Should You Brush Your Dog's Teeth?

Most people will admit that they don't brush their dog's teeth. Others might say things like. “You’re lazy”, “You’re selfish”. “You obviously don’t care about your dogs” etc. But does really everyone brush their dog’s teeth? Heck no! According to the EU Veterinary Medical Association, only 1% of dog owners brush their pet’s teeth regularly. That means there are a whole lot of people out there also not brushing their dog’s teeth.

A thorough dental cleaning under anaesthesia, and brushing your dog’s teeth, is considered the “gold standard” by veterinarians for maintaining your pup’s oral health. However, some people don’t brush their dog’s teeth or choose not to put their dogs under anaesthesia (for health or personal reasons), so let's look at the alternative methods that are better than doing nothing and actually work.

We all probably know that a build-up of plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease, missing teeth, and illness. You might try a finger toothbrush before thinking it would be a less threatening way to brush your dog’s teeth, but in reality, that will last maybe once...

Another product we found online is - a dog toothbrush with liver-flavoured toothpaste, but then from our experience good luck letting your dog stick it in his mouth, even with a liver “treat” on the end... Another solution - is sprays and gels with active enzymes, but the struggle with prying open strong jaws while trying to shoot the stuff into their mouth most of the time will result in more goop on yourself than in them. 

So What Is Working Alternative?

Antler dog chews are a great alternative for cleaning dog's teeth. If your dog is not really into the antler chews, we did find that it helps them to start chewing it once the antler has been soaked in low-sodium chicken broth, or bone broth, for 24-48 hours. It will not only make them a bit softer for chewing, it infused them with an extra bit of flavour. As the antler gets softer it is beneficial for older dogs with weaker teeth.

Yak milk chews and Bull pizzles are other great alternatives, occasionally, for an extra treat and health boost, we recommend dipping the end in organic coconut oil. Coconut oil can help keep a dog’s gums and teeth healthy because it has natural anti-bacterial properties.

Skin chews are also good alternative for cleaning dog's teeth, especially for puppies and older dogs as they are 100% natural.

Here Are Some Before & After Pictures