Posted by Russell Gibbons on 8th Feb 2016

Gum Disease in Dogs

Dogs are five times more likely to get gum disease than humans!

Gum Disease, or periodontal disease, occurs with the presence of plaque. Plaque below the gum line is easy to remove, however, it is the plaque above the gum line which causes the issue.

This plaque, if left unchecked, slowly turns into Tartar. Put simply, the bacteria in this then gives rise to infection which then affects the tissue connecting the teeth to the gums and can migrate into the jawbone.

If nothing is done about it, this infection can then cause problems with other organs such as the kidney, liver and even the heart.

So we really want our pets to have great teeth……..for their sake and for our hip pocket as well!!!

Many dogs will start having symptoms after they turn three years of age…..and because it is not in their nature to show weakness…..you may not know how much pain they are in until it becomes chronic….

Happily, the dentistry of pets have come a long way. So they can treat this adequately if your pet does have an issue…….even the anaesthetics have improved and become a lot safer.

Of course, no one wants our pets to have teeth problems. The reality though is that many will, just by the function of age. Find out more here about this condition.

However, there are a number of things which we can do to help prevent the worst effects, or, at the very least, to stave off the issue for longer.

Some of these include:

Actually brushing your pets teeth yourself.
- This is pretty much the same as for ourselves…..except probably don’t use toothpaste…..
Regular dental check-ups to the vet .
- This includes x-rays, actual cleaning by the vet, visual inspections and a wide range of other treatments.
Great quality Pet Food.
- The quality of the food is important as the better quality food have added ingredients which help keep the bones, and teeth, healthy.
- The correct food will also have the right consistency from a chewing perspective.
Good quality Treats.
- Chewing regularly is great for gum health and for the removal of plaque.
- Ensure to get high quality treats.
  - Contrary to popular beliefs, you don’t need really hard treats like bones.
  - In fact, softer treats can work really well and are actually better for certain forms of gum and teeth health.
  - When it comes to teeth and gum health, these treats do not need to last for hours.
  - It is the chewing nature and soft massaging qualities which actually help.

So there are a range of interesting preventative methods one can deploy to help prevent, control or delay the effect of Gum Disease in our pets.

Perhaps a little bit of it all will work best? However, when it all comes down to it, the vet professionals know best.

A couple of key things to take out of this, however, is that prevention is within our hands.

Further to this, when it comes to Pet Treats and other Training Treats, remember the context within this article. Here we are honing in on the Gum Disease issue.

There are many other reasons to choose other types of training treats which range from boredom busting, gum health, overall digestive health, training reasons, and simple pleasure treats to create loving bonds…….

So next time you are thinking about the health of your pet……think about their mouth as well! And think about the reason you are getting your pet treats today……

Have a great week to everyone and I hope this has helped in some way.

The team at Huds and Toke really want to help create lasting memories with our animal friends and as such…..we really care.

Feel free to write a review on one of the links below. It all helps and we like the feedback.

Also, because we make our treats here in Australia in our own facility, if you have an idea, contact us…..we are happy to chat and see what we can do.

All the best from the team @Huds and Toke!