Does your dog have tartar buildup? Are you worried about it?
You’re quite right to be concerned, as dental tartar issues can have serious consequences for your pet. Pain, gingivitis, and harmful bacteria entering the bloodstream and causing organ damage are all conditions that can result from a worsening dental tartar problem.
2 factors can cause dental tartar issues:
1- Excess sugar in the diet (kibble contains on average 50% sugar, raw food on average 10-15%).
2- A deficiency in mechanical action on the teeth which allows the removal of tartar deposits.
See with Maia's story how I managed to get rid of their tartar in 45 days in a 100% natural way.
Maia arrived at our home on January 13th, at the age of 7. They came from our breeding program, but their family, who had taken great care of them, were no longer able to look after them. We therefore took them in with the aim of finding them a new forever home.
Like 80% of dogs over 3 years old, Maia had a lot of tartar buildup, and their gums were red. I had to find a way to clean their teeth because, as I often tell you, tartar is really bad for a dog's health. First, it can cause gum disease and even lead to the extraction of severely affected teeth. Imagine the pain for the animal when the gums are so damaged that the teeth start to loosen… Maia's gum problem wasn't quite that advanced yet, of course, but it could have become a much bigger issue. Also, tartar and dental plaque weaken the gums in such a way that bacteria can enter the bloodstream and damage several very important organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs to name a few. Therefore, dental tartar issues shouldn’t be ignored, as the consequences can be very serious for the animal's health.
Since Maia was fed a raw diet, I knew it wasn't excess sugar in their food that had caused the issue, as the raw food they ate contained less than 10% sugar.
So when I opened Maia's mouth, this is what I saw…
Determined to get rid of this tartar, I therefore incorporated meaty bones into my dogs' routine every 2-3 days.
This video clearly shows how their teeth work on the bones and how the mechanical action of chewing cleans their molars. After a few chewing sessions, Maia's molars were nice and clean.
Here is a photo taken a few days later:
Of course, there can be risks in giving meaty bones to our dog; certain guidelines must be followed: choose the bones carefully, supervise and observe your dog, and intervene if necessary.
I strongly advise you to consult it before you start giving bones to your dog.
To continue Maia's story, I was happy to have finally cleaned their back teeth, but I couldn't get their canines clean. With meaty bones, Maia mostly chewed with their back teeth. After thinking about the situation, and with a last-ditch effort to avoid a dental cleaning under anesthesia at the vet's, I even ordered a dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Keep in mind that I never brush my dogs' teeth, so I wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of brushing Maia's. I had resigned myself to brushing their teeth because I couldn't get their canines clean. That's when I had a brilliant idea: to give her a Qwizl or Kong toy with a bully stick inserted in the centre.
Watch the video of this chewing activity by clicking here:
Eureka! Hallelujah! 40 days after his arrival, with 4 chewing activities per week, including 2 with a meaty bone and 2 with a Quizzl toy
Here is the result:
Maia's teeth are cleaner than white.
So I was happy to be able to spare them the stress of having their teeth cleaned under anesthesia. Plus, the chewing activities were great for their mental well-being! It's what you call killing 2 birds with 1 stone!
So if your dog has a tartar issue like Maia, you need to check the following 2 points:
- Reduce sugar in your diet
- Ensure that they are given chewing activities that allow a mechanical action that cleans the teeth.
Don't let this issue worsen, there are solutions!
Karine Simard, agronomist, M.Sc.
Food consultant
