush their teeth. Not every dog likes it, but with patience and a little time you can get your pet used to having their teeth cleaned. It is worth approaching tooth brushing in a playful way from an early age. Ideally, you should clean your dog's teeth once a day, but even once a week helps and is better than doing nothing at all.

In addition to a toothbrush, you will need a special toothpaste for your four-legged friend to clean their teeth. Our conventional toothpaste is unsuitable for dogs. We recommend that you ask your vet's practice about suitable products.
For very uncooperative dogs, there are also toothpastes that can be applied to the mucous membrane of the mouth without having to brush the teeth afterwards. The enzymes contained in the cream ensure that the plaque is removed.

In addition to brushing, your four-legged friend's teeth should be checked annually by a vet. However, once tartar is present, only manual removal using special equipment as part of veterinary treatment will help.

A healthy, balanced diet also helps to keep your dog's teeth healthy and, in the best case, saves on treatments such as tartar removal or tooth extraction.

In addition to these measures, we have another recommendation: dental care that is fun and tasty - our DENTALS!