Nutrition
Ask the Maev Vets: How can my dog avoid dental disease?
By Maddy Tank · January 27, 2022 · 2 min read
Your dog’s oral mechanics, early warning signs, and preventative measures. Asked and answered by Maev’s board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
It’s a widely common human phenomenon to hate the dentist, and therefore avoid going to, getting treated, or being billed by one at all costs necessary. But does the same stand for our dogs?
Short answer, no. Because of the uniquely specific chemical makeup of their teeth and mouths, dogs are more prone to dental disease than we think. Luckily, with modern day food science and animal medicine, most periodontal disease can not only be treated, but altogether avoided.
This week, our in-house Maev Vet Team is back to a deep-clean debrief on everything you need to know to watch out for your dog’s dental health.
How likely is my dog to contract dental disease anyway?
Studies conducted in several countries worldwide reported rates of periodontal disease between 60–80% in canine and feline participants. Additionally, the National Companion Animal Study, which represents 54 veterinary practices across the U.S., confirmed that oral disease is the most frequent diagnosis in all ages of dog life.
Long story short: Don’t skip your dog’s dental checkup.
What should my dog’s mouth ideally look like?
A dog’s saliva, which coats the teeth and soft tissues of their mouth, should maintain a higher pH level than that of humans — one research study revealed that healthy dogs typically fall between 7–9. This salivary pH, combined with a higher buffering capacity; higher calcium, potassium, and sodium concentrations; and a lower phosphorus concentration are the keys to a clean and healthy canine mouth.
How can I tell if my dog is showing early signs of dental disease?
Early signs of dental disease include redness along the gum line and visible plaque build-up. As dental disease progresses, this plaque hardens into calculus that allows periodontal disease to set in, promoting bad breath and increased drooling too. Your dog’s teeth may become loose or painful, or you may notice hesitation around chewing harder treats or even kibble. Similarly, you may see them only chew using one side of their mouth.
What are some preventative measures I can take for my dog’s dental health?
The most sustainable and long-lasting impact you can make is by changing their diet. Unlike commercial kibbles or fresh diets, the acidity in raw food naturally resets the gut flora and pH in your dog’s stomach and mouth to its balanced state. With a stabilized gut, your dog will also experience more stabilized energy, stronger immune system responses, less tartar, fresher breath, and reduced allergies and/or itchiness.
Over time, a raw food diet will also help repower the natural bacteria-fighting enzymes in your dog’s mouth, preventing not only dental disease, but risk of numerous other full-body ailments as well.
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